Avian / Wildlife Biologist

Avian / Wildlife Biologist
Location:Phoenix
State/Territory:Arizona
Department:Western Biology Dept
Description
Avian/Wildlife Biologist
POWER Engineers' Environmental Division provides planning, permitting, engineering, site assessment and corrective action services to clients worldwide. Across multiple industries, our diverse staff specialize in the areas of air, water, waste, ecological and cultural resources throughout our 45 offices located across the country and internationally.
We are seeking two highly motivated Avian/Wildlife Biologists for temporary, project-specific employment in support of our Western Biology Department. The selected candidates will join a team of more than 230 environmental professionals across the U.S. This position will work in New Mexico/Arizona.
This is a full-time, seasonal position. Dates of employment run from approximately May 10, 2021 - August 15, 2021, with a possibility of extension. Anticipated workload is full-time for the duration of employment (anticipated a minimum of 40 hours/five days of work per week), including travel time, but a flexible schedule would be required, including the ability to work weekends if/when needed, depending on survey timing windows and travel logistics. Compensation is commensurate with experience.
Roles and responsibilities
As an Avian/Wildlife Biologist you will join the environmental team focused on transmission lines, renewable energy, oil and gas pipelines, environmental surveys, NEPA analyses, and permitting services.
Primary responsibilities will include conducting USFWS-protocol presence/absence surveys for federally listed southwestern willow flycatchers and yellow-billed cuckoos along the Rio Grande, north of Socorro New Mexico, and at two smaller sites in southern Arizona.
The surveys will be begin approximately one hour before sunrise and will conclude generally no later than 11:00 a.m. Surveyors will walk through thick riparian vegetation, periodically broadcasting flycatcher/cuckoo calls/songs per survey protocols, look and listen for flycatchers/cuckoos, and provide accurate and complete data to the project coordinator.
Two technicians and the project coordinator will participate in the surveys, but most days will entail working entirely independently.
Though local (New Mexico) applicants are encouraged, applicants from neighboring states (i.e. western US) will be considered.
Travel (e.g. airfare, rental vehicle, travel time) would be paid to facilitate up to seven (7) deployments to/from the site in three months, along with lodging (e.g. hotel) and food expenses or per diem, while deployed.
USFWS survey training workshops for southwestern willow flycatcher and yellow-billed cuckoos will be required prior to surveys (time and fees paid by POWER). While exact dates and locations are not known at this time, the training workshops typically occur at or just prior to the start of the survey seasons (5/15 for SWFL and 6/15 for YBCU).
Secondary responsibilities may include supporting other biological field surveys as needed in New Mexico, Arizona, and neighboring states, possibly including, but not limited to, one or more of the following: rare plant surveys, burrowing owl surveys, wetlands/waters delineations, Gunnison prairie dog surveys, and biological construction monitoring,
Required Education/Experience
- Completed or pursuing a bachelor's degree in Wildlife Biology, Environmental Science, Ecology, or related field
- Field survey experience (1-2+) seasons
- Ability to work independently in remote and sometimes challenging conditions (e.g. thick vegetation, wet feet, cool mornings and hot days, bugs)
- Ability to navigate off-trail in densely vegetated riparian landscapes
- Careful and accurate data collection/management
- Good common-sense and strong problem-solving skills
- Attention to detail and commitment to quality and professionalism
- Good communication skills
- Ability to carefully navigate unmaintained roads in a 4WD vehicle
- Available for the full duration of the flycatcher/cuckoo survey season (May 10 through August 15)
Desired Education/Experience
- Willow flycatcher survey experience
- Yellow-billed cuckoo survey experience
- Experience conducting bird surveys and/or ability to identify western bird species by sight and sound
- Experience working in New Mexico, Arizona, and/or neighboring states
- Experience relevant to one or more of the secondary responsibilities listed above
At Power Engineers you can have a rewarding career on every level. In addition to challenging and meaningful work you will have a positive impact on the environment, participate in a range of diverse and unique initiatives and find the support, coaching and training it takes to advance your career. We encourage new ideas and fresh approaches and most importantly, we strive to be our client's first choice. These traits-and deep technical skill-account for our success.
As an employee-owned company, we strive to make Power Engineers an appealing place to work, where we perform projects that we find challenging and in which we excel. Power Engineers is a unique and fun engineering firm, which may be contradictory to some, but it works well for us, and we operate with the philosophy of "have fun, do good work, and make money."
EOE/Minorities/Female/Vet/Disabled