Wildlife Lead (Sequoia NF, Kern River Ranger District)

Job DetailsJob Location: Kernville, CAPosition Type: SeasonalSalary Range: $26.00 - $26.00 HourlyJob Category: Wildlife Studies & Habitat Assessment Ranger District: Kern River Ranger District; Kernville, CA

USFS, California

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the US Forest Service, is recruiting Wildlife Crew Leads to support the study and review of proposed actions in National Forests in the Sierra Nevada. Crew Leads will support Wildlife Technicians in performing field surveys, collecting data, and providing technical assistance to assess wildlife habitat for various species. Fieldwork will consider federally listed species, candidate species, and those proposed for listing while assessing the ecosystems upon which they depend. This work is in furtherance of ESA goals that seek the best available scientific information to inform forest restoration planning. 

A Temporary Special Assignment (TSA) employee is one who is hired for a specific temporary assignment external from the institute’s administrative operations with one of GBI’s partners for 52 weeks or greater or less than 52 weeks and may work full-time (30 or more hours per week) or part-time (less than 30 hours per week).

Essential Job Functions may include the following:

Lead field crews in conducting species-specific wildlife surveys and habitat assessments (e.g., California Spotted-Owl, Northern Goshawk, Pacific Fisher, Sierra Nevada Yellow-Legged Frog).
Manage crew safety, coordinate daily tasks, and ensure data collection adheres to USFS management protocols.
Perform species monitoring, habitat assessments, and maintain field survey stations (e.g., acoustics, baited camera stations).
Collaborate with USFS and GBI staff to support vegetation management and environmental compliance measures.
Administrative duties such as meeting with GBI staff, leading report writing, receipt management, managing crew members and team dynamics.
Additional tasks may include survey equipment setup, data quality assurance, and training.

The incumbents will be based out of the Kernville Ranger District (Kernville, CA) of the Sequoia National Forest (SNF), which is one of 19 National Forests in California and takes its name from the giant sequoia, the world's largest tree. The SNF's landscape includes soaring granite monoliths, glacier-carved canyons, roaring whitewater, and more than 30 groves of sequoia trees in the forest's lower elevation slopes. Elevations range from 1,000 feet in the foothill region to peaks over 12,000 feet in the rugged high country, providing visitors with some of the most spectacular views of mountainous landscape in the entire west.

LOCATION

Kern River Ranger District; Kernville, CA

WORK SCHEDULE

This position will begin in mid-May and end as late as mid-November. Season start and end dates are project and weather dependent and may change slightly. 

Forestry Crew positions follow 10 hour days, 4 days a week schedule. 

Temporary Special Assignment employees are eligible to receive holiday pay, if partner approved. TSAs working four (4) ten (10) hour days per workweek will be paid ten (10) hours for all holidays.  Same with other approved/allowable workweek configurations; these can be accommodated accordingly with Banked Holiday(s).

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Wage: $26/hour with overtime at 1.5x hourly rate. Full time, average 40 hours per week

In addition to a competitive base salary, this full-time,onsite position includes company-paid comprehensive medical, dental (with option to upgrade in coverage), and vision insurance, as well as $25,000 Life/AD&D policy. Voluntary short-term and long-term disability policies are available, and voluntary Life/AD&D policies for family members.  Mental health support resources are employer provided, competitive PTO accrual, and paid holidays. This exciting role contributes to GBI’s significant positive impacts within the fields of environmental research, education, and conservation.

TSA employees who serve a term under 52 weeks in duration, and have a thirty (30) day or less break between terms, and then sign a second term that (cumulatively) becomes greater than 52 weeks of employment, will be eligible for the >1-year TSA benefits (equivalent to Regular full-time employees).
QualificationsTo perform this job successfully, employees must be able to satisfactorily carry out each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 



Experience in conducting wildlife surveys; preferred experience with California Spotted-Owl, Northern Goshawk, Pacific Fisher, or Sierra Nevada Yellow-Legged Frog 
Experience in standard field methods for wildlife surveys, status assessments, and habitat characterization
Ability to understand, implem