Wildlife Technician (NPS, Mojave National Preserve)

The Wildlife Society; California; On-site; USD 30,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing provided

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Life & AD&D insurance

Pro Deals

Job summary

The Wildlife Monitor at Mojave National Preserve (MOJA) supports desert tortoise work and broader wildlife surveys in conjunction with the National Park Service. You will collect data, monitor habitats, and help advance conservation projects across a vast desert landscape.

You will collaborate with project managers and NPS resource staff, participate in field surveys, and assist with public understanding of MOJA’s resources. Housing is provided, and compensation includes benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or higher in wildlife/natural resources or related field.
• Experience monitoring desert tortoise projects preferred.
• Ability to work in remote desert environments and carry 40–50 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Monitor project areas during construction for habitat safety and tortoise monitoring.
• Conduct wildlife surveys and habitat assessments across MOJA.
• Collect, organize, and analyze wildlife observations and datasets.
• Collaborate with NASA/NPS staff and volunteers to support conservation.
• Assist with public education and sharing MOJA resources.

Skills

Desert tortoise monitoring

Wildlife surveys

Data collection & management

Team collaboration

Fieldwork under harsh conditions

Education

Undergraduate or Graduate degree in Wildlife Management, Wildlife Biology, Natural Resources, or related field

Tools

ArcGIS

GPS devices

Thermal cameras

Acoustic recorders

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.

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.

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.