Biology Support Member

Title: Biology Support Member, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

Location: Honolulu, HI United States

• 800 per week $800/week
• Individual Placement
• PLC Eligibility Required
• EPIC
• Wildlife Ecology and Habitat Management

Job Description:

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking one Biology Support Member to contribute to a Nihoa Finch Translocation monitoring project under the mentorship of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Staff.

a 28 week minimum commitment is required, approximately 1120 hours*

Location Details/Description: Honolulu, HI, Kapou (Lisianski Island) and Nihoa *3.5 months will be spent on Kapou living in a remote field camp. 3 months will be spent in Honolulu before and after time on Kapou. Kapou is part of the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge which is part of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Kapou (Lisianski) is an almond-shaped island rising to 40ft above sea level within the much-larger Neva Shoals reef. The 3rd largest island in the Monument hosts large bonin petrel and ʻewaʻewa (sooty tern) colonies. The island also has the only grove of Pisonia grandis trees in the entire Hawaiian Archipelago. Kapou serves as critical pupping grounds for the United States' most endangered marine mammal, the Hawaiian monk seal.

Position Overview: The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. This position will help FWS meet that mission at Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. This position will support the Palihoa (Nihoa Finch) translocation from Nihoa to Kapou (Lisianski). We are looking for someone with strong people skills and an ability to live and work with others of different backgrounds in a remote setting. This position will support a historic project for the FWS at Hawaiian Islands NWR. Work will usually be 40 hours a week, mostly Monday-Friday (7 am to 4 pm) unless weather necessitates a check on birds during the weekend.

This position would primarily support monitoring of the Nihoa Finch at Kapou (Lisianski). The individual would monitor the released Nihoa finches on Kapou using radio telemetry and provide weekly reports of behavior, dispersal and health of the newly formed population. The position would also support other biological duties at Kapou including invasive species management, habitat restoration and wildlife monitoring.

Specific Duties may include:

• Being transported over 900 miles in a large vessel over open ocean that will drop you off on an island and will return to pick you up 3.5 months later. You will be required to pack all the food, water and supplies needed for the 3.5 month remote field camp (food and supplies provided by USFWS). Living in a small research camp with one other person for 3.5 months. Monitoring released finches using radio telemetry and resighting finches with binoculars and/or scopes.
• Ability to collect observational data and visually identify marked individuals (finches, seals, turtles, seabirds) with binoculars and unaided.
• Entering data and running data quality checks.
• Maintaining equipment (camp gear, binoculars, gps, radio telemetry).
• Weekly report writing and completing a final season report. Communicate daily with staff.
• This job requires several fitness skills. The ability to swim, for example. Personnel will bathe in the ocean. Additionally, the ability to walk up to seven miles in the sand carrying twenty-five to thirty-five (25-35) pounds of field gear as well as the ability to work long hours in the sun and at remote locations for extended periods of time.
• Camping on a remote island is required for the months of July through October.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule: The position will commonly work 40 hours a week, mostly on a Monday-Friday (7 am to 4 pm) schedule unless weather affects surveys during the week and the birds need to be checked on during the weekend. Days/hours will vary throughout the position depending on weather and wildlife events. The position will work on Hawaii Standard time when in Honolulu and Kapou.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $800/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: ACE members will be provided FWS housing at no cost for the duration of the term.

Gear Reimbursement: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position includes closed-toed shoes, backpack, sunglasses, hat, sun shirt, neck gaiter, and must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific training may include how to track wildlife using radio telemetry and Wilderness First Aid (WFA).

Qualifications

Required:

• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request). Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE's insurance and liability requirements.
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website.

Preferred:

• Preference will be given to Local Residents of Hawaii*
• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a bachelor's degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as ornithology, wildlife biology, botany, habitat restoration.
• Knowledge of ornithology and habitat restoration.
• Ability and willingness to learn new things.
• Deep interest in wildlife and marine biology.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain, and camp overnight under field conditions.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 35 lbs., ability to move up to 50 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise such as loud seabird colony and business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position requires remote/domestic travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members or resources.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the FWS. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the FWS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the FWS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to FWS and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to ACE's online application page for this position on our website. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC FWS Member Manager Ian McGufficke.

If you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you! ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

EEO: Employment or Service with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee, member, or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment, hire, training, transfer, promotion, compensation, demotion, termination, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, creed, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital or parental status, political affiliation, ethnicity, hair texture or style, arrest record, caste, hereditary status, endogamy, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.