Natural Resource Technician - Wildlife Biology Tech

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**5 POSITIONS WILL BE FILLED **

POSITION LOCATION: Cloquet, MN

JOB/TYPE / SCHEDULE: Temporary Full-time / Non-exempt / Grant Funded / Working irregular hours including early mornings, nights, and weekends.

TELEWORK ELIGIBLE: No

PAY / SALARY RANGE: Depends on Qualifications; current pay range is $24.02 - $33.86 per hour.

Bemidji State University (BSU)invites qualified applicants to join our team as aWildlife Biology Technician.In thisgrant-funded position, the Wildlife Biology Technician will assist project investigators with field-based research projects relating to wildlife capture, monitoring, and management. The Wildlife Biology Technician will perform difficult work assignments independently and as part of a research team. They may be responsible for certain operations in specific types of wildlife research activity but will usually work under the general direction of a supervisor who assigns and inspects work in progress and upon completion. The employee has latitude for the use of independent judgement for routine operations or in emergency situations. Difficult technical decisions are the responsibility of the supervisor. Work is reviewed through field inspections, review of records, reports and work accomplishment. 

Responsibilities of the Wildlife Biology Technician include:

• Implementing census, surveys, and monitoring of wildlife populations.Percent of Time: 35%          
  • Conducting field surveys; Performing surveys for wildlife species using various methods, including visual observation (transects, point counts) and remote cameras.
  • Applying population tracking techniques; Using methods like mark-and-recapture, radio telemetry, or GPS tagging to monitor animal movement, dispersal, and survival.
  • Assessing habitat conditions; Evaluating and documenting habitat quality, including vegetation composition, food and water availability, and potential disturbances.
• Collecting data and assisting with data analysis so that proper resource management decisions can be made.Percent of Time: 35%   
  • Recording field data; Using specialized devices, such as GPS units and field computers, to precisely record the location and details of observations, captures, and samples.
  • Handling biological samples; Collecting and properly processing biological samples, such as blood, tissue, or hair, for laboratory analysis related to genetics or disease testing.
  • Performing data entry; Transcribing field notes and collecting data into digital formats, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
• Collaborating and arranging for the maintenance and repair of field equipment and vehicles to effectively and efficiently carry out research objectives.  Percent of Time: 20%       
  • Conducting preventative maintenance; Regularly inspecting and servicing field vehicles, boats, ATVs, and equipment like traps, cameras, and radio telemetry receivers.
  • Coordinating with repair specialists; Communicating with mechanics or specialized technicians to schedule and oversee complex repairs for vehicles and scientific instruments.
  • Managing equipment inventory; Keeping track of all field gear, ensuring that all necessary equipment is available, functional, and properly calibrated before field assignments.
  • Constructing and modifying equipment; Building or adapting specialized equipment, such as enclosures or capture devices, to meet specific research needs.                                                                                       
• Performing related wildlife research work as required.   Percent of Time: 10%    
  • Establishing sampling protocols; Designing and following systematic and rigorous protocols to ensure consistent and accurate data collection over time.
  • Documenting and recording observations; Maintaining detailed and organized field journals, logs, and databases of all survey data.
  • Using statistical software; Employing statistical programs (e.g., R, SAS) to analyze population trends, distribution patterns, and other ecological data.
  • Creating reports and visualizations; Summarizing findings by preparing charts, graphs, and written reports for internal review and for presentation to stakeholders or the public.

Minimum qualifications for this position include:

• Applied knowledge of the principles and practices of specific wildlife needs, the management techniques necessary to meet those needs in the study areas of interest, wildlife identification and aging techniques, habitat needs of various species, population dynamics, and census and survey methods.
• The ability to work independently without direct supervision.
• The ability to work irregular hours including early mornings, nights, and weekends.
• The ability to safely operate snowmobiles and ATVs in remote field settings.
• The ability to understand and carry out oral and written directions.
• The ability to keep records and write reports.
• The ability to do physically demanding work in outdoor conditions (including cold, heat, and biting insects).

Preferred qualifications include:

• A bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology or closely related field.
• Experience with safe capture, handling, and chemical immobilization of wild animals, particularly white-tailed deer
• Working knowledge of wildlife management laws, policies, procedures, and planning practices, including Tribal wildlife regulation.
• The ability to perform basic maintenance and minor diagnostics/repair of field vehicles including 4-wheel drive trucks, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, and trailers.
• A demonstrated commitment to inclusive excellence, equitable opportunities, mutual understanding and respect, and the success of all students and employees, as reflected through teaching, service, scholarship, and collaboration with diverse learners and colleagues.

To facilitate the review, assessment, and evaluation process, please ensure that your application and/or resume clearly demonstrate fulfillment of the minimum and preferred qualifications of the position. The application materials submitted will be utilized for salary placement purposes.

Other considerations:

• All applicants must be able to lawfully accept employment in the United States at the time of an offer of employment. We are not currently providing sponsorship for employment-based visas.
• Employment for this position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement for theAmerican Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME)bargaining unit, which can be found at: https://mn.gov/mmb/employee-relations/labor-relations/labor/afscme.jsp.
• In accordance with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MinnState) Vehicle Fleet Safety Program, faculty and staff driving on college/university business, who use a rental or state vehicle, shall be required to complete a vehicle Use Agreement form and conform to MinnState’s vehicle use criteria and consent to motor vehicle records check annually.

• BSU is a tobacco free workplace(see policy).                                                                                                                                                      

Inquiries about the position:

Jacob Haus, Associate Professor of Biology

Phone: 218-755-4372

Email:jacob.haus@bemidjistate.edu

If you have general questions about this posting or submitting an application or bid, contact Mary Miller atmary.miller@bemidjistate.edu.

UNIVERSITY / COMMUNITY

WHY BEMIDJI:

It’s more than a job. It’s an opportunity for the extraordinary.

On the idyllic shores of Lake Bemidji, cradled among the limitless natural beauty of the North Woods and neighbored by Minnesota’s three largest Indigenous nations, Bemidji State University offers opportunities for the extraordinary.

Bemidji State University has been ranked as one of the top 30 public institutions in the Midwest region by U.S. News & World Report each year since 2019. BSU offers its diverse student body a comprehensive spectrum of opportunities with nearly 120 undergraduate degrees and emphasis areas in more than 50 areas of study, 14 pre-professional programs, and 14 graduate programs and certificates.

As Bemidji State continues its second century of service, our vision is simple: we educate people to lead inspired lives. To achieve this, BSU centers diversity, equity and inclusion as a core value and strives to create a campus culture in which all members are free to be their authentic selves. BSU also proactively engages with Indigenous communities in northern Minnesota and nationwide toward its goal of becoming a destination university.

BSU is a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities, the third-largest system of higher education institutions in the United States. It shares a unique alignment with Northwest Technical College, with administration and student services generally having dual responsibilities to serve both campuses. Through this alignment, NTC students can take advantage of services, support, activities, and opportunities at BSU that expand and enhance their college experience — such as full access to BSU’s library and the ability to live in BSU’s on-campus resident housing.

For the first time, a joint strategic planning process will guide the future directions for both institutions. The schools are pursuing four shared strategic priorities: student success, the Nisidotaading initiative, northern distinction, and telling our story. These priorities will serve as the foundations for master planning processes for facilities, academic programs, fundraising, information technology, intercollegiate athletics, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, among others.

The Nisidotaading initiative — named for an Ojibwe phrase meaning “building mutual understanding” — is creating a statewide center of excellence. It will develop communities of practice meant to help Minnesota State colleges and universities better educate their campus communities on historical trauma and lived experiences of their Indigenous populations, and how to most effectively guide Indigenous students toward their educational goals. In addition, BSU is the first university in the United States to expose all of its students to a course on Indigenous people before graduation.

Bemidji State University acknowledges that it is located on land and water that is the current and ancestral homeland of the Ojibwe and Dakota. We acknowledge the painful history of genocide, forced assimilation, and efforts to alienate the Indigenous inhabitants from their territory here. We honor and respect the many diverse Indigenous peoples still connected to this land, retained tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, and cultural resilience. Indigenous people are spiritual and physical caretakers of this land to which we all belong. Bemidji State University respects these sacred lands, stands with the community members from these Nations, and will fight injustice in all its forms.

At Minnesota State, the work we do is more than just a job. In their pursuit of purpose, connection, and growth, our employees play a critical role on our campuses. They develop policies, provide essential services, and work to improve the well-being and quality of life for our students and for all Minnesotans. Minnesota State is committed to equity and inclusion, and we invest in our employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.Unlock your potential through possibility.

The City of Bemidji

Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College lie amid the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota. Bemidji State occupies a wooded campus along the western shore of Lake Bemidji while Northwest Technical College lies just three miles east, near Bemidji’s robust industrial district. 

The city sits between Minnesota’s three largest American Indian tribal nations: the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, the Red Lake Nation and the White Earth Nation. When settling the Bemidji area in 1750, the Ojibwe people named the lake Bemidjigamaag, which means “a lake with crossing waters” as the Mississippi River flows in from the south and exits on the east. Today, a city proper with a population of around 15,000 serves as a regional economic and cultural hub for about 100,000 Minnesotans.

Located just minutes away from a thriving downtown Bemidji, both the BSU and NTC campus communities have convenient access to affordable restaurants, fine-dining experiences, cozy coffee shops, grocery stores — including a natural foods co-op — city parks, and nearly unlimited outdoor recreational opportunities. Small, locally-owned shops and art sculptures line Bemidji's downtown streets, while national chains are also found in and around the area. The historic Paul Bunyan Playhouse has a calendar of classic shows, restaurants offer weekly live music performances, the First Friday Art Walk provides a tour of new monthly art exhibits, and annual festivals bring the community together throughout the year. 

Additionally, the North Woods setting means students, staff, and faculty have a variety of activities available at their fingertips year-round. With more than 400 lakes — and a 240-acre research forest owned by BSU — within 25 miles of the city, there is easy access to kayaking, canoeing, swimming, boating, paddle boarding, hunting, hiking, biking, foraging, fishing, and more. An expansive network of multi-use trail systems is available for running, cross-country skiing, single-track or fat-tire biking, and skijoring. Further, downhill skiing, snowboarding, and tubing lie just north of Bemidji at the Buena Vista Ski Area.

Bemidji is also near two of Minnesota’s 66 state parks: Lake Bemidji State Park, which sits along Lake Bemidji’s northern shore, and Itasca State Park, home to the majestic Mississippi River Headwaters. Both parks are popular recreational and camping destinations where locals and tourists gather for sailing, swimming, and fishing during the summer months, and skating, hockey, curling, and—yes—more fishing in the winter. 

Of course, no tour of Bemidji is complete without a visit to — and a selfie with — its two most famous residents: the iconic statues of Paul Bunyan and his trusty companion, Babe the Blue Ox. The famed duo, which has greeted visitors to Bemidji since 1937, is on the National Register of Historic Places and was once ranked by Kodak as the second most-photographed statue in America.

For further informationAbout BSU visit our website at:http://www.bemidjistate.edu

Review a "special report on how this former lumber town has rebuilt itself as a high-speed, regional center of enterprise" atBemidji 2.0

Other Resources:

• Visit Bemidji –https://www.visitbemidji.com/
• 218 Relocate / Greater Bemidji –https://www.218relocate.com/
• Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce –https://www.bemidji.org/ 
• Explore Minnesota –https://www.exploreminnesota.com/article/top-things-to-do-bemidji

Statement of Notice:

Bemidji State University prohibits discrimination and sexual violence of any kind. Contact the Title IX Coordinator if you have concerns regarding discrimination and/or sexual violence. PerMinnesota State System Procedure 1B.3.1, all universities and colleges must provide contact information of their Title IX Coordinator.

Megan Zothman, Campus Human Resources Officer & Title IX Coordinator

Email:TitleIX@bemidjistate.edu orMegan.Zothman@BemidjiState.edu

Phone: (218) 755-2502

1500 Birchmont Drive NE, Deputy Hall, Room 335, Bemidji, MN 56601

Bemidji State University is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator.  This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities. Consumers with hearing or speech disabilities may contact us via their preferred Telecommunications Relay Service.

Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications and is subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable bargaining unit agreement or personnel plan.

Benefits Information:

At Minnesota State, we take your well-being and work-life balance seriously. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that features low-cost medical and dental insurance with affordable deductibles, employer-paid life insurance, short- and long-term disability, and pre-tax healthcare and dependent care accounts with a roll-over option. To further support your holistic health, employees also have access to a confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health, legal, and financial counseling. Detailed plan details, rates, and coverage choices can be reviewed directly via theState Employee Group Insurance Program (SEGIP) website.

To support your life outside of work, our package includes 12 paid holidays, generous vacation and sick time, and six weeks of Paid Parental Leave. We also help you secure your financial future with a robust Pension Plan, 457(b) and 403(b) retirement accounts, and various investment options. Furthermore, we invest in your growth by providing dedicated professional development and tuition waivers for both you and your dependents.Please note that specific benefit eligibility and coverage levels may vary depending on the type of position, employee classification, and collective bargaining agreements.

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