Subterranean Technician

SUPERVISOR: Jackson Bain

FLSA STATUS: Part-Time; Non-Exempt

RATE: $20-22/hour, dependent on experience (plus overtime pay)

LOCATION: Western United States

Bat Conservation International (BCI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to ending bat extinctions worldwide, seeks 3-4 intermittent, part-time Subterranean Technicians to join BCI’s Conservation Department. Ideal candidates will be based within reasonable travel distance of major western U.S. cities. The Subterranean Technician will work as part of the Subterranean Team in the Habitat Protection & Restoration Program.

This position requires an experienced, highly motivated individual willing and able to conduct field work above and below ground safely, efficiently, and professionally in a variety of environments throughout the western United States. The successful candidate will perform a variety of conservation activities that benefit bats and other wildlife that depend on subterranean habitat, with a primary focus on conducting internal surveys of abandoned mines and caves.

Project work occurs in partnership with land management agencies, including Bureau of Land Management, Department of Energy, National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and others. Subterranean field surveys are used to assess habitat quality and determine bat and other wildlife use of subterranean sites to inform management recommendations aimed at protection of important habitat. Additionally, this position may assist with project management duties including report writing, data and photo management, and other pre- and post-fieldwork tasks. On-the-job training will occur, and opportunities for additional safety/medical certifications may be available.

Work Schedule:

This is a part-time, intermittent position that will fulfill as-needed field project duties. As such, work is not guaranteed and will be sporadic in nature. When work is available, advance notice of 1-3 months is generally provided. Available project work requires travel to project sites and consists of living and working on-site, in or near field locations. Field projects are typically five weekdays in length, including travel days, though some projects may require longer deployments and may include working weekends. Field weeks may consist of travel and field days ranging in length from 8 hours to 12 hours or more. Typical field projects occur in remote, mountainous terrain, based out of local towns (often small communities with limited services). Overnight lodging is provided in shared house rentals or hotel rooms, with private bedrooms for each team member, though some projects may require camping. Meals and other travel costs are also covered. Office work, when available, is flexible in nature and will occur remotely from a home office.

Position Description (Major Duties):

• Conducting Abandoned Mine Land (AML) inventory, focusing on identifying abandoned mines on the landscape and assessing hazards to human health and safety.
• Conducting biological surveys that focus on assessing abandoned mines and caves for bats and other wildlife. This is done primarily using internal (underground) surveys, following standardized BCI protocols.
• Using the results of those surveys to affect conservation by identifying and recommending protection of critical bat and wildlife habitat.
• Potential to assist with planning, managing, implementing, and reporting on biological survey projects. This can include travel logistics, gear maintenance, managing data and photos collected during fieldwork, as well as communicating survey results and assessments with project partners.

This Job is for you if you:

• Are comfortable in small, intimate team environments.
• Enjoy working hard outside, under trying physical conditions.
• Are safety conscious and a strong communicator.
• Want to contribute to positive social and environmental impact.

Required Candidate Qualifications:

• Interest in wildlife, ecology, conservation, and working outdoors.
• Demonstrated ability to work in remote environments, navigate off-trail, and follow field safety protocols.
• Demonstrated ability to comfortably navigate around vertical drops, tight spaces, and steep scrambles with a heavy (~30lb) backpack.
• Demonstrated interest in bats and underground environments, such as caves and abandoned mines.
• Open and enthusiastic about living in small-team settings, while cooperating to pursue shared project goals and objectives.
• Familiarity with basic computer operating systems/software and digital data entry using tablets or smart phones.
• Knowledge of the scientific process, survey methods, and field techniques.
• Experience or openness to learn single-rope techniques (SRT), including advanced rappelling, ascending, rigging, and training in self-rescue and hauling.

Desired Additional Qualifications:

• Experience in technical ropework disciplines such as caving, climbing, canyoneering, mountaineering, etc.
• Knowledge of surface and underground abandoned mine hazards and hard rock mining history.
• Experience and knowledge in 4x4 off-road driving.
• Certifications in first aid, CPR, and wilderness medicine.
• 2-3 years of pertinent formal or informal experience in biology, wildlife management, natural resource management, environmental science, or a similar field.

Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion:

Bat Conservation International is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to pursuing and hiring a diverse workforce and committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. Please read more about our Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion statement at

www.batcon.org/about-us/justice-equity-diversity-and-inclusion/.