Job Description: Two ecological monitoring technician positions are available to assist the Lake County Forest Preserve District with its Ecological Monitoring Program from late April through October 2025 (approximate dates). As part of a  partnership between the Chicago Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Lake County Forest Preserve District (LCFPD), each organization will hire two ecological monitoring technicians, who will cross-train and work as a team of four. (Please note that there will be a separate posting for the two LCFPD technician positions.)  Lake County is located north of Chicago, IL and boasts 65 preserves managed for biodiversity and natural resources, set within a suburban landscape. Technicians will conduct a variety of wildlife and vegetation surveys including: coverboard and live-trap surveys for fish, amphibians, and reptiles, observational invertebrate surveys, herbaceous plant monitoring, tree and shrub monitoring, plant-pollinator network monitoring,  and may have an opportunity for involvement in telemetry/nest monitoring for endangered Blanding’s turtles, or smooth greensnake nest monitoring/egg incubation. One of the technician positions will be more involved with wildlife monitoring and the other with vegetation monitoring. Both technicians will be trained in wildlife and vegetation monitoring and equipment will be provided for all essential job duties. Technicians will work with CAS Biologists and LCFPD Ecologists, and will be expected to work independently depending on scheduling and survey type. *This position is ideal for recent graduates looking to develop proficiency in a wide variety of wildlife and vegetation survey techniques*.

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in all areas of the organization. We strongly encourage applications from people of color and members of underrepresented groups.

Qualifications: Ideal candidates will be comfortable independently working long hours in the outdoors with little shade and with abundant biting insects, ticks, and poison ivy. Familiarity with field sampling techniques across taxa. The most important qualification is an enthusiasm for fieldwork and wildlife biology.

Additional requirements include:

• B.S./B.A. in wildlife, ecology, botany/plant ecology, environmental biology, natural resources, biology or related field with relevant coursework
• Valid driver’s license and insurance
• Familiarity with or *ability to learn* regional vertebrate, invertebrate, and plant species and ability to safely handle large and potentially aggressive animals (e.g. snapping turtles)
• Ability to read maps and navigate to survey points with GPS
• Adherence to safety and animal handling protocols
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to think critically and troubleshoot problems
• Ability to communicate effectively with forest preserve agency personnel and the public regarding project details
• Flexibility regarding work schedule and conditions
• Ability to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions and habitats
• Physical strength, stamina, and endurance sufficient for full days of strenuous field work (several miles of hiking in waders while carrying heavy (35 lbs) equipment in hot weather)
• Commitment to a safe, equitable, and inclusive work environment
• Sense of humor. Everyone floods their waders, but it doesn’t have to ruin your day.

Essential Job functions: 

• Capturing, handling, and identifying, fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and invertebrates
• Safely marking and measuring reptiles and small mammals
• Setting, baiting, checking, and cleaning aquatic and mammal traps
• Deploying and maintaining camera traps
• Conducting vegetation surveys for herbaceous plants, trees, and shrubs
• Following disinfection procedures and biosecurity
• Traveling among field sampling sites and wildlife facilities
• Maintaining accurate notes/reliable data entry, data entry into database
• Basic data summarization for end-of-year reports
• Working without direct supervision

Salary: Range: $17.75-$19.75/hr (depending on qualifications), 37.5 hr per week; bunkhouse style lodging available first come first serve~$217/month; work vehicle provided for trap deployment/removal, but personal vehicles may be required for daily sampling activities (with mileage reimbursement).

About Us

For 166 years, The Chicago Academy of Sciences/Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (‘Nature Museum’) has been connecting Chicagoans to nature and science. As a leader in the field of scientific research, education and community programming, Nature Museum’s mission is to create a positive relationship between people and nature through collaboration, education, research and collections, exhibitions and public forums to grow the region’s urban connection to the world of nature and science. The Nature Museum believes that nature and science should and can be accessible to everyone and seeks to be a spark that ignites and fosters a sense of wonder for nature, an understanding of science and protection of the natural world.

Founded in 1857, the Chicago Academy of Sciences is Chicago’s oldest museum and one of America’s oldest scientific institutions. Created by members seeking to understand the natural world through methodical exploration and study, the Chicago Academy of Sciences became the first private scientific museum founded in the city of Chicago. When the Academy opened its doors to the public in 1869, the institution’s focus expanded to that of a community museum with the goal of welcoming and engaging Chicago residents and visitors. The scientific collections that have been curated and preserved through the Chicago Academy of Sciences have been used to help define human understanding of nature, ecology and the diversity of life in the United States. They are key resources in allowing the scientific community to interpret our present place in history as well as anticipate future conditions.