Field Technician

Overview

The conservation on working lands CIG group (CoW-CIG), which consists of people from Utah, Colorado, and Montana State Universities, Western Landowners Alliance, Heart of the Rockies Initiative, Wildlife Services, and Defenders of Wildlife, is hiring two part to full-time field technicians for the 2024 field season. Technicians will help with research evaluating the effectiveness of nonlethal tools across seven western states at reducing conflicts between livestock and wolves/grizzly bears. They will be supervised by a Ph.D student at Utah State University but expected to communicate and maintain relationships with all of the collaborators, state agency employees, ranchers, range riders, and more.

This position is eligible for hybrid work within the state of Utah 

Responsibilities

Applicants should have strong field and communication skills, and an interest in livestock-predator conflict research and management both at the ranch and agency scales. Technicians will help manage field cameras, code data and assist with biological sampling. Training for this position will start immediately, and the field season will run through November 2024. Applicants with animal husbandry/livestock operations experience and from underrepresented groups in STEM are strongly encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be 21 years old by April 1st 2024 and able to complete an online defensive driving course
• Ability to be flexible because ranching schedules change abruptly! This position requires flexible hours and workdays including weekends and evenings. 
• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record
• Strong organization and communication skills
• Ability to pass a background check to access federal vehicles
• Strong field skills including:
  • Backpacking with heavy loads for long hours
  • Driving four-wheel drive vehicles (e.g., trucks and ATVs) on unmaintained roads
  • Camping in bear country

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and/or experience with animal husbandry/livestock operations
• Ability to work independently
• Must be enthusiastic, friendly, patient, and willing to communicate regularly with livestock owners and range riders
• Experience with game camera management and data research
• Ability to be flexible and professional in all situations

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV” 

The names and contact information for 2 professional references to be entered into Candidate Profile.

 

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

$13.00 per hour

ADA

The environment and physical requirements may change depending on the specific function of the work performed. Incumbents may be in both indoor and outdoor environments.

This position requires considerable physical activity.  Employees must have sufficient strength to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position including heavy lifting (up to 50 lbs.) and/or pushing and pulling of heavy objects and may be required to walk and/or stand for long periods of time. Employees must be prepared to assume uncomfortable positions, such as crawling, kneeling, and squatting.  Employees work outside and will not be protected from weather conditions, including extreme cold and extreme heat for extended periods.   

College/Department Highlights

The S. J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources is nationally and internationally recognized for its research, extension, and teaching on natural and socio-environmental ecosystems. It is a high-impact college at Utah State University with over $15M in research funding annually, 55 tenure-track faculty in three departments, and close partnerships with federal and state natural resource agencies.  

 

 The Department of Wildland Resources in QCNR encompasses research in applied terrestrial ecology, including the ecology and management of wildlife, forests, rangelands, conservation biology, and climate change adaptation.  Award-winning faculty teach courses that prepare students for professional careers in many natural resources fields, including programs accredited by the Society of American Foresters and the Society for Range Management and aligned with the Society of Ecological Restoration. 

University Highlights

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion, empowering people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. Utah State provides hig