Predator Biologist

THE ROLE

The Predator Biologist conducts and/or oversees surveillance, research, and targeted management of high threat predators of special status species, including but not limited to nesting California Least Terns and Western Snowy Plovers, in coastal San Diego, Orange, and/or Los Angeles Counties. This is applied and adaptive conservation work, with the data collected used to help steer management efforts both locally and regionally, with the goal of developing and implementing innovative equipment and techniques to increase program efficiency, reduce negative impacts to native predator populations, and achieve recovery goals.

Day-to-day operations will be based on predator and prey activity, driven by diurnal and nocturnal physical and digital surveillance of nesting and adjacent areas and post-predation site investigations. Active management of high-threat individuals may include a variety of non-lethal and lethal tactics tailored to the species, behavior, and permit conditions. All activity will be digitally collected and analyzed for technical reporting and further development of the programs. Work may include development and testing of experimental techniques to address special status species conflict and GPS tracking of predator movements. Additionally, some work may require injured and contaminated wildlife recovery and transport, as part of on-call rescue projects or oil spill response.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Conduct diurnal and nocturnal predator surveillance and monitoring, through general and protocol-level surveys, identifying potential and confirmed high-threat predators (to species, age, and sex, when possible) and their behavior
• Deploy, operate, and maintain cellular trail cameras and other surveillance equipment; download, review, and log data for integration into active management efforts and technical reporting
• Investigate predation events and use evidence to support identification of high-threat individuals or species
• Implement targeted management of high-threat predators using a variety of lethal and nonlethal tactics, in compliance with company protocols and federal, state, and site-specific regulations
• Record data digitally, maintain project databases, and prepare weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual technical reports
• Support ongoing predator research, including development and/or refinement of innovative surveillance and management techniques, and assist with injured wildlife recovery and transport

This list is representative, not exhaustive; additional duties may be assigned.

ABOUT WILDLIFE INNOVATIONS

Wildlife Innovations (WI) is a DGS-certified small/micro business specializing in wildlife research, surveillance, monitoring, and management. WI provides support for a variety of tasks, such as listed species protection and recovery, environmental compliance, wildlife rescue, hazing, and transport, human health and safety, and conflict and damage mitigation. Our work spans across a diverse set of landscapes, including construction sites, airports, military installations, ports, and state and city parks and beaches. Our approach is grounded in the relationships between species in local ecosystems and the stressors created by human modification of the landscape; for this, we use a combination of historic and advanced monitoring, surveillance, and management techniques to help resolve wildlife conflicts, improve outcomes, and support the recovery of focal species. Most staff are cross-trained across multiple projects and techniques to provide more adaptive and expedited responses

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Wildlife Science, Biology, or a closely related field from an accredited university
• Three or more years of applicable field experience (the mix of avian versus mammalian experience may adjust this requirement)
• Proficiency in the safe handling, transport, and maintenance of firearms; firearms experience must be recent (within 12 months); applicants without this will not be considered
• Accurate identification of Southern California predators, especially birds of prey, corvids, and mammals, by sight, sound, and track, to species, age, and sex (required)
• Extensive trapping and/or hunting experience, including operating, maintaining, transporting, constructing, and deploying a range of wildlife traps
• Animal tracking experience; ability to safely handle a variety of wildlife species; experience with physical and digital surveillance equipment
• Experience conducting wildlife surveys, logging detailed field data, and preparing technical reports; strong written and oral communication
• Extensive four-wheel-drive experience on steep, muddy, or sandy terrain, and basic vehicle maintenance (fluids, tire pressure, changing a tire)
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint); valid California driver’s license, or the ability to obtain one on hire

Preferred: Highlight any that apply

• Experience conducting predator control within sensitive-species habitat, and conducting predation investigations
• California trapping license; hunter education certificate and hunting license; NRA Firearms Safety Instructor certification; ammunition reloading
• Currently listed on, or holder of, a CDFW Scientific Collecting Permit, Master Banding Permit, or other active California wildlife permit; banding, tagging, or raptor-marking experience; GPS transmitter deployment
• Project management experience leading and scheduling field teams and coordinating with clients across multiple sites, ideally on wildlife management projects
• Project procurement and development experience
• Experience consulting with state and federal regulatory agencies, and preparing, maintaining, and reporting on permits
• Primary authorship of annual reports, proposals, and management plans; CEQA/NEPA document preparation; environmental compliance experience
• FAA Part 107 certificate with UAS survey or monitoring experience; ArcGIS or other mapping proficiency; California Boater Card
• MS in Wildlife Science or a related field
• Experience in Ai coding and image recognition software

Working conditions

• Variable schedule, including swing and split shifts, day and nighttime operations, and travel between multiple sites in a day; long, continuous survey periods outdoors in all weather and at varying noise levels
• Hike up to 10 miles per day (typically 1 to 2) over uneven terrain, sometimes in waders or mud boots, carrying up to 50 lb; stand, walk, reach, and stoop throughout the day

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Salary: $70,000–$110,000 per year, depending on experience. Candidates with certification and permit standing, procurement and program development experience, and multi-project management are compensated at the upper end of the range.
• Benefits: health plan, paid time off, sick leave, and retirement plan eligibility (subject to length of employment). Eligibility for Bonuses (subject to employee and company performance)
• Start date: Dependent upon qualifications of candidate