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Subterranean Technician – Bat Conservation International
Western United States
Overview:
Bat Conservation International (BCI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to ending bat extinctions worldwide, seeks 3-4 intermittent, part-time Subterranean Technicians to join BCI’s Conservation Department. Ideal candidates will be based within reasonable travel distance of major western U.S. cities. The Subterranean Technician will work as part of the Subterranean Team in the Habitat Protection & Restoration Program.
This position requires an experienced, highly motivated individual willing and able to conduct fieldwork above and below ground safely, efficiently, and professionally in a variety of environments throughout the western United States. The successful candidate will perform a variety of conservation activities that benefit bats and other wildlife that depend on subterranean habitats, with the primary focus being on the inventory and biological assessment of subterranean bat roosting resources such as caves and abandoned mines.
Project work occurs in partnership with land management agencies, including Bureau of Land Management, Department of Energy, National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and others. Subterranean field surveys are used to assess habitat quality and determine bat and other wildlife use of subterranean sites to inform management recommendations aimed at protection of important habitat. Additionally, this position may assist with project management duties, including report writing, data and photo management, and other pre- and post-fieldwork tasks. On-the-job training will occur, and opportunities for additional safety/medical certifications may be available.
Work Schedule:
This is a part-time, intermittent position that will fulfill as-needed field project duties. As such, work is not guaranteed and will be sporadic in nature. When work is available, advance notice of 1-3 months is generally provided. Available project work requires travel to project sites and consists of living and working on-site, in or near field locations. Field projects are typically five weekdays in length, including travel days, though some projects may require longer deployments and may include working weekends. Field weeks may consist of travel and field days ranging in length from 8 hours to 12 hours or more. Typical field projects occur in remote, mountainous terrain, based out of local towns (often small communities with limited services). Overnight lodging is provided in shared house rentals or hotel rooms, with private bedrooms for each team member, though some projects may require camping. Meals and other travel costs are also covered. Office work, when available, is flexible in nature and will occur remotely from a home office.
Position Description (Major Duties):
- Conducting surface inventory of potential abandoned mines and caves.
- Conducting biological surveys that focus on assessing abandoned mines and caves for bats and other wildlife. This is done primarily using internal (underground) surveys, following standardized BCI protocols.
- Using the results of those surveys to affect conservation by identifying and recommending protection of critical bat and wildlife habitat.
- Potential to assist with planning, managing, implementing, and reporting on biological survey projects. This can include travel logistics, gear maintenance, managing data and photos collected during fieldwork, as well as communicating survey results and assessments with project partners.
This Job is for you if you:
- Are comfortable in small, intimate team environments.
- Enjoy working hard outside, under trying physical conditions.
- Are safety conscious and a strong communicator.
- Want to contribute to positive social and environmental impact.
