GG-404-7 Field Technicians   Salary: $25.27 per hour  Vacancy # CRG-25-003

Duration of job: March 23, 2025 through approx. September 20, 2025

Type of appointment: Temporary - Fulltime, with possible periods of PT or Intermittent work.

Duty Station: Corvallis, OR. 

QUALIFICATIONS: Must have 2 year and 9 months of field experience OR 5 years of sub-professional work experience OR 5 years of college with courses related to the work of the position to be filled (equivalent to 150 semester/225 quarter hrs) to include at least 18 graduate level classes, PLUS 3 months of lab or field work experience.  DESIRED CANDIDATE will have substantial amphibian or turtle field survey experience (including identification to species of all life stages); have working knowledge of Pacific NW ecosystems (including strong background in wetland ecology & biota); will possess good judgment, leadership, dependability & time management skills; have experience identifying fish, aquatic/terrestrial plants & invertebrates.  PRIMITIVE CAMPING AND BACKCOUNTRY BACKPACKING EXPERIENCE IS HIGHLY DESIRED.  Interest in the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on field skills and behind-the-data perspectives in ecology and conservation research.

DUTIES (specific): Under oversight of Project Leader, will plan logistics, schedule daily tasks of field crew & coordinate activities with state/federal biologists and managers. Responsible for high quality data collection & welfare of lower ranking field members. Will use established techniques to locate, identify & record information on amphibian/turtle populations, conduct pre-designed field and/or lab experiments on population biology & survival of amphibians/turtles. Methods include visual encounter, mark/recapture, habitat quantification, trapping, fungal screening, & canoe surveys. Responsible for data entry & error-checking, required gear & equipment maintenance. May assist w/ training crew members in survey/sampling techniques, equipment/electronics use, study specimen identification, etc.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE:  Will have experience with marking techniques (including toe-clipping, PIT tagging, radio transmittering, and/or carapace notching). Will possess a strong work ethic, good organizational skills and be proficient with technical equipment (including but not limited to GPS units, backpack electroshockers, and PDAs) and map reading/navigation. Will have experience identifying fish, aquatic/terrestrial plants and invertebrates.

REQUIRED SKILLS:  Candidate must possess a valid driver’s license and the ability to competently drive a government vehicle in urban, interstate, and off-road (4x4) environments. Must be able to work in a small group or with one other individuals for several days at a time; and should be able to safely, accurately, and effective navigate to and around study sites using compasses, topographic maps, and GPS units.  Must be willing to learn and perform marking techniques (including toe-clipping, PIT tagging, radio transmittering, visual elastomer implantation, and carapace notching).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  This position requires significant physical exertion on a daily basis and a high degree of safety awareness at remote field sites.  Physical exertion will take the form of heavy lifting/bending, wading through streams and ponds of widely varying size and complexity, and potentially working in a variety of weather conditions. Candidate must be able to hike over rough terrain carrying personal gear and field equipment.  Field work consists of overnight trips (with paid per diem) away from the duty station, 4-25 days in duration and include primitive camping conditions (tent and camp stoves will be provided).  Survey sites may be in remote areas, and candidate may be required to go on multi-day backcountry backpacking trips.  Housing will not be provided.