Bat Conservation International

Cliff Ecology Technician

Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah

REPORTS TO:

Cliff Ecology Team Lead: Zac Warren

FLSA STATUS:

Seasonal; Non-Exempt

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

Habitat Protection & Restoration Program, Conservation Department

RATE:

$20/hour (plus overtime pay)

Bat Conservation International (BCI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to ending bat extinctions worldwide, seeks 1 intermittent, seasonal Cliff Ecology Technician to join BCI’s Conservation Department. Ideal candidates will be based within Zion National Park with travel to neighboring National Park Units. The Cliff Ecology Technician will work as part of the Cliff Ecology Team in the Habitat Protection & Restoration Program.

This position requires an experienced, highly motivated individual willing and able to conduct field work in vertical cliff environments safely, efficiently, and professionally, particularly on soft southwest desert sandstone. The successful candidate will perform a variety of conservation activities that benefit bats and other wildlife that depend on cliff habitat, with a primary focus on conducting winter cliff surveys to locate hibernating bats for the purpose of white-nose syndrome surveillance monitoring. Additional duties may include mist-netting and locating roosts via radio telemetry tracking of tagged bats.

Project work occurs in partnership with the National Park Service. Cliff hibernacula surveys are used to determine suitable characteristics of cliff roosts, conduct white-nose surveillance, and track population trends. The program will provide 3 days of small party assisted rescue training from an accredited AMGA guide, but competitive applicants should be proficient in basic self-rescue and traditional climbing techniques. Surveys will require climbing established and unestablished technical rock climbing routes up 5.11 C2+ utilizing free and aid climbing techniques. Additionally, the technician will have the option to attend monthly Zion Technical Search & Rescue Training and respond to park rescues while not working.

Work Schedule:

This is a seasonal, intermittent position not to exceed four months. Work will generally occur Monday through Thursday for up to 40 hours a week. Some work (3-4 weeks) will require traveling to neighboring Capital Reef National Park. On these overnight trips, lodging is provided in a shared park service house. Meals and other travel costs will be covered during this time. Shared housing in Zion National Park is available to rent for four months at the cost of $470-550/Month. No pets are allowed in park housing.

Position Description (Major Duties):

• Conducting biological surveys that focus on assessing abandoned mines and caves for bats and other wildlife. This is done primarily using internal (underground) surveys, following standardized BCI protocols.

• Using the results of those surveys to affect conservation by identifying and recommending the protection of critical bat and wildlife habitats.

• Potential to assist with planning, managing, implementing, and reporting on biological survey projects. This can include travel logistics, gear maintenance, managing data and photos collected during fieldwork, as well as communicating survey results and assessments with project partners.

This Job is for you if you:

• Are comfortable in small, intimate team environments.

• Enjoy working hard outside, under trying physical conditions.

• Are safety conscious and a strong communicator.

• Want to contribute to positive social and environmental impact.

• Enjoy working in a vertical environment on cliff faces over 1000’.

Required Candidate Qualifications:

If you have 70% or more of the qualifications listed below, we encourage you to apply.

• Demonstrated ability to work in remote environments, navigate off-trail, and follow field safety protocols.

• Demonstrated ability to comfortably navigate around vertical drops, tight spaces, and steep scrambles with a heavy (~45lb) backpack.

• Demonstrated interest in bats and vertical environments.

• Demonstrated ability to climb at least 5.10+ utilizing traditional protection.

• Knowledge of basic self-rescue techniques such as belay escapes, improvised ascending, hauling, and tandem rappelling.

• Experience communicating and assessing risk in high-consequence environments.

• Experience collecting data following strict protocols.

• Demonstrated experience climbing on technical multi-pitch terrain utilizing traditional protection as anchors.

Desired Additional Qualifications:

• Experience leading moderate aid climbs up to C2+

• Current rabies pre-exposure vaccination.

• Experience with mist-netting for bats or birds.

• Experience communicating conservation topics to the public.

• Certifications in first aid, CPR, and wilderness medicine.

• Desire for a career in natural resources, wildlife management, biology, or ecology.

To Apply:

Interested individuals should submit their CV or resume, a 1-page climbing resume of noteworthy climbs, and a short personal story (1 page or less) that addresses the following:

• Based on our job posting, how do you see yourself adding value to this role and our organization?

Applications are due by October 17. We anticipate interviews being conducted in October with a start day in mid-late November.

Bat Conservation International is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to pursuing and hiring a diverse workforce and committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. Please read more about our Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion statement at

www.batcon.org/about-us/justice-equity-diversity-and-inclusion/.

 

Apply Here

 

PI193022279