Wolverine Field Assistant (2 Positions)
Wolverine Field Assistant
Position type: Wolverine Field Assistants (x2)
Employer: Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCS Canada)
Project Supervisor: Dr. Matthew Scrafford
Field Supervisor: Jacob Seguin
Term: 12 November 2020 to 4 May 2021 (some flexibility)
Salary: $15- $17 CAD/hour (depending on experience and immobilization certification). 40 hours per week.
Deadline for application: 18 September 2020
Job ID: ONB-WOLV2020 01/02
Position Summary:
WCS Canada is seeking 2 field assistants to assist with wolverine field research in Red Lake, Ontario during the winter of 2020/2021:
o Field Assistant 1 – immobilization certification required
o Field Assistant 2 – immobilization certification not required
These are 6-month winter-long positions that will support WCS Canada’s Wolverine Conservation Program in Ontario’s Northern Boreal Landscape. Field assistants will establish and maintain a network of wolverine live-traps and run-poles, establish and maintain motion-sensor cameras on roads and at live-traps, track wolverines using snowshoes and snowmobiles, and assist with the chemical immobilization and collaring of wolverines. The predominant responsibility of the Field Assistant positions will be performing daily checks of live-traps. Field assistants will also be required to support the research program by entering and organizing field data, scoring camera photos, and plotting and managing spatial data in a geographic information system (GIS). The Field Assistants will be directly supervised by the Field Supervisor.
The field crew will live in a 3-bedroom house 20 minutes south of Red Lake – a town with a gym, grocery store, outdoors store and restaurants. The living situation will likely require room sharing. The cost of meals and housing is included with these positions.
Besides having general skills associated with winter field work, we are looking for a field assistant that can lead wolverine immobilizations if the Project Supervisor or Field Supervisor are unavailable – this person must have current chemical immobilization training (taken the course after April 2018). Preference will be given to a candidate with experience leading field immobilizations and field crews. The second field assistant will be an assistant on immobilizations and will therefore require less experience with wildlife handling/field research – this person does not need to have chemical immobilization training.
These positions are subject to dynamic hours because of the need to get animals quickly out of live-traps. Traps are set 24/7 and there is only a brief period during the night when we may not immediately respond to a triggered trap.
The Field Assistant positions will generally work a weekly shift that will include 2 or 3 days off per week, dependent on daily work hours. Daily work hours are expected to range from 8 to 10 hours, however, daily work hours may be split into a day and night shift as the project requires. We require that the successful applicants be flexible on scheduling hours. Work days longer that 10 hours may be required.
The field assistants will be paid hourly and are guaranteed full-time hours (minimum 40 hours/week) during the field season. Overtime will be at the discretion of the project supervisor and will be calculated based on a time averaging agreement. To better manage budgets, the Field Assistants will have the option of taking overtime as paid time in lieu, as per a time averaging agreement. Once again, we require the successful applicant to be flexible with work hours and changing work schedules.
There will be a two-week winter break over the December holiday season and New Year.
Position Objectives:
These positions will support the WCS Canada Wolverine Conservation Program which has the following primary objectives:
1. Develop methods to monitor the abundance and distribution of wolverines throughout the Ontario Shield
2. Develop forestry best-management practices for wolverine habitats
3. Understand the habitat requirements of reproductive females in industrial landscapes
Core Responsibilities:
· Organization and maintenance of field equipment (daily)
· Routine checks of wolverine live-traps and run-poles (daily)
· Handling raw bait (beaver, moose, please note that the bait is often smelly) (daily)
· Establish and maintain a network of motion-sensor cameras on roads (daily)
· Transfer field-collected data to an Excel database (daily)
· Use GIS to plot wolverine GPS collar locations and road-camera locations (daily)
· Tracking of wolverines on snowshoe and snowmobile, collect scat and document sign (frequent)
· Constuction of wolverine live-traps and run-poles (infrequent)
· Conduct (Field Assistant 1) or assist (Filed Assistant 2) the chemical immobilization of wolverines (infrequent)
Mandatory Qualifications for Field Assistant 1:
· Experience in field immobilization and collaring of medium or large mammals
· Successful completion of a chemical Immobilization course from an accredited program – must have taken course after April 2018
· Experience supervising field-based research programs
General Qualifications/Assets:
· Ability to meet the physical demands of winter field work including hiking through snow, lifting logs, starting and lifting snowmobiles
· Experience operating a snowmobile and/or ATV
· Experience with winter driving and towing trailers with pickup trucks
· Valid Ontario G driver’s license
· An interest in wildlife and nature
· First aid and bear safety training
· Proficient with Microsoft Excel
· Experience with importing and ploting data points in GIS (ArcGIS)
· Experience operating motion-sensor cameras
· Ability to live and work in remote and cold environments over longtime periods
· Experience with small construction projects
· Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to navigate interpersonal relationships when living in close quarters with co-workers in remote locations
· Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team member
· Ability work under pressure and meet expected outcomes
· Good organization and time-management skills
· Knowledge of environmental protection legislation
· Good problem-prevention and problem-solving mindset
How to apply:
Please send us your CV with a cover letter explaining your qualifications related to the responsibilities listed above and your motivation to work on this project through the Fitzii application portal:
https://www.fitzii.com/apply/51156?s=c5
Questions about these positions can be sent to Dr. Matthew Scrafford at mscrafford@wcs.org.
Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known when contacted. For questions regarding the application process please contact tdias@wcs.org.
Deadline for applications: Applications must be received by 18 September 2020 to be considered.
About WCS Canada:
WCS Canada (www.wcscanada.org) was established as a Canadian conservation organization in July 2004. We are committed to championing accessibility, diversity, and equal opportunity. Our mission is to conserve wildlife and wild places by improving our understanding of and seeking solutions to critical problems that threaten key species and large wild ecosystems throughout Canada. We implement and support comprehensive field studies that gather information on wildlife needs and then seek to resolve key conservation problems by working with a broad array of stakeholders. We also provide technical assistance and biological expertise to local groups and agencies that lack the resources to tackle conservation concerns. WCS Canada is independently registered and managed, while retaining a strong collaborative working relationship with sister Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) programs in more than 60 countries.
This job posting is based on current COVID-19 conditions in Ontario and may be subject to change.
Candidates must be able to demonstrate that they are eligible to travel to and work in Canada based on current COVID-19 travel restrictions.
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