- Agency
- Institute for Natural Resources - Portland State University
- Location
- Near Coos Bay, Oregon
- Job Category
- Temporary/Seasonal Positions
- Salary
- $22/hour, DOE
- Start Date
- 04/16/2023
- Last Date to Apply
- 04/03/2023
- Description
- The Oregon Biodiversity Information Center, part of the Institute for Natural Resources at Portland State University, is hiring a Snowy Plover field assistant to support monitoring the population at Coos Bay North Spit (CBNS). Jetty repair work is occurring at CBNS, Oregon’s most productive Snowy Plover breeding site. We are hiring for a half time (20 hours per week) biologist to provide additional monitoring of the population at CBNS during the breeding season while jetty repairs are underway. Work involves conducting surveys, locating nests, and following broods through fledging. Field assistants are responsible for timely and accurate data entry, and may assist with equipment maintenance as needed. Work requires long hours under a variety of weather conditions. The position runs April 16 – September 15. If interested and qualified, there is the possibility for additional work (up to an additional 20 hours per week) conducting literature reviews and writing scientific species assessments. Responsibilities: • Conduct at least two surveys weekly • Record Snowy Plover habitat use, locations of individual birds. • Report numbers of plovers seen broken down by age and sex • Record color band combinations observed • Report nest locations and check nest status • Observe broods and document fledging • Report observations of predators, human disturbance, and potential construction-related disturbance • Report observations regularly and promptly to USACE and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), to allow avoidance of negative impacts on plovers.
- Qualifications
- Required Qualifications: • progress towards undergraduate degree in Biology, Wildlife Biology, Ecology, or Natural Resources, • field experience in avian research, including experience using binoculars, spotting scopes, and reading color bands, • experience in methods commonly used to locate and observe nesting shorebirds, • strong work ethic, organizational skills, and attention to detail • ability to communicate well under a variety of situations, including one on one, in small group settings, and with partner agencies, • ability to make sound judgement calls in the field, • willingness and enthusiasm to work under a variety of weather conditions, • ability to hike 5-8 miles per day, • willingness to work alone and as part of a team in the field, • valid driver’s license and clean driving record. Preferred qualifications: Studies have shown that women and minorities often don’t apply for positions where they don’t meet all of the preferred skills and experience. We recognize that there are many different paths, experiences, and less traditional backgrounds that add value to one’s work, and encourage applicants to apply even if they do not have all of the preferred skills. • an undergraduate degree in one of the above disciplines, • excellent shorebird identification skills, • experience safely operating all-terrain vehicles, • experience using Microsoft Access and Excel • experience with scientific writing • experience conducting literature reviews • a demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity.
- Contact Person
- Eleanor Gaines
- Contact eMail
- egaines@pdx.edu
