Ecological Technician

Ecological Technician – Species Habitat Suitability

Position Type: Full-time, Term (~1 year, Summer 2026–Summer 2027, with potential extension contingent on funding)

Compensation: ~$49,280 for the funded period | Full benefits package

Duty Station: Albuquerque, NM (preferred; some flexibility)

Travel: Required; primarily to Bridger-Teton National Forest (WY) for consultation and field activities

About the Project

This position is part of a collaborative research initiative led by the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS) in partnership with Friends of the Bridger-Teton, Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF), the Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee, the Ricketts Conservation Foundation, and USGS. The project addresses a critical gap in land management capacity: the high cost and limited availability of reliable, landscape-scale ecological information needed to support active forest management, streamline environmental review, and protect rare biological resources on National Forest System lands.

The habitat technician will work directly under the supervision of Research Ecologist Dr. Megan Friggens, RMRS, and will focus on evaluating and comparing species habitat suitability methods and translating results into practical tools for National Forest managers and biologists.

Position Summary

The habitat technician will lead applied research activities related to rare species habitat suitability assessment on the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The technician will conduct systematic literature review, implement and compare habitat modeling methods, produce habitat evaluation reports and field planning aids, and develop a manager toolkit enabling independent future assessments by National Forest staff. This position sits at the intersection of ecological research and applied land management, requiring both analytical rigor and the ability to communicate results to practitioner audiences.

Primary Responsibilities

•Consult with BTNF biologists and botanists to identify candidate species and assemble habitat reference data

•Conduct systematic literature review and methodological benchmarking of existing habitat suitability approaches

•Implement, evaluate, and compare habitat suitability models across candidate species

•Produce habitat evaluation reports, maps, and method comparison analyses

•Develop field planning aids and survey prioritization schemes based on best-performing models

•Develop a manager toolkit and accompanying instructional guide for independent future use by National Forest staff

•Support manuscript preparation and contribute to writing and editing of peer-reviewed publications and technical reports

•Participate in team meetings, webinars, training sessions, and workshops with National Forest personnel

•Follow all applicable safety protocols during travel and off-site activities

Qualifications

Required:

•B.S. or M.S. in ecology, wildlife biology, conservation biology, natural resource management, or closely related field

•Experience with species distribution or habitat suitability modeling (e.g., MaxEnt or equivalent)

•Proficiency in R, Python, or similar analytical environment for ecological modeling

•Experience with GIS and spatial data analysis (ArcGIS Pro and/or QGIS)

•Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a multi-institutional team

•Strong written communication skills; experience contributing to technical reports or manuscripts

Preferred:

•Familiarity with rare or sensitive species management in the context of federal land management

•Experience with remote sensing data and/or landscape-scale ecological assessment

•Experience communicating research results to practitioner or manager audiences

To Apply

Please send letter of interest and resume to contact address.