Job Details

UIS Human Resources has a List Serve Option for current vacancies. 

Please scroll to the bottom of this page to click on the link to sign up!  

Subscribers will receive weekly emails with current UIS vacancies.

How To Apply:

Applicants will need to complete the Hourly Employment Application and state your specific interest in Hourly Employment in the Additional Comments section on page 1 of the application.

New Applicants: Please create an account from the Home Page. Once account is created, you will need to click on the "Apply to Position" button, which will give you access to complete the employment application forms. 

Returning Applicants: Please login to your profile on the Home page, and edit your employment application to indicate Hourly employment as described above.

Duties and responsibilities:

Daily Observations:  Conducts daily behavioral observations of osprey chicks at the hacking site to ensure that each osprey is eating properly and there is no aggression toward each other.  In addition, makes notes of all behaviors observed of each osprey as well as presence of other potential predators or competitors in the vicinity of the hacking sites.

Daily Tracking:  Conducts daily tracking of ospreys once they fledge; makes notes of their locations with the GPS units as well as the surrounding vegetation/habitat characteristics, including the perch conditions.  Makes notes of their behaviors and well-being, in particular their attempts to hunt.

Food Preparation and Feeding:  Conducts daily preparation of fresh or completely thawed fish for the osprey chicks and feeds them 2 to 3 times a day.  Makes notes of the the amount of fish provided each meal, the amount consumed, and the amount of left-over.  Cuts fish into small chunks for feeding early on and graduate small chunks into bigger peices that allow ospreys to exercise grabbing fish with thier talons and tearing fish for feeding.  Continue to provide fish until all ospreys have migrated.

Planning and Coordination:  Plans and coordinates with the Illinois River Biological Station (IRBS) or Kaskaskia Biological Station (KBS) for obtaining fish for feeding ospreys.  Conducts regular pick-ups of fish from the IRBS or KBS.  Coordinates with the field personnel at the other hacking site for project purposes when required.

Daily Reports:  Submits daily reports regarding the behaviors and fish consumption by ospreys, as well as makes notes of any other notable events related to the ospreys on that day.  Uploads the GPS points into the GIS database for ospreys.

Maintenance:  Assists with the maintenance and clean-up of the hacking tower before and after the hacking season, as well as the maintenance and inventory of the field gears and equipment.

Environmental Demands:

Candidate must be willing to work outdoors in inclement weather and conditions, as well as travel to multiple locations for the project needs.  The work requires the ability to lift loads which may exceed 50 pounds, to traverse outdoor terrain on foot without mechanical assistance, and to negotiate a variety of natural obstacles while carrying or transporting a variety of equipment.

Requirements

Successful candidate must have a B.S. degree in environmental science, wildlife, biology, or related field before start date.  Candidate should have a minimum of one season of directly related field or professional experience.  Experiences working with birds of prey are highly preferred.  Proficiency with Microsoft Office, ArcGIS, and GPS is highly desirable.  Successful candidate must be a team-player, demonstrate strong communication skills, follow instructions well, and pay attention to detail.  Candidate must have a commitment to field personnel and equipment safety.  The individual must have and maintain a valid driver's license and be able to work outdoors in extreme weather conditions for long hours.

The University of Illinois may conduct background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment.  Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

UIS is an affirmative action/equal employment opportunity employer; veterans, persons with disabilities, women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility.

UIS employment in this role is not covered by Social Security, and instead, is covered by the State Universities Retirement System.

• You don't pay Social Security taxes and your earnings won't be on your Social Security record. (Your record will, however, show your Medicare wages.)

Your pension from the State Universities Retirement System may affect the amount of your

• Social Security benefit and
• Social Security benefit as a spouse.

New Vacancy List Serve:  Human Resources now has a list serve for current vacancies.  Subscribers will receive weekly emails with current UIS vacancies.