Overview
Tonto National Forest – Payson Ranger Station
Length: Term of positions is 32 weeks; full-time 40 hrs/wk
Location: Payson Ranger Station, 1009 AZ-260, Payson Arizona 85541
Compensation: $15/hour, plus $1000 monthly housing allowance (equivalent to $20.77/hr over 40 hr workweek).
Start Date Desired: June 5th or 12th, 2023
Application Due Date: Preference given to application submitted by Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023
Position Title Wildlife Resource Assistant
Position Details
Stewards Individual Placement Program (Stewards) provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants work with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits building institutional capacity, developing community relationships, and supporting ecosystem health.
Stewards in partnership with the Tonto National Forest is seeking an intern who will gain experience as a Wildlife Resource Assistant. The Tonto National Forest contains important habitat for a variety of wildlife, fish and rare plants. The Forest’s location, from the Sonoran Desert to the Mogollon Rim, provides for diverse vegetation and elevation zones. Two major river systems, the Salt and Verde rivers, add to the overall diversity of the forest communities, as well as, corridors for birds that migrate along these rivers and drainages.
The mission of Payson Ranger District Wildlife Program is to:
Manage, protect or enhance habitat and populations of plants and wildlife;
Survey and monitor extant populations of special status species; and,
Complete inventory surveys to determine presence or absence of special status species, and comply with all wildlife related regulations, policies, and laws including, but not limited, to Endangered Species Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, Migratory Bird Act, and National Forest Management Act.
Position Responsibilities will include:
Work individually or in a team setting to complete surveys for federally listed species (threatened or endangered), sensitive wildlife (terrestrial & aquatic) and rare plant species, especially inside the RC 4FRI footprint. This includes but is not limited to surveying for: Mexican spotted owl, Chiricahua leopard frog, narrow-headed gartersnake, northern goshawk, Arizona toad, yellow-billed cuckoo, Gila trout, bald and golden eagles, bats and more. Complete work that may require hiking up to 8 miles across rough steep terrain during day or night hours. Surveys can also involve assisting with removal of non-native invasive species like American bullfrogs.
Assist biologists in a variety of projects such as wildlife releases, translocations, stocking, or collecting wildlife DNA or tissue samples.
Assist in the evaluation of wildlife habitat using ArcGIS mapping software in combination with field data collection using GPS units and mobile applications
Qualifications:
Minimum Requirements:
Holding an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Management, Biology, Natural Resource Management, or another environmental/conservation related undergraduate program.
Experience completing wildlife surveys, following protocols, and collecting data; preferably for species in Arizona or the Southwest.
Experience with four-wheel drive vehicles and navigating rough roads.
Experience or skills with computers, databases, and data entry.
Required Skills:
Minimum Requirements:
Holding an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Management, Biology, Natural Resource Management, or another environmental/conservation related undergraduate program.
Experience completing wildlife surveys, following protocols, and collecting data; preferably for species in Arizona or the Southwest.
Experience with four-wheel drive vehicles and navigating rough roads.
Experience or skills with computers, databases, and data entry.
Teamwork oriented with clear, direct communication
Preferred Skills:
Preferred Requirements:
Outdoor skills, experience with UTVs and hauling trailers, wilderness first aid, and navigation skills.
Familiarity with ArcMap, GIS, and Avenza
About Conservation Legacy
Stewards Individual Placement Program (Stewards) provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants work with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits building institutional capacity, developing community relationships, and supporting ecosystem health.
Stewards in partnership with the USDA Forest Service Southwestern Regional Office are seeking a Resource Assistant to assist in administrative operations, program management, and database management for projects funded under the Great American Outdoors Act. These positions will serve the USDA Forest Service Southwestern Region Regional Office and 11 National Forests across the region with professional civil engineering services in support of projects for the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) under the mentorship and advisement of agency engineers.
