Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex is hiring a Biologist, GS-11 (GS Salary Table). This term position is expected to last 13 months, with the possibility of extending up to a total of 4 years. The Sheldon and Hart Mountain Refuges are part of a Refuge Complex located in the high desert of southeast OR and northwest NV, collectively managing over 900,000 acres, with our administrative headquarters in Lakeview, OR. Both refuges were established for the protection of pronghorn and other sagebrush dependent wildlife species. We are hiring this Biologist position to complete work at Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge (Plush, OR) related to the recent Warner Peak Fire that started in August of 2024, burning over 65,000 acres on Hart Mountain. The Biologist will serve as an implementation lead for the Warner Peak Fire Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Plan. Opportunities for other biological work elsewhere on the Refuge and Complex will likely arise, but this position will primarily focus on fire recovery and monitoring efforts on the Warner Peak Fire. 

 Duties will include but are not limited to: 

• Serve as an implementation lead for the Warner Peak Fire BAER Plan
• Implement and administer treatments needed to stabilize and rehabilitate lands and infrastructure impacted by the fire, including:
• Oversight of aerial herbicide application and management of related contracts to control invasive plant species
• Oversight of aerial seeding application and management of related contracts to promote re-establishment of native plant species
• Oversight and participation in native seed collection, native shrub planting, and riparian planting
• Oversight and participation in noxious weed ground treatments using herbicide, in coordination with the Complex’s Invasive Species Biologist
• Oversight and participation in site preparation and reforestation of burned ponderosa pine forest habitat (the Blue Sky stand)
• Effectiveness and efficacy monitoring in herbicide, seeding, and planting treatment areas following established protocols and in coordination with other Refuge biological staff
• Oversight and participation in low-tech process-based restoration (LTPBR) in-stream installations in fire-impacted creeks
• Field monitoring of wildlife and habitat related to BAER treatments, in coordination with other Refuge biological staff
• Assessment and mitigation of hazards related to the fire
• Supervision and verification of culvert installation and repair, including post-storm effectiveness monitoring 
• Supervision and verification of sign installation
• Coordination with other Refuge and Complex personnel to integrate implementation of the Warner Peak BAER treatments with other projects in progress on the Complex
• Implement each BAER treatment to achieve efficient use of funds, personnel, equipment, and contracts
• Oversee monitoring, program review, proposed plan revisions, and supplemental funding requests
• Monitor work to ensure compliance with all relevant federal laws and regulations, which include but are not limited to NEPA and NHPA mitigation requirements and all OSHA regulations and safety standards
• Direct and oversee the term Biological Science Technician (GS-5), designated for field work related to the Warner Peak Fire BAER Plan
• Direct and oversee additional seasonal implementation technicians, up to 4 technicians per season
• Manage the BAER Plan budget and track expenditures by specification, and coordinate projects to ensure events occur in their proper order
• Complete annual accomplishment reports and assist in preparation of the final accomplishment report, in accordance with DOI and USFWS BAER Policy and Guidelines
• Conduct review of projects, financial accountability, and oversight, and provide written and electronic monitoring reports as prescribed within DOI Policy and the BAER Plan

Work hours average 40 hours per week, with some pre-dawn and evening work required. To be successful, this position requires strength in field work, data management/synthesis, field technician management, and administrative tasks such as contracting and budgeting. The ideal candidate is field-hardy with a strong work ethic and positive attitude. Previous fire recovery, Great Basin plant identification, and ATV/UTV experience is preferred but not required. Government on-Refuge housing (a private studio apartment in a shared bunkhouse; ~$201/month) is available, or travel trailer/RV pads and hookups can be made available for use if preferred to the bunkhouse. A work vehicle is provided for all work-related travel. The position will ideally start sometime in January. Please note: the refuges are remote with groceries, medical care, and other services located ~2 hours away.

ABOUT THE REFUGES

Lakeview was established in 1876, is the county seat of Lake County, and has a population of approximately 2,500. With an elevation of over 4,700 feet, Lakeview is often referred to as the "Tallest Town in Oregon". Lakeview has one grocery store; one elementary school, middle school, and high school; one hardware store, several churches, several restaurants, and several small thrift stores. Additional urban amenities are located in Klamath Falls, 90 miles west of Lakeview, or Medford and Bend, which are approximately 3-hour drives from Lakeview. Lakeview is situated at the foot of the Warner Mountains in the southeastern Oregon high desert and offers abundant outdoor opportunities, including hunting, fishing, hiking, skiing, and camping. The area offers relatively comfortable dry summer temperatures and cold snow-covered winters with an annual precipitation of around 14 inches.

Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge is located on a massive fault block ridge that ascends abruptly from over 8,000 feet to the floor of Oregon’s Warner Valley in a series of rugged cliffs, steep slopes, and knife-like ridges. The east side of the Refuge is less precipitous, descending in a series of rolling hills and low ridges of sagebrush. The rugged diversity of the terrain creates a rich mix of habitat types, and is home to featured species such as pronghorn, California bighorn sheep, pika, mule deer, Greater sage-grouse, and desert fish. The 275,000-acre refuge is one of the most expansive wildlife habitats in the arid West, long free of domestic livestock and feral horses. Since its creation in 1936 as a range for remnant herds of pronghorn, management of the refuge has broadened to include the conservation of native wildlife species characteristic of this high desert habitat and restoration of native ecosystems for the public's enjoyment, education, and appreciation.

Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge protects more than half a million acres of Nevada’s high desert habitat for large herds of pronghorn, scattered bands of California bighorn sheep, mule deer, Greater sage-grouse, golden eagles, and a rich assortment of other wildlife and is one of the few intact sagebrush ecosystems remaining in the Great Basin. The landscape is vast, rugged, and punctuated with narrow gorges and lush springs among rolling hills and expansive tablelands of sagebrush and mountain mahogany. Elevations on the refuge range from 4,100 to 7,200 feet. Annual precipitation rarely amounts to more than a dozen inches, creating a harsh environment where a wide variety of wildlife thrives. While free of domestic livestock since the mid-1990s, the removal of feral horses and burros has been a key management priority drawing national attention. The refuge's rich mosaic of resources and public interests generates significant management challenges.