Field Technician

Employer: Wildlife Conservation Society Canada Location: Whitehorse, Yukon (Hybrid) Position Title: Field Technician Position Type: Full‑time, Term Term: 10 weeks Salary: $32.96 per hour plus 8% Vacation pay Date Written/Revised: April 11, 2025 Reports to: Dr. Hilary Cooke, Co‑Director of Northern Boreal Mountains program Start Date: May 5, 2025 Position Contact: Dr. Hilary Cooke, Co‑Director of Northern Boreal Mountains program (hcooke@wcs.org) Benefits: Vacation pay, Paid sick and personal emergency leave, DEIJA Team, Weekly Wellness sessions, Mentorship program Application Closing Date: This application will remain open until the right candidate is found for the position. Position Summary WCS Canada is seeking a Field Technician to assist with a study of the relationship between fire severity and bird communities in boreal forests of Yukon. The field team will be responsible for avian surveys and collection of site and habitat data at study sites located in recently burned forest. The team will work under the supervision of the project lead, Dr. Hilary Cooke. Responsibilities Search for and identify nest cavities and foraging trees for cavity‑nesting birds such as woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, and others. Deploy acoustic recorders at remote locations. Collect site and habitat data related to fire severity and characteristics of cavity and foraging trees. Prepare the field area, maintain and organize field equipment, and perform data entry and management. Participate in 1‑2 weeks of field preparation at the WCS Canada office in Whitehorse and 1‑2 weeks of data entry and equipment organization at the office at the end of the field season. Travel extensively, camp in remote locations, and manage long driving distances between field sites. Follow all field safety protocols and maintain safety equipment. Required Qualifications / Skills / Experience Undergraduate degree or diploma in Biology, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resource Management, or a related field. At least 1 year of field work experience in relatively remote locations. Experience working, camping, and navigating in remote conditions (off‑road by foot) using a compass, map, and GPS. Experience conducting field‑based avian surveys. Remote or wilderness first aid and bear safety training (required; may be acquired prior to start date or within the first week). Proficiency with Microsoft Excel. Preferred / Desirable Qualifications / Skills / Experience Experience identifying boreal cavity‑nesting birds by sight and sound. Experience operating 4×4 trucks on rough access roads. Experience identifying boreal shrubs to genus and trees to species. How to Apply Please submit your CV with a cover letter explaining your qualifications related to the responsibilities listed above and your motivation to work on this project via the following link: [Application URL]. For questions regarding the position, please contact Hilary Cooke at hcooke@wcs.org. For questions regarding the application process, please contact Okechukwu Ezibe at oezibe@wcs.org. Diversity and Inclusion Statement WCS Canada is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier‑free and accessible employment practices. Applicants with a disability or any special needs may make a request for accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process, and we will work with you to meet your needs. Such requests should be communicated to Okechukwu Ezibe (oezibe@wcs.org) or by phone 437‑770‑2776. Office Safety Plan Compliance WCS Canada is committed to providing and maintaining a safe environment for our employees, contractors, and partners. As part of this unwavering commitment to safety, it is a condition of employment that office‑based WCS Canada employees be compliant with the respective Office Safety Plan, which includes being fully vaccinated against COVID‑19 with a COVID‑19 vaccine series approved by Health Canada or the World Health Organization. This condition is subject to the requirements of applicable human rights legislation. #J-18808-Ljbffr