In cooperation with the USFWS Columbia-Pacific Northwest and Pacific Islands Regions (DOI Region 1), Great Basin Institute seeks to recruit and hire an Interpretive Research Associate (RA). The RA will support the USFWS mission “to conserve, protect, and enhance fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing enjoyment of people” and the 67 national wildlife refuges within the region. 

The Interpretive Research Associate will provide assistance to the Inland Northwest National Wildlife Refuge Complex, located in eastern Washington and northern Idaho. The Complex includes the Kootenai, Little Pend Oreille, and Turnbull National Wildlife Refuges. The associate will be a member of the Visitor Services team and will be mentored by the Supervisory Park Ranger and Regional Chief of Visitor Services.

The work of the Visitor Services Program is focused on welcoming, orienting, educating, and protecting visitors; providing quality wildlife-dependent recreation and education opportunities on Refuge System lands; improving public use infrastructure; facilitating partnerships and cooperative projects; and enhancing overall organizational excellence in visitor services.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Familiarize self with the USFWS, National Wildlife Refuge System, and Pacific Region.
• Develop interpretive matrix for 1-3 Refuges to outline storytelling opportunities for publications, displays, programs, and digital media by connecting tangible resources to intangible meanings. 
• Research Refuge purposes and audience (visitors and communities) to develop draft interpretive matrices. This is accomplished using documents such as Comprehensive Conservation plans and social science. 
• Develop interpretive plan outline that includes Refuge purposes, audiences, goals and objectives, desired experience, and primary interpretive theme matrices.

Timeline:

• 14-week appointment beginning in April 2025, pending successful completion of DOI Background Investigation;
• Full-time (40hrs/wk);
• Required occupancy, with potential to move up to three times (average 30 days per refuge) or travel between refuges. The position could potentially have a remote start, pending negotiation.

Compensation and Benefits:

Compensation: $24/hr

Benefits:

• Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental (with option to upgrade in coverage), and vision insurance;
• $25,000 Basic Life & AD&D insurance at no cost;
• Access to Pro Deals;
• Refuge housing is available at the Bunkhouse rate of $390 per month including all utilities
• Government vehicle available for work related use with valid driver’s license and upon completion of required defensive driver training

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, communications, design, computer science, or related coursework and commensurate field experience;
• Experience with a variety of communication tools to produce materials, including designing and producing written and visual materials;
• Experience with graphic design and Adobe Suite, highly desirable;
• Experience living or working in, and/or knowledge of the region’s ecosystems and natural/cultural resources, desirable;
• In possession of Certified Interpretive Guide certificate, or equivalent coursework;
• Have experience in interpretive planning, desired;
• Comfortable leading meetings & consolidating feedback;
• Motivated, self-starter who is detail oriented;
• Flexibility to handle competing and changing priorities;
• Willingness to commit (pending performance and funding) to the full duration of the project, desired;
• Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse public in a variety of forums;
• Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments; and
• Possess valid, clean, state-issued driver’s license.