Wildlife Scientist ($64, 950.00 - $103, 923.00 annually) DOE

JOB SUMMARY

Under general supervision, within assigned Division, assists in conducting professional biological studies, or research, conducts field work to support ongoing activities.

MAJOR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

EDUCATION - EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING FOR POSITION

Required: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in wildlife biology or wildlife management, forestry, natural resource science, environmental science or a closely related field is required. Additional field experience in wildlife biology and/or management or closely related field desirable.

SPECIFIC SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITIES REQUIRED FOR POSITION

Knowledge of:

• Wildlife species and their habitats and regulatory status
• Basic principles of wildlife biology and management
• Data collection, management, summarization, analysis, and presentation techniques
• Field safety and first aid
• Use of power equipment such as chain saws and brush cutters

• Safe approaches to working alone in remote locations

Skill in:

• Use of GPS, map, and compass
• Use of radio telemetry
• Computer software packages and ESRI ArcGIS
• Collecting and recording accurate scientific data
• Plant identification
• Communicating clearly and effectively both verbally and written with a variety of partners
• Flying in a helicopter or other aircraft for long periods without fatigue
• Driving four-wheel drive vehicles on unimproved roads in various conditions

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this class.

Work is performed outdoors and in an office setting. Frequently operates a motor vehicle. Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of office and field equipment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to sit, talk and hear; and occasionally climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift, carry, and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally up to 100 pounds over short distance. Be able to carry 30 to 50-pound pack off-trail over difficult and often wet terrain and vegetation. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. Work outside may include close proximity to insects, wildlife, and plants. Outdoor activities may include long off-trail walks up to 10 miles over uneven, rocky, densely vegetated, and steep terrain. The employee must be able to sit for up to 3 hours while flying in a helicopter conducting surveys and not be physically ill. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious, slippery places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, or airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in the office, and moderate to loud in the field. Field work may infrequently occur at odd hours including very early or very late, weekends, and overnight travel.

COMMON RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS POSITION:

• Animal capture from a low-level helicopter using dart guns or net guns that may result in a crash with subsequent injury or death;
• Flying in helicopter and/or fixed-wing aircraft;
• Animal captures that may result in injuries due to terrain conditions, animals kicking or biting staff, or equipment untangling and retrieval;
• Use of agricultural tractor and mower that might result in injury, amputation, or death;
• Exposure to potentially communicable pathogens during dead animal investigations, captures, or sample collections (e.g., fecal sampling);
• Exposure to insect stings and bites;
• Heat, heat stroke;
• Cold, frostbite particularly while flying in a helicopter with doors off during capture;
• Exposure to animal immobilization drugs including potent synthetic narcotics;
• Driving on unimproved roads including dry and dusty conditions that affect visibility, or snow covered roads;
• Driving on narrow logging roads with the potential for a head-on encounter with a loaded logging truck;
• Injuries due to terrain or landscape conditions while hiking in to animal capture sites or mortalities such as logging slash, mountain beaver holes, rivers, rotten logs, slippery logs, sharp sticks, prickly or toxic vegetation;
• Cuts, punctures, and scrapes with subsequent infection during dead animal investigations, sharp vegetation, or rocks;
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals such as herbicides, insecticides, or formaldehyde;
• Often works alone in remote areas without cell phone service and may be a long distance from emergency responders;
• Contact with the public who may have a negative view of the Tribe and who may threaten bodily harm or vehicle damage.

Licenses or Certifications Required

Salary : $64 - $103