Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. (WEST), a dynamic environmental and statistical consulting firm with offices across the United States and Canada, is looking for a temporary, full-time, Biological Field Technician.
WEST has a permanent core of professionals with broad experience in basic and applied ecological studies and the sophisticated analysis of natural resource data. Since its founding in 1990, the WEST team has shaped the foundation of what we do, and what we believe in through our core values and key principles. Our work matters to our clients, communities, and the environment. Join WEST and discover a company of passionate, committed, and highly motivated individuals.
Please click here to see what benefits WEST offers!
Key Details:
- Compensation: $20 – 22.50/hr. depending on experience
- Housing: Housing reimbursement of $800/month for eligible employees
- Start Date: 7/6/2026
- End Date: 10/15/2026
- Location: Lee and Bureau Counties, Illinois
- Additional Details: Technician must have a reliable vehicle and will receive mileage reimbursement at the federal rate. Personal protective equipment (PPE), GPS unit, compass, camera, and range finder (if necessary) will be provided by WEST, however, technician must be equipped with and provide own suitable safety toed footwear (rugged hiking boots, etc.), clothing, and binoculars.
Job Description:
Primary duties involve:
- Conducting fatality monitoring for bird and bat fatalities beneath operating wind turbines within industrial agricultural settings
- Perform general maintenance on bat acoustic detector equipment as well as collect and transfer acoustic data to upper-level bat biologists
- Fieldwork will require long days in a range of temperatures and wind speeds.
- Fatality monitoring will entail long hours of walking, sometimes in inclement conditions.
- Candidate must be comfortable with hazards typical of the environment (sharp vegetation, driving a four-wheel drive vehicle, dust, extreme heat and humidity and cold).
- Candidate must be comfortable working alone.
- Hours worked are between 30-40 hours per week and may require overtime and weekend work. Workdays may start as early as 30 minutes before sunrise and end as late as 30 minutes after sunset.
- Job duties require use of compass, global positioning system devices, binoculars, range finders, and digital cameras as well as the ability to maintain equipment.
- Technicians will be required to perform data review and management as well as other administrative tasks at the end of each field day.
- Training will be provided for all survey efforts and job-related activities.
- Technicians will be required to follow all safety protocols for WEST and the wind energy facilities.
- Technicians will be expected to use good judgment to stay safe and work efficiently.
This is a general description of the functions for this position and is not inclusive of the duties which may be associated with this position.
