Black Bear Technician-short term, no degree required

Job Title

Black Bear Technician – short term, no degree required

Alpine, TX

Borderlands Research Institute

G99451

10/06/2025

Yes

09/01/2025

$18/hour up to 40 hours/week

• Progress towards or completion of a bachelor’s degree in wildlife ecology, biology, ecology, or a closely related field.
• Ability to lift and carry over 50 pounds and hike over rocky, steep, and rough terrain in remote locations.
• Possess a valid U.S. driver’s license and the ability to safely drive a 4WD vehicle through rugged conditions.
• Ability to implement and adhere to established data collection protocols.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate well with coworkers, supervisor, state personnel, and private landowners.
• Ability to maintain a positive and mature attitude.
• Must be able to thrive in remote desert locations with little access to certain amenities.

• Prior experience setting and maintaining hair snares and camera traps.
• Prior experience capturing and collaring bears, or other large carnivores.
• Familiarity with safety in hot/arid climates.
• Experience with chemical immobilization.
• Basic mechanical skills.

Technician(s) are needed to support a black bear research project in west Texas. After a 30+ year absence, black bears are starting to recolonize this part of Texas. Researchers with the Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University have initiated a multi‑year study exploring many aspects of the recolonizing population’s ecology. The technician will work under the direction of the project graduate students and supervisory researchers.

Duties may include assisting with trapping logistics and animal handling, running camera traps, running hair snares, data collection and organization, and sample processing. Technicians may also assist with concurrent black bear capture and collaring efforts. Position(s) will occur in the spring and fall and will last for 3 months. The role may require long/early days and weekend work. Applicants are expected to be self‑motivated, work well independently as well as in a team, and be able to follow instructions.

Applicants must be able to effectively navigate rough terrain both on foot and by vehicle (UTV & 4×4 truck).

Start date:

Pending
* End date:
Pending
* Pay: $18/hr
* For more information, contact Matt Hewitt (matthew.hewitt) or Caitlin Camp (caitlin.camp).

It is the policy of Sul Ross State University to provide equal employment opportunity for all persons in accordance with their individual, job related qualifications and without consideration of race, creed, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status and ancestry. Equal employment opportunities shall be afforded in all personnel actions or decisions including, but not necessarily limited to, recruitment, hiring, training, upgrading, promotion, demotion, termination and salary.

Retaliation is prohibited against a person who opposes a discriminatory practice, files a charge, testifies, assists or participates in an investigative proceeding or hearing.

Yes