Application instructions are located at the bottom of the page. Please apply directly through the University of Montana's career portal UM Jobs at ** https://umjobs.silkroad.com/** for positions at the University of Montana – Missoula, University of Montana Western (Dillon), and Helena College . Do not apply through Indeed.com or use easy apply through Indeed.com ** *** .

The Center for Integrated Research on the Environment (CIRE) invites applications for a T emporary Rapid Response Field Biologist to oversee supporting and directing the Natural Resources Rapid Response Program operating on the Marine Corps Air Ground Center (MCAGCC). Twentynine Palms is the Marine Corps’ largest combined-arms, live-fire training facility, encompassing 1,102 square miles of mostly public lands in the Mojave Desert, California. The Combat Center is divided into 27 range training area management units, each of which may contain training, landing fields, targetry, main supply routes, fixed ranges, support areas, expeditionary areas and safety buffer zones. Armed forces use the Combat Center to train troops and test equipment. MCAGCC annually provides training to one-third of the Fleet Marine Force and Reserves Units.

Significant natural resources and wildlife exist on MCAGCC. Such wildlife often inhabit areas on MCAGCC property that are in close proximity to military training, facilities maintenance activities, hazardous material and/or electric currents. Birds often times nest in trees and on rooftops and fall near buildings. The federally threatened Agassiz’s Desert Tortoise, on occasion, have wandered into military training zones. When the proximity of wildlife to the aforementioned activities/materials produces a safety concern for the animal or military personnel and/or results in restricting military access, action must be taken to alleviate the situation. The animal must be rescued/picked-up and removed from the site or transported to a licensed wildlife rehabilitation agency or organization. For the purposes of supporting the military mission and allowing continued training and operations, it is vital that the causes of injury of sensitive wildlife as they change over time be researched to allow the Marine Corps to meet its monitoring and conservation obligations under a variety of natural resource requirements, including but not limited to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Sikes Act and identify appropriate proactive adaptive management practices. Regulatory drivers include endangered Species Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act (wildlife affected often fall under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act species list). This project and position ties into the Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan by providing quality management of species, complying with regulatory drivers and providing research on impacts to wildlife from daily operational activities at the installation, as well as minimizing that impact by providing rehabilitation services to wildlife – thus supporting the military mission.

Main responsibilities include:

• Implementing the Wildlife Rapid Response Program by ensuring timely response to on-base calls of injured, trapped or dangerous wildlife (e.g., snakes, desert tortoises, birds, etc.).
• Removing wildlife and transporting to on- or off-base veterinarian, or otherwise following based developed SOPs.
• Ensuring on-base military personnel and contractors are made aware of and follow base-developed SOPs by developing educational and interpretive materials, as necessary, and conducting outreach to on-base and contractor personnel.
• Implementing the desert tortoise clearance survey program for rapid-response tortoise cleaning surveys of facilities and training operation footprints. These rapid-response surveys require on-call personnel for routine or emergent small 1-3 day clearance efforts to detect desert tortoise signs, burrows and individuals, and flag any active tortoise burrows and remove any individuals likely to be impacted by on-base activities.
• Conducting any additional rapid reconnaissance as it relates to wildlife management on base (e.g., rare animal/plant sightings and verification and post rain event wildlife monitoring).
• Maintaining GIS layers.
• Conducting data management for the rapid response program.
• Ensuring GIS layers are integrated into MCAGCC’s GIS Natural Resources database.
• Completing monthly reports to be sent to the CIRE office and help ensure all deliverables for this project are met.

This position requires incumbent to develop a working knowledge of an expanded and articulated experience in developing wildlife management projects on Department of Defense installations. Additionally, the position offers an annual continuing technical education conference opportunity.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office word processing, Excel spreadsheets and presentation software
• Ability to communicate in English, both orally and in writing

Minimum Required Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology, natural resources management, ecology or a similar field of study and at least two (2) years relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in biology
• Experience in wildlife biology
• Desert Tortoise handling experience
• Prior military experience
• Demonstrated ability to obtain Authorized Biologist status from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for clearance surveys and handling/moving of Agassiz’s desert tortoise

About the Center for Integrated Research on the Environment (CIRE) andUM:

CIRE offers expert task-based execution and research in natural resource management, wildland fire operations and cultural resource management to our Federal, Tribal, State and private-sector partners via cooperate agreements, grants and partnering opportunities.

The University of Montana is flagship, research institution with approximately 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It is located in Missoula, a culturally vibrant community of about 75,000, surrounded by mountains and three rivers converge. Abundant recreational opportunities in surrounding state and national forests and nearby Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park complement a thriving intellectual atmosphere. The University of Montana offers eligible employees a generous benefits package that positively separates UM from other local employers and offers many programs and policies to support work-life balance for its employees.

The University of Montana is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its five priorities for action: Place student success at the center of all we do; drive excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and research; embody the principle of “mission first, people always"; partner with place; and proudly tell the UM story.

To learn more about the University of Montana, Missoula, and the State of Montana, please visit the links below.

• University of Montana
  • Video: Mission First, People Always
  • UM on YouTube

Position Details:

Position Title: Temporary Rapid Response Field Biologist

Position Number: 920R01

Department: Center for Integrated Research on the Environment (CIRE)

Work Schedule: Full-time, 1.0 FTE (40 Hours a week), work schedule is variable due to the field and call status, but is overtime eligible, 12 months/year in California.

Salary: $32/hr.

Union Affiliation: FOCUS-MFPE

Probationary Period: Six months minimum

Benefits Include : Insurance package, mandatory retirement plan, partial tuition waiver, and wellness program

Criminal Background Investigation is required prior to the Offer of Employment In accordance with University regulations, finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations. ADA/EOE/AA/Veteran's Preference Reasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available in alternative format upon request. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans, and women. Qualified candidates may request veterans’ or disabilities preference in accordance with state law. References: References not listed on the application materials may be contacted; notice may be provided to the applicant. Testing: Individual hiring departments at UM may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions. Employment Eligibility: All New Employees must be eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form I-9).

Must be eligible to work in the United State upon hire. Sponsorship is not available for this position.

How to Apply:

Priority Application Date: Sunday, October 8, 2023 by 11:59 PM (Mountain Time)

Complete applications received by this date will be guaranteed consideration. To receive full consideration, candidates are required to submit all of the following materials. Applications will be accepted until position is filled.

Please submit the following application materials** via the UM Jobs portal and by clicking "New Resume/CV" button. Please do not apply through Indeed.com*

A complete application Includes:

1. Letter of Interest – addressing your qualifications and experience related to the stated required skills for the position. A general letter salutation such as “Dear Search Committee” or “Dear Hiring Manager” is acceptable.
2. Detailed Resume – listing education and describing work experience.
3. Professional References – names and contact information for three (3) professional references.

*Applying through Indeed.com or easy apply through Indeed.com may result in submission of an incomplete application. Applications may be removed from full consideration if they are not complete with materials listed above under the "How to Apply" section. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure complete application materials are submitted and received by the date listed above.

**Please note: only five (5) attachments are allowed per application. Please combine documents accordingly.

Required Skills

Required Experience

Essential Functions

• Help administer plans and execute how the work is built in the field, produce logistics plans, access plans, initial schedules, etc.
• Assist with scheduling and moving manpower from job to job.
• Aid in field coordination and various field reporting.
• Visit sites at specific times to record progress, construction methods, and field conditions/logistics, report back on best practices.
• Manage the change management process on various projects.
• Adheres to company safety policies including subcontract and insurance requirements and performing weekly safety