Research Biologist

Research Biologist at Teton Raptor Center

Preferred Start Date: March 1, 2024 

Position Type: Full-time, exempt

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW:
Teton Raptor Center is a nonprofit organization working to advance raptor conservation through education, research, and rehabilitation. We are located at the historic Hardeman Ranch, a Jackson Hole Land Trust protected property in Wilson, Wyoming. 

POSITION DESCRIPTION:
Teton Raptor Center is looking for a full-time Research Biologist to join our research team for a 2-year term position.  This position is designed to primarily serve as project manager of select research projects at Teton Raptor Center.  The successful candidate will help with a variety of projects, including conducting fieldwork, coordinating field crews and volunteers, data analysis, and technical writing.  Our research team conducts on-going, management-based raptor research projects in Wyoming and the surrounding regions. This position will work with our team to help with a variety of ongoing fieldwork for several projects, including research on American Goshawks, Golden Eagles, Great Gray Owls, Ferruginous Hawks, and others. The successful candidate will also be tasked with leading analysis and manuscript preparation for peer-reviewed publications and annual reports, including using movement and acoustic data.  Seasonal travel will be required to conduct fieldwork and may be up to several weeks in duration. 

Primary Responsibilities:

Help conduct fieldwork on a variety of field-based projects in remote, mountainous and desert habitats. This will typically entail day trips to/from study locations within normal workdays. Several extended trips to further field sites in Wyoming and Montana will be required, involving camping.

• Lead analysis and writing of peer-reviewed publications and technical reports based on existing datasets.
• Help maintain data entry, databases, and analysis in coordination with others on the research team.
• Project management, including fieldwork coordination, equipment oversight
• Volunteer coordination
• Contribute to outreach and social media

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

We understand that not all applicants will have experience relevant to all the desired qualifications. Most important is a strong desire, willingness, and enthusiasm for avian conservation, research, and working with a close team. The research conducted by Teton Raptor Center and our partners is highly dynamic and collaborative, with each team member contributing to all aspects of our collective work.  We are seeking a candidate with a positive attitude, strong worth ethic, and ability to work well with others.  

• Minimum of BS degree in wildlife or biology-related field required, MS preferred
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively with a small team
• Experience with raptor research preferred; particularly identification by sound/sight, trapping, handling
• Aerial nest/wildlife survey experience desired
• Proficiency, experience, and strong desire to conduct fieldwork in a variety of habitats, from the rugged mountain backcountry to sagebrush steppe.
• Experience with safe travel and fieldwork in avalanche terrain and grizzly bear habitat
• Ability to spend extended hours solo in the field in a variety of weather conditions ranging from deep snow in the mountains to hot days in the plains, conducting observations on rare species
• Experience in scientific writing and analysis. At least one peer-reviewed publication as a lead author is required.
• Proficiency with GIS analysis and mapping (Arc or QGIS)
• Experience with R coding and analysis
• Familiarly with acoustic data, automated recording devices.  Experience with bioacoustics analysis in R packages and/or Kaleidoscope software preferred
• Ability to perform physical tasks such as carrying a heavy backpack over several miles and lifting (up to 40 lbs.) 
• Willingness to take initiative, roll-up your sleeves, problem solve, and multi-task effectively and with humor while working with a small group of very committed people
• Current CPR & AED and First Aid Certification required.
• Clean driving record and ability to navigate 4wd vehicles in rough terrain (ability to drive a stick-shift preferred but not required)

COMPENSATION/BENEFITS:

• This is a 2-year appointment with the potential to extend based on performance and funding availability. 
• The salary range is comparable to local GS grade 7, depending on experience. 
• Compensation package, including 100% medical insurance premium for TRC group plan and SIMPLE IRA
• Very competitive vacation/sick leave policy. 

ABOUT TETON RAPTOR CENTER:

Teton Raptor Center (TRC) is a non-profit organization advancing raptor conservation through education, research, and rehabilitation. TRC’s educational programs reach tens of thousands of visitors annually. Our research team works on dozens of research projects annually, both locally and in other parts of Wyoming and Montana. Our research projects include the largest and longest on-going study of Great Gray Owls anywhere in the world, as well as projects monitoring migration of Golden Eagles and  Ferruginous Hawks, and more. TRC rescues and rehabilitates over 200 raptors and corvids, annually. These injured, ill and orphaned birds come from all over the state of Wyoming and Idaho. Finally, TRC works on several conservation projects aimed at keeping wild raptors safer in the wild. These include the Poo-Poo Project (Port-o-Potty Owl Project), an initiative to keep cavity-nesting owls and other raptors from becoming trapped in the ventilation pipes on vault toilets, and Sporting Lead-Free, an education-based initiative aimed at reducing the use of lead ammunition and tackle in the environment because of its detrimental health effects on raptors. 

EMPLOYMENT at TETON RAPTOR CENTER:
Teton Raptor Center is an equal opportunity employer with a smoke-free and drug-free workplace. Successful applicants will be required to pass a background check, driving check, and drug screening.

TO APPLY

Please apply HERE to upload your resume, cover letter, writing sample and three professional references. Your application should be sent as a PDF file saved with your name and the position in the file title (e.g., “LastName_FirstName_2024Biologist”).  Writing samples can be attached separately.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Candidates will be interviewed beginning as early as 8 February 2024.

For a detailed job description and more information on how to apply, please visit

https://tetonraptorcenter.org/join-our-team/