Native Aquatics Biologist II

Full Job Description

Wildlife Resources

Job Title: Native Aquatics Biologist - Wildlife Biologist II (2 positions)

Job Description:
The UDWR Moab Field Station is looking for two native aquatics biologist II (Wildlife Biologist II) to join our team. Incumbents will serve as Principal Investigator on various fisheries projects on the Colorado, Green, and San Juan Rivers with the goal of monitoring, researching, managing, and recovering the endangered and threatened fishes of the Upper Colorado River Basin. Candidate must have strong desire to spend long field season (March-October) on multi-day river trips in remote canyons of the Desert Southwest.

The Native Aquatics Program at the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Moab Field Station provides an excellent opportunity to participate in native species conservation, research, and management in remote canyon reaches of the Green, Colorado, and San Juan Rivers. The work has a wide variety of project objectives, project locations, species, sampling methods, and data analysis techniques. Come join a skilled, respectful, inclusive, enthusiastic, committed team of biologists and technicians. This position is based out of Moab where you can enjoy a vibrant community, natural beauty, and endless backcountry after work, on your days off, and during a flexible off-season. This job provides opportunity for career advancement through job experience, training, salary improvement plans, and/or education assistance programs. Additionally, the State of Utah offers a generous benefits and leave package. The state promotes a healthy work-life balance.
View Utah State Benefits

For more information about the department of division, please click the links below:
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Utah Department of Natural Resources

Requirements

As a native aquatics biologist, you will:

• Serves as Principal Investigator for several fisheries research, monitoring, and management projects; design, plan, and implement scientific studies.
• Lead multi-day field efforts in remote river locations with crews up to 9 people.
• Collect, record, and manage accurate scientific data in accordance with complex sampling protocols.
• Capture fish using various methods including raft and boat-mounted electrofishers, seines, trammel nets, light traps,
  and hoop nets.
• Identify, measure, and PIT tag endangered, native, and nonnative fishes of the Upper Colorado River Basin.
• Analyze data to answer research questions, model population trends, and support management decisions.
• Report and present findings in formal and informal settings, in written and verbal forms.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in fisheries, natural sciences, conservation, or related field. Or directly related work experience
  equivalent.
• Experience designing, planning, implementing, and synthesizing scientific research and field studies.
• Proficiency with data collection, management, and QA/QC.
• Data analysis experience including a strong working knowledge of statistical software for biological data analysis (Program R, Excel) and experience modeling and estimating population parameters.
• Proficiency with technical scientific writing and oral presentations of findings.
• Experience leading fisheries field work including:
• Operating oar-powered inflatable rafts and motorized boats
  

Preferred/Additional Qualifications:

• Master's degree in fisheries, aquatic ecology, or related field
• Experience modeling populations using Program MARK
• Experience managing large data sets with complex statistical analysis
• Navigation of Class IV whitewater
• Jet and propeller motorboat operation on large rivers
• Outboard motor (props and jets) motor repair and maintenance
• Swiftwater rescue training, wilderness medical training
• Maintenance and repair of rafting, camping, and sampling equipment

Additional Information

Working Conditions:

• Risks which require the use of special safety precautions and/or equipment, e.g., working around operation machines, working with contagious diseases or hazardous chemicals, etc.
• Work requires physical exertion. May require the ability to stand, walk over rough surfaces, bend, crouch, stoop, stretch, reach, and lift moderately heavy items (up to 50 pounds) in a recurring manner and/or for long periods of time.

Certifications/Licenses required at time of hire or must obtain during probationary period or designated timeframe:

• Wilderness Medical Training (WAFA,WFR, or WEMT)- (to be completed within 1 year of hire)
• Swiftwater Rescue Training- (to be completed within 1 year of hire)

Other requirements:

• Must posses or be able to obtain a valid driver's license.
• Must be able to row heavy rafts in Class III - IV whitewater and/or operate motorized jon boats in shallow, riverine conditions.
• Must be able to lift 50+ lbs., work on unstable surfaces, work long hours in rugged and remote areas in inclement (very hot, very cold, wet, windy, dark) weather.
• Must be able to work in these conditions while maintaining a respectful, inclusive, and team-oriented attitude that contributes positively to group morale.
• Must be willing and eager to spend a long field season on up to 10 days trips in remote locations.
• Must have a strong desire to be part of a team.

Miscellaneous:

• Overnight field work in remote river locations for extended periods (up to 10 days at a time, 80 days a year).
• Schedule is highly variable during field season (March-October).
• Some remote work may be allowed.*
• Affordable housing in Moab is difficult to find and while we hope to be able to assist with this financial burden in the future, there is currently no housing or housing stipend or COLA provided.

*Please note, a position's eligibility for telework is established by agency management and is subject to change at their discretion at any time and for any reason.