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Location

Harrisburg, PA | United States

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Job description

Harrisburg Office (Harrisburg, PA)

Through the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) partnership, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is seeking a Zoologist . This skilled professional with vertebrate zoological expertise will lead and assist with numerous survey initiatives, primarily focused on inventory and update projects relating to mammal, reptile and amphibian Species of Greatest Conservation Need. The nature of this inventory work requires a considerable amount of overnight travel (frequently five days a week) and working under strenuous field conditions. The position will be housed in the Rachel Carson State Office Building in Harrisburg, Pa.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has been dedicated to protecting and restoring the region’s exceptional natural places since 1932. As a member-based nonprofit organization, we work in cities and towns across Western Pennsylvania and rely on the help of thousands of members, partners and volunteers. We are making a difference in our region’s water, land and life. We do this work for the benefit of wildlife and people who call Western Pennsylvania home, and for future generations.

Job Duties

Daily activities during the height of field season (roughly April-October) will include:

• Preparing and planning for field studies and associated logistics;
• Conducting field studies including collecting detailed field notes;
• Incorporating field survey data into PNHP databases and associated agency databases.

The remainder of the year includes occasional fieldwork, but is focused on data summarization, reporting and project development.

Requirements

• Must possess sufficient physical stamina and mental prowess to conduct field investigations in rough terrain and in adverse weather conditions.
• Willing to work after dark and in proximity to common outdoor natural hazards (poisonous and venomous flora and fauna).
• Must be able to interpret maps, navigate using handheld GPS units, safely operate motor vehicles on unimproved roads, pilot unpowered watercraft and travel on powered watercraft.
• Must be able to swim and wade in still and flowing water and be able to operate machinery and power tools.
• Candidates must be willing to maintain a current rabies vaccine.

Physical Requirements

• Utilizing keyboarding and fine motor skills
• Sedentary work
• Seeing with near, far and peripheral visual acuity
• Speaking and hearing in-person, telephone and other remote speech
• Stamina to conduct field investigations in rough terrain, in adverse weather conditions and in proximity to common outdoor natural hazards
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle

Qualifications

• Candidates should have a 4-year degree in zoology, biology, ecology, natural resources, environmental science or a related field; master’s degree preferred.
• Excellent communication skills are required.
• Experience with Geographic Information Systems
• A commitment to conservation goals

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with NatureServe methodology and Pennsylvania’s flora, natural communities and ecology
• Experience with ESRI ArcGIS products, R statistical software, museum specimen preparation, bat capture techniques and processing, radio telemetry, passive monitoring techniques (acoustic data collection, PIT tagging, trail cameras)

Location

This position's primary location(s): Harrisburg Office (Harrisburg, PA)

Position Duration

This is a full-time position with benefits.

Pay

$45,000 – $65,000. Please include salary expectations. In consideration of advanced qualifications and years of experience, the pay may be higher than this range, as candidate pay will commensurate with experience.

Application Process

Please send a letter, resume and salary requirements to [email protected] and list Zoologist in the subject line.

Application Deadline

March 22, 2024

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action Employer – Minority / Female / Disability / Veteran / Gender Identity / Sexual Orientation / Age.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is fully committed to diversity and inclusion. We seek contributors from all backgrounds to join our team. Read our equal opportunity employer statement.

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Job tags

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Salary