This is a full-time, temporary six-month position that will focus on helping the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians create a formal consultation document about endangered bat management with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We consider this a contract position that will require minimal supervision but highly collaborative in nature. The position is funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs but managed through the Office of Fisheries and Wildlife Management of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Employment will run between the regulatory clearance period of April 15 and October 15 (with some flexibility in start and end dates) and may be extended upon need. The position will occasionally require 6+ hour nights in the field collecting data and long hours in the office helping to write clearance documents and managing data. The Regulatory Liaison will primarily focus on working with staff from the three agencies (BIA, EBCI, USFWS) to create a formal consultation document. Any actual fieldwork will largely include bat and associated habitat surveys with collection, entry, analysis, and management of acoustic data.
The incumbent will apply a wide range of complex biological resource management techniques through the installation, operation, and maintenance of complex/specialized equipment. Equipment will include the use of cutting-edge acoustic recording devices and analysis software with some potential for camera trapping for general wildlife surveys. Some field methods will include acoustic surveys, mist-netting, and camera trapping. Preference will be given to applicants with experience and understanding of cutting-edge acoustic recording devices (Petterson, SM3, ANABAT) and analysis software (e.g. BCID, Kaleidoscope, SonoBat).
Although bat capture is not the main job characteristic, we will be performing some inventory work through mist-netting. If applicants have a rabies vaccination, it should be stated in the application. Following data collection, this employee will submit oral and written reports to the Supervisory Biologist summarizing work performed and quality assurance checks completed. A major responsibility will be to maintain specified records, files, and logs for reporting activities and work collaboratively with various state and federal entities to meet EBCI conservation and management goals, particularly related to regulatory needs.
In addition to sampling and data responsibilities, the ESA Regulatory Liaison will gain experience training volunteers, interns, and contractors to accurately follow program procedures. There will be some opportunities to gain experience working with a variety of other taxa and we encourage collaborations that may result in peer previewed manuscript development.
The incumbent must supply their own transportation, but a small rate of reimbursement, based on mileage, will be available. Limited housing may be available but should be discussed prior to hiring.
Qualifications
Minimum requirements are a bachelor’s degree in natural resources, wildlife or ecologically focused biological degree program plus at least one year of directly related experience. It will be essential to have strong writing and organizational skills. We will give preference to applications that show research experience and writing, particularly related to knowledge regulatory actions and acoustic analysis. Must hold a valid driver’s license and be able to supply own vehicle when needed. Some hiking across uneven terrain requires applicants to be physically fit. Some preference may be given to applicants with up to date rabies vaccination.