Grassland Bird Technicians

Are you looking to channel your skills into meaningful, energizing work that will directly contribute to protecting our natural world? Do you want to work with an exceptional group of passionate and caring colleagues, while gaining valuable hands-on work experience?  If so, this position may be for you! 

Birds Canada is the country’s premier national organization dedicated to bird conservation. Every day, our thousands of caring donors, 80+ dedicated staff, and 70,000+ outstanding volunteers are taking action to help us better understand, appreciate, and conserve birds and their habitats. Together, we are Canada’s Voice for Birds – will you join us?

POSITION OVERVIEW

Grassland bird technicians will work at multiple locations on private and public land in southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba conducting bird surveys in effort to monitor and evaluate grassland bird populations. Field duties will involve early morning avian point counts, rapid vegetation/habitat assessments, and deployment and retrieval of autonomous recording units. Other tasks include data entry, maintenance of equipment, and some processing of bioacoustics samples.

Applicants should be independent, physically fit, show attention to detail, be able to problem solve, thrive in shared living accommodations, and enjoy camping and long hours spent outside. Technicians will travel between sites via vehicle requiring both highway and grid road travel. Technicians will work early hours (i.e., first light of day) and fieldwork may include some overnight backpack travel to access road-less survey sites. Accommodation will be provided for the season and will be a combination of tent camping and shared field house accommodation when not deployed for surveys.

EMPLOYMENT DETAILS

This full-time, fixed term role is anticipated to start on 8-15 May 2024 and end by 15 Aug 2024.  The Grassland Bird Technician role reports to the Grassland Program Manager or the Grassland Program Biologist.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct bird surveys beginning at first light
• Rapid vegetation/habitat assessments at bird survey stations
• Deployment and retrieval of autonomous recording units
• Data entry
• Cleaning and maintenance of equipment
• Some processing of processing bioacoustics recordings

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Experience and proficiency identifying birds by sight and sound
• Comfortable hiking off-trail on rough terrain between 5 – 15 km per day
• Comfortable working alone sometimes in remote conditions
• Careful and accurate data collection, entry, and management.
• Strong communication skills for working effectively with supervisors, co-workers, and landowners.
• Valid driver’s license and eligible to work in Canada
• Valid first Aid and CPR C

ASSETS

• At least one field season conducting point count bird surveys
• Native prairie plant identification skills
• Ability to safely navigate rough and sometimes unmaintained roads/trails using a 4x4 truck
• Ability to navigate with GPS, aerial maps, and compass
• Meet Canada Summer Jobs requirements (be between 15 and 30 years old and be legally entitled to work in Canada)

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Valid Driver’s license (G preferred, G2 accepted)
• Valid First Aid Certification (obtained before contract start date)
• Legally entitled to work in Canada (if applicable, successful applicants must provide a copy of their Work Permit and temporary SIN prior to commencing work)

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary for this role is $19.33-21.75 per hour, depending on project-relevant experience and expertise, for an approximately 40-hour workweek, plus statutory and discretionary benefits including pro-rated Vacation and Personal Health Days.  This position also includes a modest food budget and basic accommodation for the duration of the Field Season. 

TO APPLY

Please submit your resume along with a covering letter outlining how your past experience makes you the perfect candidate for this role via the following link: via our Job Posting Platform by 14 Feb 2024.  Birds Canada will provide accommodation throughout the recruitment, selection, and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities. 

Birds Canada is committed to improving levels of diversity among its volunteers, supporters, staff, and board that reflects the diversity of communities across the country. In an effort to do so, we are actively seeking to improve our ability to reach all candidates with our job postings. Applicants belonging to racialized groups, who identify as Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, or who have differing abilities are therefore welcome to self-identify in their cover letter, if they feel comfortable, although this is not a requirement.