Biological Science Technician - Aquatic Wildlife

Technicians will work in crews ranging from 2 to 8 individuals. Crews may be assigned to work on aquatic restoration projects (including removing nonnative fish and bullfrogs from alpine and sub-alpine lakes), amphibian and reptile projects (including surveys for Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs or other imperiled amphibians), and Northwestern Pond turtle projects (including surveys, radio telemetry, and trapping of turtles). Projects may take place in the front country remote field settings (day field work, accessed by hiking and/or riding) or in remote wilderness settings (accessed via multi-night backpacking) and will involve night and weekend work. Projects require a high level of physical fitness, multi-night backpacking (up to 10 nights) in the wilderness, and the ability to work various work schedules (including weekends, split-shift, night shift, and regular day time work schedules).

Duties may include:

• Using gill nets, backpack electro fisher, and turtle traps.
• Eradicating Bullfrogs using pole spears, gigs, hand grab, and traps (this is night work).
• Eradicating invasive fish using gill nets and electro fisher (multi-day backpacking/camping required)
• Using radio telemetry to track freshwater turtles, toads, or other wildlife, toads, or other wildlife.
• Identifying and surveying for Sierra Nevada amphibian and reptile including species listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act.
• Marking-recapturing reptiles or amphibians, including scute notches, Passive Integrated Transponder ("PIT") tags, and/or disease sampling in amphibians (BD/chytrid swabbing).
• Trapping, handling, and marking freshwater turtles.
• Deploying iButtons, HOBO, or other temperature data loggers.
• Performing visual encounter surveys (VES) and/or snorkel surveys.
• Collecting environmental DNA samples from water bodies (aquatic "eDNA").
• Repairing equipment in the field/office.
• Communicating with the public regarding controversial topics in ecological conservation and technical scientific topics.
• Working with and providing mentorship to volunteers and interns.
• Office work involving data entry, compilation, and writing.
• Using software to coordinate field work and summarize data collected including ArcGIS, the program R, and Microsoft Excel/Access databases.
• Overseeing aquatic wildlife or fisheries science in a leadership/crew lead role.
• Communicating with supervisors and colleagues regarding logistics and work assignments.
• Instructing others in the setting and cleaning of fish from gill nets or site selection and trap placement.
• Night work and weekend work are required.

In addition to the above duties, GS 07 duties include:

• Organizing, planning and scheduling field crews for remote backcountry work.
• Supervising a staff comprised of employees, interns, and volunteers performing aquatic ecological field studies.
• Facilitating safety dialogues and discussions to ensure safe work practices in remote locations.

Physical Demands: The work is partially sedentary with prolonged standing, walking, and bending often required. Heavy items (e.g., packs and equipment up to 50 pounds) must be lifted and carried on a routine basis.

Working Conditions: The work is performed in an office, laboratory, and in the field. Field work includes exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, pesticides, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals.

Yosemite National Park, California, known worldwide for its spectacular natural beauty is the backdrop for this position. Sitting astride the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the park covers 1,182 square miles of varied wilderness ecosystems, from river valleys to alpine meadows to lofty 13,000-foot-high peaks. Yosemite Valley is located 208 miles from San Francisco, 81 miles from Merced, and 94 miles from Fresno. Shopping, medical, postal and laundry services are available in the park. Elevation at the Valley floor is approximately 4,000 feet and 2,200 feet in El Portal. The park is open year-round with the majority of activities occurring during the busy season March through October.

Starting at $21.20 Per Hour (GS 6-7)