Biological Technician

Employer:         Turner Enterprises Management, LLC
Job Title:           Biological Technician
Location:           Ladder Ranch – Caballo, NM
Type:                Seasonal / Hourly / Non-Exempt / Non-Benefits-Eligible
Housing:           Yes

Have you dreamed of contributing to one of the most progressive conservation-minded ranching operations in the world? Turner Ranches is committed to sustainable land stewardship, native species conservation, and innovative management practices. We are seeking motivated, mission-driven individuals to join our team and help make a measurable impact on wildlife conservation in the American Southwest.

Ladder Ranch, a pristine 156,439-acre bison ranch in south-central New Mexico, is seeking a motivated Biological Technician to support amphibian recovery and large carnivore conservation programs. This position is ideal for individuals passionate about field biology, species recovery, and hands-on conservation work in remote landscapes. Learn more about Ladder Ranch. 

ABOUT THE POSITION
The Biological Technician will work closely with the Senior Biological Technician to support Chiricahua leopard frog (CLF) recovery and Mexican wolf conservation programs on Ladder Ranch.
 
You will also be responsible for: 

• Providing husbandry support in the Chiricahua leopard frog breeding facility.
• Conducting CLF population surveys and monitoring.
• Performing amphibian disease sampling and testing.
• Assisting with CLF translocations and release efforts.
• Supporting habitat improvement and maintenance projects.
• Assisting with husbandry in the Mexican wolf facility.
• Maintaining and checking wildlife camera traps across the Ranch.
• Conducting wolf observations and behavioral monitoring.
• Assisting with wolf capture operations under supervision.
• Safely operating UTVs and ranch vehicles.
• Working independently in remote environments and under physically demanding and variable weather conditions.
• Assisting with additional conservation and wildlife projects on and off the ranch as needed.
• Participating in ranch safety programs and team meetings.
• All other duties and projects assigned.

What this isn’t:

• A management or supervisory position

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Wildlife Management, or related field is required.
• This position requires operation of vehicles, and you’ll need to possess a valid driver’s license or be able to obtain one within 30 days of employment.  Your driving record will need to meet the standards and requirements of the Company and the Company’s insurance provider.
• You’ll need to present documentation establishing both identity and employment authorization within three days of hire pursuant to federal law.

Preferred:

• Prior fieldwork experience.
• Experience with amphibians, carnivore research, or wildlife husbandry.
• Experience operating ATVs/UTVs.
• A high school diploma or general education degree (GED).

YOUR QUALITIES

• You demonstrate care and compassion for team members both in and out of the department.
• You’re self-directed, energetic, and motivated with multi-tasking capabilities.
• You demonstrate integrity and sound judgement.
• You demonstrate clean work habits and attention to detail.
• You conduct yourself in a professional manner in and out of the work setting.
• You demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS & PERKS

• Paid Sick Leave
• Employee Assistance Program

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

On a regular basis, you can expect to:

• Stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, dig with various tools, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear.
• Lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Perform physical labor for extended periods of time.

On a frequent basis, you can expect to:

• Operate an ATV/UTV for extended periods over uneven, rough terrain, and occasionally on roads or flat surfaces.
• Climb ladders, fences, and other similar obstacles.
• Extended hiking in remote areas
• Wading through streams or wetlands
• Backpacking and overnight camping during fieldwork

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. 

You will regularly be exposed to moving mechanical parts; outside weather conditions; extreme cold and extreme heat. You will frequently be exposed to high, precarious places and fumes or airborne particles. You will occasionally by exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals. You must be alert and aware of dangers that are present while working in a remote location.   The successful employee will be required to work relatively independently on a regular basis and must be comfortable working alone in a remote landscape. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

WORK SCHEDULE
You will typically be expected to work five (5) days per week (Monday–Friday) and up to 40 hours per week. However, work schedules may vary depending on project demands, field conditions, and weather. Workdays and workweeks may be longer or shorter as operational needs require. Workweeks of up to 60 hours are not uncommon, particularly when assigned to projects away from the primary duty station. The July 4th and Labor Day holidays, along with reasonable vacation requests, may be accommodated but will be treated as unpaid leave.

The physical demands described above are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job, and the work environment characteristics are representative of those you may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  Accommodation inquiries must be made to the Company’s Human Resources Department for consideration.

Turner Enterprises Management, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Smoke Free/Drug-Free Workplace.

For more information, visit www.tedturner.com.