Wildlife and Forest Ecology Technician

Utah State University is hiring a Wildlife and Forest Ecology Technician for a part-time, non-benefited position in Logan, UT. The technician will assist in field research on sage-grouse and pinyon jays in Northern Utah and South-Central Idaho. Responsibilities include conducting field surveys, data management, and maintaining feeding stations. Applicants should be pursuing a relevant degree and possess strong communication skills. Housing will be provided during the field season.
Wildlife and Forest Ecology Technician

Requisition ID: 2025-9045
# of Openings: 1
Location: US-UT
Category: Research (non-Faculty)
Position Type: Non-benefited (hourly) Part-Time
Job Classification: Non-Benefited
College: Quinney College of Natural Resourcs
Department: Wildland Resources
Advertised Salary: $17.00 per Hour

Overview
The Home Range Extension lab in the Wildland Resources Department at Utah State University (USU) is seeking applicants for a wildlife, forest, and range ecology technician to work on a research project in Northern Utah and South-Central Idaho on sage-grouse, pinyon jays, pinon-juniper woodland ecology, and range ecology. The overarching theme of this project is the response of the above species of concern and ecosystems to sagebrush conservation and management actions.

The technician will be supervised by three graduate students working on the project (2 PhD students and one MS student). The technician will start working on the project this spring and continue during the summer months. This position will involve both performing field surveys independently and with the graduate students and forest ecology technicians. The technician will assist with a variety of different projects within the lab and will therefore require a great degree of flexibility and willingness to learn new techniques.

Field work will take place in the remote areas of northern Utah and south-central Idaho.

Housing during the field season will be provided and will likely include bunk-style housing and a mobile travel trailer. Field trucks, UTVs, and ATVs will be provided.

Hours will be variable based on fieldwork needs, but will amount to full-time with a break week in the middle of the summer.

For questions relating to the job listing, contact Rory Eggleston at rory.eggleston@usu.edu.

Expected start date of May 5, 2025.

Responsibilities
Organization: Duties include but are not limited to effectively managing fieldwork duties and travel between field sites alongside other technicians, and travel to field sites when graduate student supervisors are not present.

Fieldwork: Duties include but are not limited to: maintaining pinyon jay feeding stations and camera traps, trapping sage-grouse at night and attaching GPS radio transmitters to sage-grouse, pinyon jay surveys, trapping and deploying GPS transmitters on pinyon jays, collecting tree, vegetation, soil, and landscape data across sites in Utah, Nevada, and Idaho, conducting pollinator surveys, maintaining motion-activated field cameras, along with data management and submission. Both teamwork and the ability to work independently will be needed. It is essential that applicants can work and live side-by-side with co-workers, as well as work independently and as part of a team.

Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
• Have currently or be working toward an undergraduate degree in relevant field (Ecology, Rangeland, Biology, etc.)
• Valid Driver's License to perform essential job functions
• Demonstrated communication skills in English (written and oral)
• Ability to conduct field work over long hours in extreme climatic conditions, both hot and cold weather.
• Demonstrated ability to drive long distances for field work, use 4-wheel-drive vehicles, and use UTV/ATVs safely
• Ability to spend multiple nights in a primitive camping setting

Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience with terrestrial ecology and avian field work
• Experience working in remote areas independently
• Experience in Plant Identification
• Experience in Rangeland Monitoring
• Experience with forestry data collection methods (tree coring, diameter measurement)
• Desirable Skills
• Bird dog ownership/handling experience would be beneficial
• Experience with bird ID through plumage and call characteristics

Required Documents
Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under "Resume/CV"

2. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application
• *Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary
$17.00 per Hour

ADA
This work will involve being outside long hours in remote locations and hiking for extended periods of time (sometimes with 40-60 pounds of weight). The majority of work requires extensive travel on dirt roads in areas with limited cell service.

University 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.

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah's premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.

USU enrolls 28,900 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State's 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah's counties.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level, USU is a proud member of the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-2027 season. The Aggies' long-standing tradition of athletic and academic excellence is exemplified by conference championships in multiple sports, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU.

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university's ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu.
• updated 02/2025

https://careers-usu.icims.com/jobs/9045/wildlife-and-forest-ecology-technician/job?in_iframe=1

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In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USUs non-discrimination policies:
Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266
Title IX Coordinator Matthew Pinner, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266
Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, Ut 84322
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