Western EcoSystems Technology (WEST), founded in 1990, has grown to be one of the premier environmental and statistical consulting firms in the United States. In 2017, WEST expanded into Canada by opening an office in Calgary, AB, with staff now in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Ontario, and New Brunswick. In our continued drive to provide outstanding professional consulting services and original solutions to a wide range of natural resource problems, we are looking for energetic and experienced Wildlife Field Technicians to help with our upcoming 2024 field season.
Number of positions available: 15
Location: Calgary, AB
Job Type: Temporary, Full-Time
Tentative Start Date: Q2 2024, or as needed.
Benefits: WEST Benefits
Job Description:
Primary duties may include:
- Standardized bird migration, breeding bird, sharp-tailed grouse lek, burrowing owl, or other avian use surveys;
- Raptor nest monitoring;
- Amphibian, reptile, and mammal surveys;
- Amphibian salvages;
- Species-specific surveys for Species of Management Concern (SOMC);
- Bat acoustic detector and/or thermal camera setup and maintenance;
- Pre-disturbance nest surveys;
- Other ecological surveys (e.g., wetland, soil, and vegetation assessments);
- Field data QAQC, processing, and demobilization;
- Data entry and management;
- Weekly timesheet and expense report completion;
- Bird and bat fatality monitoring at operating renewable energy facilities (post-construction monitoring);
- Carcass handling and management in support of post-construction monitoring programs;
- Support reporting as needed: compiling tables and figures, report writing; and
- Office-based administrative assistance, as needed.
This position consists of 95% fieldwork, and travel between the field and the Calgary office. Fieldwork will require long days (up to 12 hours) with overnight stays in remote locations.
Fieldwork will require candidates to:
- Demonstrate strong bird identification skills in boreal, parkland, and prairie habitats;
- Start survey work early in the morning (e.g., 3 AM), or late at night (e.g., 10 PM), as needed;
- Work through weekends and holidays, as needed;
- Work long shifts, up to 22 consecutive days, as needed;
- Work overtime hours (i.e., more than 8 hours per day or 44 hours per week) whilst in the field, as needed;
- Work effectively either independently or in small crews;
- Demonstrate effective communication, organizational, and time management skills;
- Walk long distances (up to 20 km per day) in uneven or difficult terrain;
- Work in a range of environmental conditions (e.g., heat, cold, wind);
- Demonstrate proficiency in operating a four-wheel drive vehicle in off-road conditions;
- Work around/in hazards typical of rural environments (e.g., livestock, dust, mud, snow, extreme heat and cold);
- Work in rattlesnake, grizzly bear, black bear, cougar, and wolf habitat;
- Work in areas with little to no cellphone signal, and utilize satellite and radio devices for regular communication as required by safety protocols;
- Demonstrate due care of field equipment, vehicles, and office equipment;
- Collect quality legible field data, and adhere to administrative processes pertaining to fieldwork, safety, and HR;
- Work well under time constraints and meet deliverable targets and deadlines; and
- Follow protocols and work efficiently.
This is a general description of the functions for this position and is not inclusive of all the duties that may be associated with this position.
The following general requirements of the position must be met by all candidates:
- Legally allowed to work in Canada (i.e., Canadian citizen, Canadian permanent resident, or have an existing VISA with no work restrictions) Please note: US citizens require a Canadian work visa to work in Canada;
- Completed and received a relevant technical diploma, bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree in ecology, zoology, environmental science or management, or other related discipline;
- Possession of a valid driver’s licence with no restrictions;
- Able to rent a vehicle from a rental agency (e.g., Enterprise);
- Able to obtain a driver’s abstract that meets WEST’s minimum criteria to operate a motor vehicle on behalf of the company;
- Able to pass a drug and alcohol test that meets the minimum criteria of WEST and our clients;
- High level of initiative and ability to think critically to solve challenging problems;
- Capable of adhering to all health and safety requirements, outlined by WEST and our clients, for the duration of their employment; and
- Have durable steel-toed boots and hiking boots with a minimum 6-inch ankle (waterproof highly recommended), and good quality binoculars (8x42 or 10x42). These pieces of field equipment will not be reimbursed by WEST.
Desired Skills:
- Experience conducting avian use point counts and other biological fieldwork;
- Ability to identify >75% of bird species in western Canada by sound and >90% by sight;
- Previous experience using tablet data collection systems;
- Previous experience leading field crews; and
- Previous experience completing the aforementioned survey types.
WEST provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, mental or physical disability, marital status, family status or any other characteristic protected by federal, provincial, or local law.
