Natural Resources Job Board

Location: West Virginia, Possible locations: Logan and Wyoming County; Mason and Jackson County; Nicholas, Greenbrier and Summers County; Mineral and Hampshire County

Starting date: After June 15, 2025 (start and end date flexible);

Position and Salary: $15/hr. Up to 4 Full-time Wildlife Technician Positions, each about a 6-month appointment (July to December; start and end date flexible) with the possibility of extension. 

Offered by: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, USGS WV Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, West Virginia University

Lab supervisor: Laura Gigliotti

Research fields: Wild Turkey Biology and Population Ecology

 

One of the largest statewide wild turkey studies ever conducted in the state of West Virginia started in January 2024 as a collaboration between the WV Division of Natural Resources (DNR) and West Virginia University (WVU). The goal of this study is to estimate wild turkey populations in West Virginia in relation to environmental conditions and provide information for setting turkey harvest regulations and address hunter needs in West Virginia. 

The project focuses on both biological (nesting and survival) and sociological (hunter surveys and response of turkeys to hunters) aspects. The Technician(s) will assist project leaders and 3 graduate students with various aspects of Wild Turkey surveying including GPS monitoring of female turkeys, nest surveys, vegetation surveys, brood counts, and other forms of data collection and entry relevant to the project objectives possibly including ARU data. This position includes both field work (85%) and office/data assignments (15%). There could be opportunities to work on other ongoing research and land management projects with the WV DNR as well.

 

 Housing: Housing and work vehicle will be provided

 

- Bachelor's degree in a related field or any equivalent combination of training and experience

- Valid US driver’s license 

- Knowledge of basic field procedures and field safety

- Attention to detail

- Able to work independently and cooperatively with others

- Able to work under harsh weather conditions and in difficult terrain 

- Flexible working hours

- Good communication skills

- Basic knowledge of data entry in excel

- Field experience operating 4WD vehicles in rugged terrain

 

- Experience with radio telemetry

- Strong interpersonal skills as daily interaction with landowners, state agency personnel, and other stakeholders will occur

- Ability to triangulate and navigate to locations using a compass/GPS

 

Applicants should email as a SINGLE file (PDF or Word Doc) with the file name formatted as lastname_firstname.pdf (e.g., doe_john.pdf) and the subject line “WV Turkey Project Tech”:

1) A cover letter clearly explaining your interest and if applicable prior experience with fieldwork and research as well as your general suitability for the advertised position. This should also highlight whether you wish to be considered for a specific location or considered for all four.  The cover letter should not exceed 2 pages and be addressed to the ‘WVU Turkey research group’.

2) Resume or CV

3) Three potential references, your relationship to them and their contact information

To:  Ally Beard, allyson.beard@mail.wvu.edu

 

If you have further questions, please contact the project coordinator Ally Beard (allyson.beard@mail.wvu.edu).