Biologist (Cave)

This position is responsible for the Federal Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan permit compliance with regards to cave ecosystem preservation.

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

Is responsible for the day-to-day management of assigned areas.
Plans and implements habitat restoration activities for endangered species.
Plans and participates in prescription burns.
Monitors endangered avian and karst species, rare plants and salamanders, and their habitats.
Analyzes data on changes in habitat caused by manipulation of vegetation.
Conducts cave restorations and cave gate data design and installation oversight.
Writes technical papers and reports. Maintains implementation records.
Directs and implements problem species control programs.
Conducts miscellaneous repairs on damaged fences and installs gates, sign, and erosion controls as needed and constructs and maintains trails, as needed.
Develops and implements public education and outreach programs.

Responsibilities- Supervision and/or Leadership Exercised:

May supervise and train others.

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

Knowledge of survey techniques for plants/avian and karst species.
Knowledge of local native and non-native plant and avian species.
Knowledge of control species methods for non-native plants, red imported fire ant, and cowbirds.
Knowledge of prescription burning.
Knowledge of functions and operations of interrelating departments and of applicable regulatory requirements.
Knowledge of Federal, State, and Local laws.
Knowledge of City practices, policies, and procedures.
Skill in identifying local native and non-native plant and avian species.
Skill in oral and written communication.
Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
Skill in using computers and related software.
Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
Skill in planning and organizing.
Ability to train others.
Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with other City employees and the public.
Ability to meet and maintain driver eligibility standards detailed in the City of Austin Driver Safety Program.

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in a field related to Natural Sciences such as Wildlife Management, Ecology, Conservation Biology, Botany, Zoology, or another related area;

Four (4) years of experience directly related to job duties.

Licenses or Certifications:

Must hold a current pesticide applicators license under Texas Structural Pest Control board or Texas Department of Agriculture, or be able to obtain license within six (6) months of employment.
Valid current Texas Class C Driver License.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with cave safety and knowledge of local caves. Must be comfortable negotiating tight passageways, rappelling and ascending vertical pits with single rope technique (SRT), monitoring air quality, and encountering rattlesnakes, other wildlife, and other potential cave hazards.
Experience conducting cave faunal surveys without negatively impacting the fragile cave environment and cave fauna, identifying all of the BCP listed and species of concern cave invertebrates to genus and species level, and properly collecting and curating karst invertebrate specimens.
Hold a valid US Fish & Wildlife Service Section 10(a)(1)(A) Scientific Permit for Conducting Presence/Absence Surveys for Endangered Karst Invertebrates in Travis and Williamson Counties.
Experience with cave restoration techniques and procedures used in Central Texas with a minimum of 500 hours restoring and mapping caves.
Experience with groundwater tracing and water quality sampling.
Experience managing caves and/or cave preserves.
National Cave Rescue Certification
Ability to network within the local cave community.

Physical Requirements:

This position includes an annual Work Capacity Test at the Arduous Level

This position will require that you be able to perform the following essential job functions with confidence and with or without reasonable accommodations:

Walk long distances on uneven terrain
Stand, sit, bend, stoop, twist, push, pull, climb, kneel, crawl, hear and see clearly with or without corrective lenses/glasses
Lift and carry equipment and supplies weighing up to fifty (50) pounds, unassisted
Work in environments that may include hazardous conditions, walking in dense vegetation and exposure to extreme weather conditions
Wear required PPE to include safety eyewear, footwear, head protection or hearing protection
Work in confined spaces

Selected candidate will be required to complete and pass a pre-employment physical exam to be considered for this position, which includes a Functional (FC) strength/agility test.