Field work most biologists never get near.
Predator management, listed species recovery and wildlife rescue across California. Small team, real permits, and the kind of experience that sets you apart.
Make a difference, one animal at a time.
We respond when wildlife needs us most — supporting rescue efforts during oil spills and other emergencies. Whether it’s an oiled bird pulled from the surf or a stranded animal caught in a disaster zone, our team shows up ready to help. It’s hands-on work that matters, often in the toughest conditions.
Work that gets you outdoors.
From sandy beaches to desert dunes, our team is in the field every week monitoring and protecting threatened species. No two days look the same — you might be surveying nesting shorebirds one morning and tracking predator activity across open terrain the next. If a desk job’s never felt like the right fit, this might be.
Small team. Big impact.
Join a close-knit group of biologists and conservationists working across California. We work on the ground, in the field, on projects that add up to real, measurable change for the species and habitats we protect. Our work spans the state, but it always comes back to the same goal: protecting what’s out there.
Learn skills you won't find anywhere else.
Get hands-on training in specialised wildlife management techniques, from predator monitoring to species-specific handling methods most biologists never get exposure to. It’s the kind of experience that sets you apart.
Current openings
Select a role to read the full description.
THE ROLE
The Predator Biologist conducts and/or oversees surveillance, research, and targeted management of high threat predators of special status species, including but not limited to nesting California Least Terns and Western Snowy Plovers, in coastal San Diego, Orange, and/or Los Angeles Counties. This is applied and adaptive conservation work, with the data collected used to help steer management efforts both locally and regionally, with the goal of developing and implementing innovative equipment and techniques to increase program efficiency, reduce negative impacts to native predator populations, and achieve recovery goals.
Day-to-day operations will be based on predator and prey activity, driven by diurnal and nocturnal physical and digital surveillance of nesting and adjacent areas and post-predation site investigations. Active management of high-threat individuals may include a variety of non-lethal and lethal tactics tailored to the species, behavior, and permit conditions. All activity will be digitally collected and analyzed for technical reporting and further development of the programs. Work may include development and testing of experimental techniques to address special status species conflict and GPS tracking of predator movements. Additionally, some work may require injured and contaminated wildlife recovery and transport, as part of on-call rescue projects or oil spill response.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
- Conduct diurnal and nocturnal predator surveillance and monitoring, through general and protocol-level surveys, identifying potential and confirmed high-threat predators (to species, age, and sex, when possible) and their behavior
- Deploy, operate, and maintain cellular trail cameras and other surveillance equipment; download, review, and log data for integration into active management efforts and technical reporting
- Investigate predation events and use evidence to support identification of high-threat individuals or species
- Implement targeted management of high-threat predators using a variety of lethal and nonlethal tactics, in compliance with company protocols and federal, state, and site-specific regulations
- Record data digitally, maintain project databases, and prepare weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual technical reports
- Support ongoing predator research, including development and/or refinement of innovative surveillance and management techniques, and assist with injured wildlife recovery and transport
This list is representative, not exhaustive; additional duties may be assigned.
ABOUT WILDLIFE INNOVATIONS
Wildlife Innovations (WI) is a DGS-certified small/micro business specializing in wildlife research, surveillance, monitoring, and management. WI provides support for a variety of tasks, such as listed species protection and recovery, environmental compliance, wildlife rescue, hazing, and transport, human health and safety, and conflict and damage mitigation. Our work spans across a diverse set of landscapes, including construction sites, airports, military installations, ports, and state and city parks and beaches. Our approach is grounded in the relationships between species in local ecosystems and the stressors created by human modification of the landscape; for this, we use a combination of historic and advanced monitoring, surveillance, and management techniques to help resolve wildlife conflicts, improve outcomes, and support the recovery of focal species. Most staff are cross-trained across multiple projects and techniques to provide more adaptive and expedited responses
QUALIFICATIONS
|
Required
|
Preferred: Highlight any that apply
|
Working conditions
- Variable schedule, including swing and split shifts, day and nighttime operations, and travel between multiple sites in a day; long, continuous survey periods outdoors in all weather and at varying noise levels
- Hike up to 10 miles per day (typically 1 to 2) over uneven terrain, sometimes in waders or mud boots, carrying up to 50 lb; stand, walk, reach, and stoop throughout the day
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
- Salary: $70,000–$110,000 per year, depending on experience. Candidates with certification and permit standing, procurement and program development experience, and multi-project management are compensated at the upper end of the range.
- Benefits: health plan, paid time off, sick leave, and retirement plan eligibility (subject to length of employment). Eligibility for Bonuses (subject to employee and company performance)
- Start date: Dependent upon qualifications of candidate
Apply for this role
The application form asks for your contact details, the permits you hold and where you can work. Please be specific about your relevant experience and include permit numbers where you have them, as applications that do not address these will not be considered.
THE ROLE
Wildlife Innovations is building a bench of experienced avian biologists we can call on for nesting bird surveys, preconstruction avian surveys, nest and burrow monitoring, and compliance monitoring for sensitive and special-status species across coastal Southern California. Assignments are matched to your availability and to project schedules; there is no minimum hours commitment.
This is a flexible, project-based role well suited to a biologist who wants variable hours, the ability to pick up assignments around an existing schedule, and potential opportunities for specialized training. Further, biologists who demonstrate exemplary performance may be offered the chance to join the Wildlife Innovations’ full-time team.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
- Conduct pre-construction and nesting bird surveys, adhering to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, California Fish and Game Code, and project-specific permit conditions
- Identify Southern California birds by sight and sound, including raptors, corvids, shorebirds, and the special-status species relevant to each site
- Locate, flag, age, and/or monitor active nests; establish and enforce mitigation measures (when applicable) and communicate results in real time to project biologists and construction crews
- Monitor burrows (e.g., burrowing owl) for occupancy, and support monitoring for California Least Tern, Western Snowy Plover, and other special status species as needed
- Collect georeferenced field data digitally and contribute to technical survey summary reports
This list is representative, not exhaustive; additional duties may be assigned.
ABOUT WILDLIFE INNOVATIONS
We are a DGS-certified small/micro business specializing in wildlife research, monitoring, and management. Our mission is to support the protection and recovery of listed species, help clients maintain environmental compliance, rescue injured and contaminated wildlife, and mitigate risks to human health and safety. We work across active construction sites, airports, military installations, ports, and state and city parks, with most of our staff cross-trained across various projects, including those requiring specialized training and certifications.
Our work is grounded in understanding the relationships between species in local ecosystems and the stressors created by human modification of the landscape. We use advanced monitoring and surveillance techniques to design strategies that resolve wildlife conflicts, reduce impacts during construction, improve management outcomes, and support the recovery of focal species.
QUALIFICATIONS
|
Required
|
Preferred: Highlight any that apply
|
Skills and abilities
- Proficiency with physical and digital surveillance equipment (day/night optics, trail cameras, ect.)
- Proficiency in independently conducting field operations while maintaining environmental compliance
- Strong technical writing; clear, prompt communication with project leads, clients, and construction crews
- Works efficiently and independently in the field; MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint)
Physical requirements
- Hike up to 5 miles per day over uneven terrain; stand, walk, reach, and stoop throughout the day
- Work outdoors in all weather (heat, rain, fog, wind) and conduct surveys for long, continuous periods
COMPENSATION AND ENGAGEMENT
- Pay: $32–$75 per hour, depending on experience, permits held, and lead responsibilities. Biologists listed on 10(a)(1)(A) permits and those who can lead crews are compensated at the upper end of the range.
- Schedule: Project-based and as-needed. We give as much notice as project schedules allow; however, short-notice clearance surveys are common during nesting season.
- Engagement: On-call basis
Apply for this role
The application form asks for your contact details, the permits you hold and where you can work. Please be specific about your relevant experience and include permit numbers where you have them, as applications that do not address these will not be considered.