NEXT TRAINING CLASS STARTING March 3, 2025, accepting applications.
TRAINING CLASS FULL FOR February 3, 2025.
Wildlife Biologist
SNEI, a 30-year-old Biological Consulting firm based out of Las Vegas NV, is seeking to hire full-time qualified field biologists to become part of our team, working throughout the Mojave Desert (primarily in southern Nevada and southern California).
Upon hire and depending on the level of experience, the applicant will attend a training program consisting of field and classroom learning. The applicant will then shadow a biologist(s) on a project site(s) to gain hands-on experience and a thorough understanding of what to expect on the job site. Some of the duties to expect may include construction monitoring, performing desert tortoise surveys, fence checks, avian surveys, and sensitive plant or weed surveys. Once the lead biologist on the project feels that the biologist-in-training is ready to perform their job independently, they will be assigned to specific duties on the project. In some cases (depending on the project type and location), the biologist-in-training will also need approval from Fish and Wildlife to perform the duties of a wildlife biologist. If applicant has prior experience working with desert tortoise, there may be a shift in the training process. Pay rate is also flexible depending on the level of relevant experience.
Construction monitoring involves being present on construction sites (pipelines, electrical transmission lines, solar projects, highway paving, etc.) where sensitive species such as desert tortoise are known to exist, making sure crews adhere to state and federal permits of their project, and remain in compliance. In summary, our job is to help ensure that tortoises and other protected species are not harmed.
Extreme Working Conditions
All SNEI biologists are expected to work the project’s schedule. Our team often works overtime (over 40 hours per week) and sometimes on weekends. We work outside in all types of conditions. Sometimes the weather is perfect, but we also experience extreme heat (*120 degrees F) * relentless sunshine, or cold, rainy, and windy conditions. Our team must complete field surveys on tight schedules and mirror construction schedules during the construction phases of projects. These schedules can be last minute and can change often. Therefore, our biologists need to be flexible to meet the needs of our clients. Applicants are expected to be adaptable, knowledgeable, hard-working and possess the ability to get along with crews and other biologists.
QUALIFICATIONS:
· Bachelor’s degree in a science-related field such as biology, wildlife, environmental science, ecology, botany, etc. , OR have experience doing surveys and construction monitoring (in desert tortoise habitat).
· Able to tolerate standing and/or walking while monitoring heavy construction machinery for 10 hours or more in a single day. Must be able to work outdoors in all conditions, including extreme heat and cold for extended periods of time. Must be able to walk 8+ miles per day, sometimes over rough terrain.
· Must be able to work and communicate well with construction crews and other biologists and be a team player.
· Applicant must live in (or relocate to) the Las Vegas or surrounding area by the class start date.
· Must have own personal transportation to commute to and from SNEI’s office. Work vehicles are provided for fieldwork to and from work sites. Knowledge and the ability to drive 4WD vehicles over rough terrain is a plus (DMV driving record for past 3 years required).
· Applicant must be self-motivated, well organized, detail oriented, possess a strong work ethic, and be enthusiastic about conservation.
· Experience with GPS is preferred.
Note: SNEI will provide hotel accommodations when working away from the general vicinity of Las Vegas. SNEI also provides employees with a new model 4×4 work truck to commute to and from the office and project site.
Compensation & Benefits
Upon hire, applicants will be paid as W-2 employees and will be paid every two weeks. SNEI offers a benefits package to permanent, full-time employees after a probationary period. Benefits include health insurance and a 401(k) plan with employer matching. Paid PTO and holidays are also offered after an additional period with the company.
Salary: Starting at $18 per hour*. Employees are paid for travel time, to-and-from the job site and office. Per diem and travel bonuses are included when working on projects outside the general Las Vegas area, when overnight stay in a hotel is required.
*Pay rate is flexible if applicant has previous experience as a desert tortoise biologist.
Qualified applicants should submit a brief cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references to [email protected]
Experienced Applicants:
In addition to our training groups for those with little to no experience, SNEI is always interested in receiving resumes of qualified, experienced applicants in the fields of wildlife biology, particularly desert tortoise biologists.
Biologists needed for projects within the Mojave Desert to monitor and conserve affected natural resources. Duties to include surveying and monitoring activities for sensitive flora and fauna species, monitoring of construction activity to maintain compliance of state and federal stipulations, relocation of sensitive species, assess and document environmental quality and communicate with contractors and agencies to maintain project stability.
The ideal candidate will have knowledge of the flora and fauna of the Mojave Desert including experience working with the desert tortoise, experience using a GPS and other survey applications such as Field Maps and Collector, ability to create detailed field notes, and be able to work under extreme field conditions in the desert heat. Candidate must have a Bachelor’s Degree in a wildlife science or a closely related field from an accredited college or university.
SNEI is an equal opportunity employer and a drug-free workplace. Please send your resume and cover letter to Careers@snei.com.
ADA/ADAAA Policy
It is the policy of SNEI to comply with all federal and state laws concerning the employment of persons with disabilities and to act in accordance with regulations and guidance issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Furthermore, it is the company policy not to discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in regard to application procedures, hiring, advancement, discharge, compensation, training or other terms, conditions and privileges of employment.
