Wildlife Technician

Colorado State University · Hilo · $30/hr (stated in the posting)

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Job Description

Position Summary

The Wildlife Technician works in the Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands (CEMML) at CSU. This role is located at Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island of Hawaii. The work site is located about 45 minutes from Hilo and Kona. The Wildlife Technician supports management of native and invasive species. The technician primarily works as part of a field crew, but may also work alone. The position is primarily field work (90%) with about 10% office time. This position is contingent on funding.

Full Consideration Date

For full consideration, we must receive applications by November 21, 2026.

Brief Work Unit Description

The Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands (CEMML) at Colorado State University is seeking one Wildlife Technician (Temporary Hourly) to support at Pōhakuloa Training Area (PTA), on the Island of Hawaii (The Big Island).

Essential Job Duties

The primary responsibility is to provide field support to the Wildlife Program, including invasive species management and Hawaiian fauna monitoring. Field project tasks may include small mammalian control, feral ungulate control, invertebrate (e.g., aphid, ant) control, fence line/gate inspections and repairs, and monitoring the Hawaiian Goose, Hawaiian bat, forest birds, and seabirds. The technician collects and reports data. The Wildlife Technician assists with control of non-native vegetation and conducts lethal and non-lethal predator control operations. The technician works with various electronic devices to monitor wildlife species. Approximately 90% of the time is in the field, and 10% is in the office/indoors. Additional job duties are listed below.

Additional Job Duties

• Conduct small mammalian management using live and lethal traps, game cameras, and tracking tunnels.
• Conduct invertebrate (e.g., aphid, ant) control (mechanical and pesticide application)
• Feral ungulate control using live traps, game cameras, and conducting ungulate drives.
• Fence line/gate inspections and repairs
• Monitoring the presence of the Hawaiian Goose and deploying and retrieving acoustic recording units for Hawaiian bats, forest birds, and seabirds.
• Applying mechanical and chemical control measures to protect threatened and endangered plant populations within defined management areas.

Conditions of Employment

• Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
• Valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license by the employment start date.
• Participate in occasional overnight camping at remote work sites up to 3 nights at a time.
• Must be able to comply with all applicable regulations to obtain a Common Access Card (CAC); required at a minimum to complete a NACI/SF85 and successfully pass a federal background check to remain eligible for employment.
• Legally authorized to work in the U.S. by proposed start date; the department will not provide visa sponsorship for this position.

Supervision:

None

Minimum Qualifications

• The successful candidate must demonstrate U.S. employment eligibility; CEMML will not provide visa sponsorship for this position. All candidates must meet the following minimum qualifications,
• High School Diploma, General Education Development (GED), or equivalent required.
• Minimum of 6 months of experience in natural resource management, including experience in managing invasive species in natural areas.
• Experience operating and maintaining various power equipment used in vegetation control, including but not limited to line trimmers, backpack sprayers, chainsaws, etc.
• Experience using a handheld GPS unit and/or a mobile data collector device to navigate in the field.
• Experience in collecting accurate field data and entering data into databases.
• Working knowledge of personal computers and Microsoft Office Suite, especially MS Word, MS Excel, and MS Access.
• Experience driving 4-wheel drive vehicles on unimproved roads.
• Demonstrated experience working as an effective team member and contributor.

Preferred Qualifications

• AA/BA/BS in wildlife management, zoology, conservation biology, or a closely related field.
• Experience implementing nuisance animal control using live-capture traps and lethal traps.
• Experience with managing or restoring habitat, including application of herbicides or pesticides to control nonnative invasive plants and invertebrates.
• Experience managing native wildlife species, including implementing surveys and/or monitoring methodologies and data collection.
• Experience with research or management of threatened or endangered wildlife, especially select Hawaiian seabirds, Hawaiian Goose (nene), and Hawaiian hoary bat.
• Knowledge of small engine and power tool repair.
• Experience with constructing and repairing ungulate-proof fences over rough lava terrain.
• Experience in welding and fabrication.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Experience with research techniques, including data management, basic statistical analysis, and report writing.
• State of Hawaii Commercial Pesticide Applicator certification for Category 2 Forest Pest Control.
• Experience working on a military installation.

Salary Range

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.

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.

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