Temporary Natural Resources Technician - WA or OR

About the opportunity:

SWCA Environmental Consultants is expanding our team and looking for Temporary Natural Resources Technicians with backgrounds in botany or wildlife biology to support our Pacific Northwest office’s project in Washington state. This will be from mid-May to September. We are expecting to hire three (3) temporary, hourly positions – two botanists and one wildlife biologist – who are local to the Washington or Oregon and familiar with flora or fauna of Washington state. These individuals will conduct field surveys that consist of long days over rugged forested and open terrain, service and maintain field equipment, and will use a 4x4 truck. Applicants should be able to work outdoors in a team or independently for 40 hours or more per week. Unless local to NW Washington State, overnight travel is required. Scheduling is based on project and client needs.

Application deadline: Our team will begin reviewing applications immediately, and interviews will be scheduled with qualified candidates on a rolling basis. The application process will remain open until we have received a robust pool of qualified candidates. Once we have identified suitable individuals, we may close the application process without prior notice. We appreciate the time and effort invested by all applicants and will carefully consider each submission.

What you will accomplish:

• Follow established scientific protocols to conduct wildlife or vegetation surveys or baseline studies, habitat assessments, or noxious weed mapping.
• Assist with tasks to collect and/or manage natural resources data in the field or office. Technicians are expected to work efficiently to complete assigned tasks in a manner that ensures the data are accurate, complete, and verifiable
• Use topographic maps, aerial photographs, GPS units, and other mapping tools to determine exact locations of project areas, habitat types, species of interest, and associated landforms
• Photograph and record appropriate habitat, species, and geographic landforms relative to suitable habitat requirements and ecological classifications
• Operate SWCA vehicles, assure they will perform safely, and notify appropriate person if vehicle needs maintenance
• Ability to perform all work with a focus on safety in a remote field setting for long hours, sometimes in inclement weather, rugged terrain, and at high altitudes is required; the ability to carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 40 pounds and walk up to 12 miles per day is required
• Some project areas are located in sensitive watersheds in which waste must be collected
• Communicate frequently and openly with team members and supervisors to ensure that task objectives and methods are clearly understood, task progress is shared, and questions or needs are promptly addressed. This includes initiating and/or responding to communication requests before, during, and after task implementation as part of a real-time, collaborative work effort
• Adhere to SWCA’s safety program while looking out for the safety of others, promptly communicating and mitigating safety hazards
• Coordinate with administrative staff for the accurate and prompt filing of expense and logistics paperwork.

Experience and qualifications for success:

• Minimum of B.A. or B.S. in Botany, Wildlife Ecology or Management, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management or similar degree strongly preferred
• Experience with field-based botany or wildlife-related scientific data collection and attention to detail
• Must have experience with accurate natural resources data collection procedures and data QA/QC
• Familiarity with Pacific NW flora or fauna (botany or wildlife experience)
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office 365, ArcGIS, and other software suites
• Must have valid driver's license and be able to meet SWCA’s driver requirements
• Must be able to pass client-mandated background check
• Ability to drive a 4-wheel-drive vehicle on rugged, back-country roads

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes

• Ability to work long days outdoors for extended periods of time (up to 14 days) in a safe and productive manner
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude while working closely with a small team in a dynamic work environment
• Ability to travel and work remotely as required
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team with excellent team collaboration skills
• Excellent communication and organizational skills

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full-spectrum of environmental services. With offices across the United States, SWCA is one of the largest environmental compliance firms and ranks among Engineering News-Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms.

If you would like to contact SWCA regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the online application process due to a disability, please email [email protected] or call 480-581-5378. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only. All other inquiries will not receive a response.

SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees. In alignment with this commitment, SWCA posts good faith pay ranges in all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency.

An employee in this Pacific NW -based position can expect a rate of $20.20/hour to $26.75/hour. Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law. Regular-status employees are also eligible for performance bonuses.

SWCA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply. At SWCA Environmental Consultants, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds, including those with diverse experiences and veterans, to apply. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce enhances creativity, innovation, and overall organizational success

SWCA continues to invest deeply in career development programs, delivering our award-winning Career Landscape support resources to accelerate the growth of our staff. We recognize the valuable skills and experiences our internal team members bring to SWCA’s continued success. Qualified internal candidates are encouraged to apply and will be seriously considered for this position. We believe in promoting from within, where possible, providing our existing employees with compelling opportunities to advance their careers.

Applicants must be willing to participate in a drug testing and alcohol screening as part of the pre-employment process, as some projects require such screenings. Applicants must have valid driver’s license and be able to meet SWCA’s driver requirements.

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