Avian Field Technician

About the opportunity

Are you interested in environmental consulting services? Do you enjoy working outside and thrive in the pursuit of ensuring excellent data collection, team collaboration, and services provided to clients? Are you looking for an opportunity to start and grow your environmental consulting career? SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) is seeking several driven and passionate individuals to join our team as Avian Field Technicians (HR Title = Natural Resources Technician).  

The Avian Field Technician will be a temporary, non-exempt, hourly, and field-based role.  This person will primarily work on remote project site locations in southern Nevada. We are looking for someone who is following their passion, gaining valuable field experience and dedicated to delivering the highest-quality project work. 

The Avian Field Technician position requires an educational background or experience in biology, natural resource management, ornithology, ecology, or a related field. This primarily field-based position takes place in an outdoor environment, often remote, where the climate, weather, and terrain can be demanding. This position will be a full-time temporary (seasonal) field-based position beginning in March or April and ending in July 2026. Overtime may be available depending on workload. The position will involve an irregular schedule; surveyors will need to travel in early morning hours to begin surveys approximately 30 minutes before sunrise. It is anticipated that nearly 100% travel, including overnight stays, will be required. A field house or hotel room, field truck, per diem, and other supplies will be provided during fieldwork deployments.

Application deadline: Our team will begin reviewing applications immediately, and interviews will be scheduled with qualified candidates on a rolling basis. The application process will remain open until we have received a robust pool of qualified candidates. Once we have identified suitable individuals, we may close the application process without prior notice. We appreciate the time and effort invested by all applicants and will carefully consider each submission.

What you will accomplish

• Conduct avian field studies primarily on preconstruction solar development projects, habitat restoration projects, and southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) survey and monitoring projects.  There may be occasional opportunities to assist with nesting bird clearance surveys, botanical surveys, Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) surveys, and other field-based efforts. 
• Conduct fieldwork and operate 4WD and off-road vehicles in desert terrain and hot and dry weather conditions.
• Use a tablet loaded with ArcGIS Field Maps displaying project features and aerial imagery to navigate to survey sites.
• Use Kestrels, compasses, and rangefinders to observe and record wind speed and direction and distance to detected birds. Occasional use of topographic maps, GPS units, and other maps and tools to determine exact locations of project areas, survey points, habitat types, and associated landforms may be required.
• Record data on paper forms or in digital format using ArcGIS Field Maps or Survey123 on Apple iPads, organize and transfer field data, enter data into Microsoft Access databases, record progress in Google Sheets, and help support project management team.
• Adhere to the safety program and look out for the safety of others, promptly communicating and mitigating safety hazards.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Minimum of B.A. or B.S. in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or a related field preferred but not required. Coursework in ornithology strongly preferred.
• Minimum of six (6) months of employment or volunteer-based experience conducting fieldwork or related outdoor work strongly preferred.
• Previous experience with avian point-count surveys or nest monitoring strongly preferred.
• Ability to identify southwestern avian species by sight and sound strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of avian survey techniques preferred but not required.
• Ability to stoop or crawl in hot conditions in dense riparian habitat.
• Ability to record detailed and accurate field notes and communicate effectively with field leads and the project management team required.
• Ability to use Apple iPad for navigation and recording of field data required.
• Ability to conduct fieldwork in early morning hours in temperatures up to 100 degrees, walk up to 5 miles per day, sometimes in rugged terrain, and carry equipment and/or supplies weighing up to 20 pounds required.
• Valid driver’s license and the ability to drive a 4WD vehicle on backcountry roads required.
• Ability to travel to project site 100% of the time

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Must have excellent communication, interpersonal skills, and attention to detail.
• Must have ability and willingness to learn new survey and monitoring techniques and follow detailed protocols.
• Must have ability to take initiative and resolve problems to assure tasks are completed in the most effective manner.
• Flexibility and willingness to learn company operational and safety procedures required.
• Ability to work as member of a team, make decisions individually, and complete tasks effectively required.

Why Work at SWCA:

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full-spectrum of environmental services.  Our Vision (the North Star) is to make SWCA the best workplace and industry leader in sustainability, bringing sound science and creative solutions to global environmental challenges while maintaining a dedication to employee-ownership. We live our core values: we collaborate as #OneSWCA; we are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack.

We are 100% employee-owned, and we build our success together. With offices across the United States, SWCA is one of the largest environmental compliance firms and ranks among Engineering News-Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms. We offer a supportive, team-oriented work environment and competitive wages and benefits, including an 100% employee stock ownership plan (retirement).

If you need assistance accessing SWCA’s website, completing the online application, or require accommodations at any point during the hiring process due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@swca.com or call 1-480-581-5378. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and supportive experience for all candidates. This contact information is specifically for accommodation requests; other inquiries will not receive a response.

EOE - women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply. At SWCA Environmental Consultants, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds, including those with diverse experiences and veterans, to apply. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce enhances creativity, innovation, and overall organizational success.

SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees.  In alignment with this commitment, SWCA posts good faith pay ranges in all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency.

An Avian Natural Resources Technician in this Nevada-based position can expect a rate of $19.24/hour to $25.48/hour. Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law.  Candidates are also encouraged to consider SWCA’s Total Rewards package, which includes a forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.

SWCA continues to invest deeply in career development programs, delivering our award-winning Career Landscape support resources to accelerate the growth of our staff. We recognize the valuable skills and experiences our internal team members bring to SWCA’s continued success. Qualified internal candidates are encouraged to apply and will be seriously considered for this position. We believe in promoting from within, where possible, providing our existing employees with compelling opportunities to advance their careers.

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