Habitat Restoration Technician (USFWS, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge)

Employment Duration 6 months (early November-April)jobshiringnearme.org Employment Status Full time (40 hr/week) jobshiringnearme.org Salary $23.07/hrjobshiringnearme.org Employer Altar Valley jobshiringnearme.org Alliancejobshiringnearme.org Location Details/description:  Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Yuma, Arizona 

Altar Valley jobshiringnearme.org Alliance, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking ONE Habitat Restoration Technician to work alongside Imperial National Wildlife Refuge staff and partners to help with a rehabilitation and revegetation project known as the Refuge Burned Area Rehabilitation (BAR) Project. The refuge is located 40 miles northeast of Yuma Arizona.  

For more information on Altar Valley jobshiringnearme.org Alliance please visit https://altarvalleyconservation.org/ 

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge is a 25,768-acre and protects 30 miles of wildlife habitat along the lower Colorado River. In 1938, Imperial Dam was completed on the river north of Yuma, Arizona. The waters stored behind the dam formed numerous backwaters and marsh areas along the edges of the river. These wetlands provided excellent resting, feeding, and nesting habitat for a variety of migratory birds and other wildlife. Serving as a boundary between Arizona and California, this portion of the river includes the last un-channelized section before its waters enter Mexico.  

Imperial NWR is in a somewhat remote area – it is about a 45-minute drive into the Fortuna Foothills and an hour drive into Yuma. The Foothills is basically a smaller version of Yuma – there are three grocery stores, a post office, gas stations and a few restaurants. If you go on into Yuma, you can expect to find everything there you would in a larger town such as the hospital and more grocery stores and restaurant choices and shopping. 

For more information about Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, please visit the FWS website. 

position Overview: The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The USFWS is hiring (1) Habitat Restoration Technician to assist with the Burn Area Restoration (BAR) Project on the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge which aims to rehabilitate cottonwood/willow and desert thornscrub habitat lost to a wildfire in May 2024. The restoration technician will provide support and assistance under the guidance and direction of FWS staff. Primary duties include: 

• Assisting Refuge Staff with various restoration/rehabilitation methods (90%)
• Cut trees/brush using gas powered and heavy equipment
• Digging and building erosion structures
• Broadcast seeding and planting seedlings
• Invasive species management and control using mechanical and chemical (herbicides) methods
• Operate irrigation systems and complete other related tasks to fulfill the identified project objectives
• Assisting Refuge Staff with wildlife surveys and other habitat monitoring (10%)

Position benefits 

Housing: Housing is provided in the refuge bunkhouse at no cost to the technician  

Qualifications, Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions: 

Required: 

• Willing and able to represent UFSWS a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• Ability to sit, stand, stoop and bend over for long periods of time (up to 8 hours)
• Ability to walk/work on all types of surfaces (uneven and slippery ground)
• Ability to lift/carry up to 40 pounds for extended periods
• Must be able to use proper Personal Protective Equipment as directed
• Work in outdoor environment: heat, cold, wet and dry and dusty conditions
• A valid driver’s license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request)
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
• Due to the remote refuge location applicant must have a personal vehicle for use outside of work hours

Preferred: 

• education and experience: competitive applicants for this position can hold or be actively pursuing a degree in Wildlife Biology, Natural Resource Management, Forestry, Environmental Studies, or related field, or have equivalent field-based experience in wildlife or habitat management.
• Ability and willingness to use herbicides
• Deep interest in the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or restoration and habitat management.

Responsibilities on the Job 

• Maintain a clean and safe working environment
• Operate 4WD pickup trucks, ATV/UTVs, skid steers, farm tractors, and backhoes (training provided)
• Ability to complete task training and to maintain certifications
• If not using provided housing, ability to commute daily to Imperial National Wildlife Refuge
• Drive company vehicle to load and unload materials
• Knowledge or ability to learn of operating power tools/ gas powered equipment
• Knowledge or ability to learn different methods of rehabilitation methods