Job Description

Position Summary

One part-time Wildlife Technician position is available with the Colorado State University (CSU) Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands (CEMML) located at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The position will be part-time, 6-10 hours/week, and not exceed 9 months. Hours and days of the week can be fixed or flexible dependent on the selected candidate’s availability. This position provides training and hands-on experience and is well-suited to early-career professionals as well as individuals transitioning into natural resources or returning to the workforce. The selected candidate will have opportunities to explore or deepen experience in the fields of ecology, wildlife management, botany, invasive plant management, and military lands management while performing field and office work alongside CEMML biologists.

Essential Job Duties

The technician will provide support to the Edwards Air Force Base Natural Resources Program through the completion of wildlife & natural resource surveys, outreach and education, and geospatial data management (depending on candidate experience). Potential work activities may include but are not limited to the tasks below:

• Assisting with surveys for desert tortoises and threatened/endangered/sensitive species, including searching for animals and their sign (scat, tracks) and mapping ground disturbance after construction activities to document changes in habitat.

• Participate in human-wildlife conflict mitigation and management by helping respond to reports of nuisance or injured wildlife on base (may include humane handling of wildlife under supervision), following up with residents or workers on base who have concerns about wildlife, or attending public outreach events to educate the base population about desert wildlife.

• Helping perform surveys of fences, pitfalls, desert tortoise road signs, and off-road vehicle areas to inform the natural resources program of infrastructure that needs repair.

• Investigate reports and conduct surveys of unauthorized trash dumps on base, and either removing it or coordinating clean-up and removal with external vendors.

• Revising and creating tables and graphs for reports and management plans.

• Utilizing GIS to manage data collected in surveys and observations to create maps or tables, or conducting aerial imagery inspections to analyze land disturbance patterns.

• Conducting invasive plant surveys or treatments.

• Providing support to other projects at Edwards Air Force Base as needed, including other wildlife surveys or recreation management.

Minimum Qualifications

Relevant experience may come from a variety of fields, and we welcome applicants with a wide range of experience levels and value transferable skills from other careers and life experiences.

• Experience or interest in performing outdoor biological field work

• Education or interest in wildlife ecology and management

• Experience or interest in public outreach, particularly related to wildlife or human-wildlife conflict

• Ability to communicate clearly and respectfully through email, phone, and in-person interactions (e.g., coordinating schedules, engaging with the public, and working with team members and military personnel)

• Aptitude for working independently and as part of a team

• Dedication to supporting natural resource management activities that align with military training, research, and operations objectives

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience performing fieldwork in the Mojave Desert, or working under similarly harsh environmental conditions

• Experience surveying for and/or handling wild desert tortoises

• Experience handling any wildlife species (birds, bats, rabbits, bobcats, etc.)

• Education or experience identifying Mojave Desert native and invasive plants

• Experience educating the public about wildlife or natural resource issues

• Experience on a military installation

This position is on site at Edwards Air Force Base, and the Wildlife Technician must be able to reliably commute to the site. CEMML is unable to provide relocation or housing stipends. Military family members, students, career changers, returning professionals, and candidates with non-traditional or traditional backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Conditions of Employment

• Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires).

• Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license by the employment start date.

• The successful candidate must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. by proposed start date; the department will not provide visa sponsorship for this position.

• Must pass a federal background investigation to obtain a Department of Defense Installation Access Pass. You will need to possess a Real ID or passport.

• Must work in remote field conditions, on uneven terrain, and in potentially harsh desert weather. Safety is our team's top priority, and reasonable accommodations are provided where possible.

Full Consideration Date

To ensure full consideration, applicants should apply by July 15th. Applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled. Our desire is to fill this position sometime during summer or fall 2026. Applicants should specify in their cover letter when they are available to begin work.

Work Unit Description

The Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands (CEMML) is a research, education and service unit within the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University (CSU). CEMML applies the latest and most appropriate science to promote the sustainable management of natural and cultural resources on Department of Defense and other public lands. We provide technical support, conduct applied research, and offer career development and learning opportunities to support resource stewardship. We collaborate with our sponsors and within CSU to resolve complex environmental issues, leaving a legacy of science-based decisions to sustain our resources for future generations. To learn more about CEMML’s contributions to land management and our mission, vision, and values, please visit http://www.cemml.colostate.edu/.

Location

The Edwards AFB-based CEMML team employs wildlife, vegetation, and restoration specialists that support the Air Force mission. Our projects include vegetation surveys, sensitive habitat management, nuisance wildlife response, and other wildlife projects that involve small and large mammals, raptors and migratory birds, reptiles and amphibians. The selected candidate would be joining a small but motivated, passionate, and collaborative team of biologists.

Supervision

This role will be supervised and mentored by on-site CEMML biologist staff and supported by an off-site project manager. This role will not supervise others.

Pay Range

The hourly rate for the Wildlife Technician is between $19-25, depending on candidate skills and experience.

Salary Range

$19-25 per hour

Required Application Documents

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Cover Letter, Resume/CV

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

• Review our detailed benefits information here.

• Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.

• For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator.

• Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in!

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.