Job Description

Job Location: Beckwourth, CA
Position Type: Seasonal
Salary Range: $21.00 - $21.00 Hourly

Job Category: Wildlife Studies & Habitat Assessment Beckwourth Ranger District Plumas National Forest, California
The Great Basin Institute (GBI), in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), is recruiting Wildlife Technicians to support wildlife monitoring and habitat assessment efforts on the Beckwourth Ranger District within the Sierra Nevada region. This position supports field-based data collection for sensitive, threatened, and endangered species in support of USFS resource management objectives.
The Wildlife Technician will work under the direction of GBI and USFS supervisors to conduct wildlife surveys, assist with habitat assessments, and support field operations. Duties include collecting accurate field data, maintaining monitoring equipment, and assisting with data entry and reporting. Fieldwork may involve hiking in rugged terrain under variable weather conditions, conducting visual and auditory species identification, and deploying and maintaining
remote cameras or acoustic monitoring equipment.
This is a Temporary Special Assignment (TSA) position designed to support external partner projects for a defined duration. Assignments may be full-time or part-time and are expected to last up to 6 months.
- Conduct wildlife surveys following established protocols
- Assist with California Spotted Owl, Northern Goshawk, bat, amphibian, and reptile
- surveys
- Monitor nesting activity and reproductive status of target species
- Assist with raising and maintaining mice for California Spotted Owl surveys, as directed
- Install, maintain, and monitor passive and baited camera stations
- Collect, record, and enter field data into databases and GIS systems
- Assist with preparation of reports and summaries
- Maintain, sanitize, and organize wildlife monitoring equipment
- Support field logistics, including equipment preparation and site access
LOCATION
This position is based in the Beckwourth Ranger District, and fieldwork will be conducted in various locations within the Plumas National Forest. Field work will require traveling to remote sites, with occasional office work for data entry and reporting.
WORK SCHEDULE
This position will begin in April 2026 and end in October 2026. Season start and end dates are project- and weather-dependent.
Wildlife Crew member positions typically follow four 10-hour days per week (Monday–Thursday), though schedules may vary.
TSA employees who serve a term under 52 weeks in duration, and have a thirty (30) day or less break between terms, and then sign a second term that (cumulatively) becomes greater than 52 weeks of employment, will be eligible for the >1-year TSA benefits (equivalent to Regular
full-time employees).
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
- Hourly

wage of $21 per hour, with overtime paid at 1.5 times the hourly rate
- Full-time position averaging 40 hours per week
GBI offers a competitive benefits package, including:
- Medical, dental (with optional upgraded coverage), and vision insurance
- $25,000 Life/AD&D insurance policy
- Voluntary short-term and long-term disability insurance
- Optional Life/AD&D coverage for dependents
- Mental health support resources
- Generous paid time off (PTO) accrual and paid holidays
-  Shared housing accommodations provided for crew members
TSA employees who serve multiple assignments totaling more than 52 weeks, with breaks of 30
days or fewer, may become eligible for benefits typically provided to full-time employees.
This position contributes to GBI’s mission of advancing environmental research, education, and
conservation.

QualificationsTo perform this job successfully, employees must be able to satisfactorily carry out each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with
disabilities to perform the essential functions.
1. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Experience in conducting wildlife surveys; preferred experience with California Spotted-Owl, Northern Goshawk
- Experience in standard field methods for wildlife surveys, status assessments, and habitat characterization
- Ability to understand, implement and adhere to established data collection, inventory, assessment, and monitoring protocols;
- Willingness to work a variable schedule in response to project needs, including nighttime surveys and possibly including some weekends and holidays
- Skills in GPS navigation and map reading
- Physical ability for fieldwork in remote areas, including overnight camping if necessary
- Effective communication skills for coordination with multidisciplinary teams
- Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license with the ability to safely operate
- and maintain a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads
2. Education: Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, or related field, with fieldwork experience OR two seasons of wildlife fieldwork experience.
TO APPLY
Please submit an up-to-date resume, a one-page cover letter that details your interest in the position, and any qualifications not fully outlined in your resume, and contact information for three professional references. Qualified applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential
functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands, stand, walk, bend, and have specific vision abilities to include close and distance vision, and ability to adjust focus working with computer business equipment and other job/industry
specific equipment.
NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the organization's ongoing needs.
Disclaimer: Although the organization has attempted to accurately and thoroughly describe this position, GBI reserves the right to change the same, including to change, add to or subtract from the duties outlined, within the sole discretion of the organization, at any time, with or without advance notice.