About the Watershed Center
The Watershed Research and Training Center (WRTC) sustains healthy lands and healthy communities. What started in the early 1990’s as a local project to re-train displaced loggers and mill workers in Trinity County, California is now a vibrant nonprofit organization working locally, statewide and nationally on a host of landscape conservation and community development issues. In addition to putting dozens of our community members back to work in the woods each year, we lead several forest and watershed conservation programs, coordinate state biomass and fire management partnerships, and have played an influential role in state and federal policy-making and program direction.
Job Summary
Job duties include but are not limited to; data collection, audio/visual surveys focus on Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis), American Goshawk (Astur atricapillus), Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), and pond visual encounter surveys. Surveys are often late afternoon and night or early dawn hours.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to hike and navigate difficult terrain in inclement, hot, or smoky weather; use electronic devices such as computers, tablets, phones, GPS, or data collectors; and will occasionally need to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Position Scope, Responsibilities and Core Duties
Field work throughout Trinity County
- Sensitive species surveys
- Following survey protocol to conduct sensitive species surveys. Locating nest sites during day time stand searches often hiking off trail. Observing behavior and collecting habitat information. Conducting nighttime broadcast surveys. Driving for long hours in 4 wheel drive vehicles.
- Ensure that accurate and thorough data is collected for behavior and habitat evaluation
Division Support
- Communicates regularly with Crew Lead and Assistant Division Director.
- Assists with gear maintenance, including vehicle upkeep.
- Interact positively and professionally with other employees and crew members, landowners, community members, and agency employees.
Minimum Qualifications, Skills and Competencies
- Excellent communication, organizational skills.
- Ability to work outdoors in rough terrain and inclement weather including hiking up to 10-15 miles a day and able to lift up to 50 lbs occasionally without assistance.
- Ability to work and navigate in remote areas.
- Ability to work atypical hours, often at night.
- Ability to make decisions and promote a safe and efficient work environment.
- Knowledge of handheld GPS devices/programs (e.g. Trimble, Garmin, Allegro, Two Trails, Field Maps, Avenza, etc) to navigate remote areas and to track key project data accurately.
- Knowledge of field tools (e.g. rangefinder, compass, Foxpro call box, Kestrel, etc.).
- Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license by the employment start date.