Desert Tortoise Technician (NPS, Mojave National Preserve)

tsu.edu; California; On-site; USD 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Life insurance

Housing provided

Pro Deals access

Job summary

Great Basin Institute is seeking a Desert Tortoise Technician for MOJA with the National Park Service. The role involves wildlife surveys, data collection, and habitat management across Mojave National Preserve. Projects include tortoise monitoring, spring surveys, bat emergence surveys, and habitat improvements for endangered species.

Timeline: early November 2026, 7 weeks, full-time at 40 hours/week. Housing at no cost in Essex, CA, and comprehensive benefits provided by the Park.

Qualifications

• Degree in wildlife biology or related field required or strongly preferred.
• Experience with field data collection and reporting.
• Ability to work in remote desert environments and meet physical demands.

Responsibilities

• Monitor project areas to protect habitat and endangered species.
• Conduct wildlife and natural resource surveys.
• Assist with habitat improvement for sensitive species.
• Collect, organize, and analyze wildlife observations and data.
• Collaborate with project managers and NPS staff to support conservation efforts.
• Support public understanding of MOJA resources.

Skills

Field work

Data collection

Written & verbal communication

Observation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Biology or related field

Tools

ArcGIS

GPS navigation

Thermal cameras

Job description

Description

The Research Associate Program at GBI, in cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS) at Mojave National Preserve (MOJA), is recruiting one Desert Tortoise Technician to participate in wildlife surveys, resource monitoring, data collection, and natural resource management activities throughout the preserve.
As the field season is late in the year, the positions will not be exclusively focused on desert tortoises. Technicians may have opportunities to conduct tortoise monitoring for construction projects, along with a variety of other resource management activities, including desert spring surveys, bat emergence surveys using acoustic recorders and thermal cameras, and habitat improvement projects for the Mohave tui chub fish. These activities will provide opportunities to support the preservation and management of the preserve's diverse desert ecosystems and sensitive wildlife species.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Monitor project areas during construction and other activities that could damage habitat or pose risks to endangered or threatened species, including opportunities for desert tortoise monitoring.
• Conduct wildlife and natural resource surveys, potentially including desert spring surveys and bat emergence surveys using acoustic recorders and thermal cameras.
• Assist with habitat improvement and management activities for sensitive species, including the Mohave tui chub fish.
• Collect, organize, analyze, and manage wildlife observations and other natural resource datasets within and around MOJA.
• Work collaboratively with project managers and NPS Resource Management staff to support ongoing conservation and monitoring efforts.
• Assist with resource-based activities and monitoring park resources, sometimes in coordination with volunteers.
• Help promote public understanding and appreciation of MOJA’s natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources.

Timeline:

• Early November 2026; Term length 7 weeks
• Full time (40 hours/week)
• Schedule: Schedule: 4-10’s or 5, 4, 9’s (subject to change as needed)

Location:
Mojave National Preserve (MOJA) is 1.6 million acres, with about 44% of it designated as Wilderness. While most of MOJA is made up of the Mojave Desert, components of the Great Basin Desert are found in higher elevations and parts of the southern portion of the park are made up of the Sonoran Desert. Resources of the region include threatened and/or endangered species habitat, big game habitats, abandoned mine lands, and historic and prehistoric cultural sites.

Compensation and Benefits:
Compensation: $22.50 hourly;
Benefits:

• Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental (with option to upgrade in coverage), and vision insurance;
• $25,000 Basic Life & AD&D insurance at no cost;
• Access to Pro Deals;

Housing: Will be provided to the selected participant at no additional cost. The Park will provide housing in a dormitory. The interns will have a private room with a shared bath, shared kitchen and common areas, located in Essex, CA at the Hole-in-the-Wall Fire Center.

Qualifications

Required:

• Must meet the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority age and citizenship requirements (see more information in PLC section below);
• Possess reliable vehicle or other form of transportation;
• Possess a valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record;
• Previous experience monitoring on Mojave Desert tortoise projects or working with Mojave Desert tortoise;
• Undergraduate or Graduate degree in Wildlife Management, Wildlife Biology, Natural Resources, or a closely related field in the biological sciences.

Preferred:

• Previous U.S. Fish and Wildlife approval as an Authorized Mojave Desert Tortoise Biologist, preferred;
• Familiarity and knowledge of natural resource management at western National Parks, specifically wildlife;
• Experience in performing field work, and applying methodological protocols for collecting field data;
• Ability to work in extreme and remote parts of the park;
• Familiarity with ecological processes and the fauna, as well as the flora, of the Mojave and/or Sonoran Deserts;
• Familiarity with or previous experience working in the Mojave and/or Sonoran Deserts;
• Experience operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, unimproved roads;
• Experience using hand-held GPS equipment for data collection and navigation;
• Ability to read and navigate using topographic maps and a compass;
• Experience using ArcGIS software;
• Knowledge or familiarity with Mojave National Preserve, preferred;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with a diverse audience;
• Willingness and ability to work, hike long distances carrying 40-50 pounds, and lift, carry and use equipment in harsh, variable desert conditions, including in extreme heat; and
• Willingness to work a variable schedule, possibly including some weekends.
• Ability to work independently to accomplish goals;
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, agency staff, and a diverse public;
• Possess good organizational skills;
• Possess a favorably adjudicated background clearance; and
• Must be motivated, self-directed, organized, and detail oriented in order to balance multiple tasks simultaneously.

Successful applicants must complete a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) or submit paperwork to NPS human resources indicating an active and fully adjudicated BI has already been completed prior to beginning position. If you already have a fully adjudicated BI, please let us know in your application.

Physical Demands:
The Wildlife Monitor will be required to hike and navigate rugged, steep terrain for extended periods, often carrying up to 50 lbs of gear. The position involves working in varying weather conditions, including temperatures ranging from 51°F to 100°F in summer and snow in winter. The technician will need to stand, kneel, crouch, or bend for long periods during surveys and equipment setup, as well as camp overnight in rustic conditions. The role also involves working in remote, high-altitude environments (6,500 ft) and driving safely on unpaved roads. The technician must be adaptable to physically demanding field conditions and be capable of working both independently and as part of a team, requiring flexibility, stamina, and focus.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: This project is federally funded through the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority. Participants serving under this authority may be eligible for the PLC non-competitive hiring status and certificate. The PLC Authority requires all applicants meet the age and US Citizen requirements. Additional information regarding the PLC can be found on the GBI website under the Research Associate Programs FAQ.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the organization's ongoing needs. All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Disclaimer: Although the organization has attempted to accurately and thoroughly describe this position, GBI reserves the right to change the same, including to change, add to or subtract from the duties outlined, within the sole discretion of the organization, at any time, with or without advance notice.