Seabird conservation biological technicians based on Kauai, Hawaii

Pacific Rim Conservation is hiring for three biological technicians to complement our small, dynamic team who is working on the conservation of endemic and endangered birds throughout Hawaii and the Pacific. One position is for a bio tech specializing in predator control and seabird conservation based on Kauai, Hawaii, whose duties will be to assist with all aspects of implementation of the Kahauma`a Seabird Preserve as part of the Kaua`i Seabird Habitat Conservation Plan which will exclude non-native mammals while simultaneously using social attraction to create new breeding colonies of Newell’s Shearwater, Hawaiian Petrels and Band-rumped Storm-petrels. This position works primarily in Kokee state park. Two positions are for bio techs specializing in ecological monitoring and predator control whose duties will be to assist with the biological monitoring of predator and native bird species prior to a predator eradication, and conducting a cat and rodent eradication at Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge.

We are interested in enthusiastic biologists with experience in predator control, habitat management and seabird monitoring. The successful candidate should have a proven ability to conduct field work in challenging locations.

To apply, please fill out an application here: https://forms.gle/Pv67rmjSiasC8Cfj9

If you have questions about the application, or the position, please e-mail:
Lindsay Young- lindsay at pacificrimconservation dot org.

Applications are due by August 31, 2021.

Kahuamaa technician duties:

Pacific Rim Conservation is hiring for a biological technician to complement our small, dynamic team who is working on the conservation of endemic and endangered birds throughout Hawaii and the Pacific. This position is for a bio tech specializing in seabird conservation based on Kauai, Hawaii, whose duties will be to assist with all aspects of implementation of the Kahauma`a Seabird Preserve as part of the Kaua`I Seabird Habitat Conservation Plan which will exclude non-native mammals while simultaneously using social attraction to create new breeding colonies of Newell’s Shearwater, Hawaiian Petrels and Band-rumped Storm-petrels. We are interested in an enthusiastic biologist with experience in predator control, habitat management and seabird monitoring. The successful candidate should have a proven ability to conduct field work in challenging locations. This position will primarily be field based (approximately 4 days per week) with weekly data entry and administrative work (~1 day per week). When not in the field, candidates are expected to either work from home, or from a shared office.

Specific duties include:

• Assist with installing and maintaining seabird social attraction equipment (nest boxes, speakers) within the fenced area at Kahuamaa
• Remove predators from within the preserve with monitoring confirmation of their absence
• Protect nesting birds in nearby source colonies by implementing predator control of barn owls and feral cats at ingress points to source colonies in the project area- this includes humanely euthanizing animals captured as part of this effort.
• Maintain high quality seabird habitat at both sites by removing invasive plants
• Conduct regular seabird monitoring, including auditory surveys and nest searches during the seabird breeding season (March-Sept)

Kilauea Point technician duties

Pacific Rim Conservation is hiring for two biological technicians to complement our small, dynamic team who is working on the conservation of endemic and endangered birds throughout Hawaii and the Pacific. This position is for a bio tech specializing in ecological monitoring and predator control based on Kauai, Hawaii, whose duties will be to assist with the biological monitoring of predator and native bird species prior to a predator eradication, and conducting a cat and rodent eradication. We are interested in an enthusiastic biologist with experience in predator control, habitat management and seabird monitoring. The successful candidate should have a proven ability to conduct field work in challenging locations.

This primary duties of this position will be to conduct ecosystem monitoring prior to the installation of a predator-proof fence around Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge (KPNWR) and conducting cat and rodent control as part of the post-fence construction eradication effort. The first year of this project will be spent to conducting baseline ecosystem monitoring on the refuge to determine predator species present and their seasonal abundance in order to determine how to most effectively remove the predators, and how native species respond to their removal. Monitoring methods will closely follow Young et al 2018. This includes:

1. Determining the rodent species present, their seasonal abundance, and approximate home range size
2. Determining approximate density of feral cats using live trapping and remote cameras
3. Determining reproductive success of several nesting seabird species using a plot design
4. Conducting year round cat control
5. Interfacing with fence construction crew to monitor the progress of fence construction and report to project manager on a weekly basis.

Once fence construction is complete after year one, the position will shift to conducting a full cat and rodent eradication.The candidate will be expected to keep accurate field data, enter data into a database, and help write technical reports summarizing the outcomes. This position will primarily be field based (approximately 4 days per week) with weekly data entry and administrative work (~1 day per week). When not in the field, candidates are expected to either work from home, or from a shared office. The candidate will be supervised by Dr. Lindsay Young of PRC, but will be expected to work independently and in close coordination with KPNWR staff.

 All positions benefits and minimum qualifications

Education:  Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in a natural resources or project management related field.

Experience and Knowledge:  At least two years of experience in natural management including avian surveys and predator control is required. A Master’s degree in a related field of study may be substituted for some experience requirements. Experience writing technical reports. Basic knowledge of natural resource conservation and seabird biology.

Abilities/Knowledge: Basic knowledge of avian ecology and natural resources management as demonstrated through education, previous experience, and/or primary authored technical reports and publications.  Familiarity with the natural and cultural history of Hawaii preferred.

 Skills: Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license. Ability to drive, or learn to drive a 4-wheel drive vehicle on rough terrain. Ability to obtain wilderness first aid certification, restricted pesticide applicators certification and firearms certification.

 Physical Requirements: Ability to hike over rough terrain in hot, humid conditions for up to 8 hours per day.

 Desirable Qualifications: 

First responder, wilderness first aid, or other safety training. Experience working in Hawaiian ecosystems. Supervisory experience.

 1. Employment period. The employment period for this position is 1 October 2021 through 31 December 2022 once employees have passed a 90 day probationary period. There is the possibility of extension pending performance.

2. Salary: $40,000 per year at 1.0 FTE

 3.Health insurance. All Employees working more than 20 hours per week for a minimum of one month are entitled to health and dental insurance offered through the University Health Alliance. The cost of the insurance is shared between PRC (98.5%) and the employee (1.5%) for the primary employee. Employees wishing to add family members will pay 75% of the cost of additional members. Please see the health insurance information handout for plan descriptions, policies, and costs.

4. Work Schedule, Work Week, and Work Hours: Work schedule (for 1.0 FTE) will be 40 hours per week; the employee may choose their own days and hours. Occasional night and weekend work may be required. The employee will be expected to work independently from home when not in the field.

5. Vacation and holidays observed. This position is entitled to 15 days (three weeks) of vacation per year. Vacation days can be used at any mutually agreeable time after the first month of employment is complete. If all vacation is used within the first 6 months of employment, and the employee leaves or is terminated prior to completing nine months of employment, the equivalent of seven vacation days pay will be deducted from the final paycheck. Any unused vacation days will accumulate and can be used the following year. PRC observes all holidays observed by the University of Hawaii and state agencies.

6. Pay schedule. Paychecks shall be deposited via direct deposit into employee’s bank account on the 15^th and 30^th of each month with the exception of February which will be the 15^th and 28^th of the month.

 7. Comp time. If employees work more than 40 hours in any given work week, they are entitled to the same amount of comp time to be used in the same way as vacation time. Employees will not receive overtime pay (pay rate higher than standard pay) for hours in excess of 40 hours per week.

 8. Sick Leave. This position is entitled to 15 days (three weeks) of paid sick leave per year. Any illness resulting in an absence of more than three work days requires a physician’s note indicating when the employee will be able to return to work. Sick leave can be used towards maternity/paternity leave. Any unused sick leave days can be used the following year. Sick leave may not be used as vacation, and any sick leave not used by the termination of employment will be lost.

 9. Family Leave. Employees are entitled to up to 15 days (three weeks) of paid family leave per year. This includes birth or adoption of a child, death of an immediate family member, or serious illness of an immediate family member. Family leave cannot be used as employee sick leave.

10. Leave without pay. Employees may request up to three months leave without pay for medical, family, or personal reasons. Requests for leave without pay will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

11. Retirement fund. Employees who have worked for PRC for at least three calendar years are eligible for our simple employee pension (SEP) plan. This is an employer contribution IRA where up to 25% of an employee’s salary is put into an account for them at the end of the year. All eligible employees receive the same percentage of their salary each year which has ranged from 15-25% annually for PRC employees. There is no employee contribution required. For more information on the SEP visit: https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/retirement-plans-faqs-regarding-seps

 12. Professional development. All employees are expected to attend at least one professional development opportunity per year (at PRC’s expense). This can include a conference, workshop, job exchange, or work shadowing with other organizations, or within PRC. Specific opportunities will be discussed upon hiring.

 About Pacific Rim Conservation

Our mission is to maintain and restore native bird diversity, populations, and ecosystems in Hawaii and the Pacific Region. We work together with local communities, government agencies, and other conservation organizations to achieve our goals. We are a ‘boots on the ground’ organization. Throughout all of our work, we actively conduct research to understand avian biology, and the ecosystem changes and benefits to inform future conservation actions. To date, we have published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals and had our work featured in media outlets such as the New York Times, National Geographic, and the BBC.

Pacific Rim Conservation was founded in 2006 in response to a need for research-based management on native species, particularly birds, throughout Hawaii and the Pacific. For nine years we filled that niche operating as a small business, then in June 2015 we converted from a business to a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in order to better reflect our goals and to ensure that as much of our funding as possible was used to achieve our conservation projects.

We are an equal opportunity employer who doesn’t discriminate against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, physical or mental disability.