Wildlife Field Technician in Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Description

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine invites applications for a Wildlife Field Technician. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 12 months (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.

This position reports to the Principal Investigator and will work closely with current wildlife technician.

The field technician will provide field support for the implementation of a large project aiming to  monitor wild pigs in Alberta, including through deployment of GPS collars and camera traps.  The field technician should be prepared to work in difficult remote conditions, with unpredictable schedule, and be based in Edmonton area.

Expected start date of May 1, 2026.
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

GPS collar deployment on wild pigs:

• Coordination with Alberta Wild Boar Control Program trappers
• Reactive deployment of all equipment when wild pig capture occur
• Coordination with UCVM team and other local actors for prompt reaction to collaring opportunity, mostly in the middle of the night
• Contribution to animal capture, safe anesthesia and handling of wild pigs according to protocols and standard operating procedures
• Appropriate processing of biological samples following protocol and biosafety requirements
• Ability to strictly adhere to safety protocols is a requirement
• Willingness to be located in Edmonton area, and travel and participate in field work away from home for extended periods of time and with unpredictable schedules
• Willingness to be ‘on-call’ for potential capture happening through the night

Field data collection:

• Frequent checking of GPS collar function
• Deployment of camera traps in remote locations
• Downloading and archiving of GPS collar data following best practices
• Coordinate with Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation staff for monitoring collared pig group membership
• Maintain high standards in data collection and adherence to field protocols
• Field work locations are within Central Alberta and ability to adapt to variable field conditions is required

Data management:

• Ensure appropriate and careful data recording for all aspects of the project
• Coordinate with team members to maintain appropriate inventory of laboratory samples
• Support graduate students in data entry, and facilitate sharing of data
• Identify data consistency issues

Reporting:

• Contribute to reporting as needed
• Maintain inventory of field equipment and communicate with team to ensure readiness for captures

Qualifications / Requirements:

• MSc degree in biology, ecology, disease ecology, or related field
• Field experience with wildlife research
• Experience with large mammal GPS collaring
• Experience with camera trap deployment and management
• Experience with data collection and data management
• Data analysis and visualization skills would be an asset but not a requirement
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• A valid driver’s license

Application Deadline:  April 3, 2026

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Technical Job Family, Phase 1.

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada’s entrepreneurial university, located in Canada’s most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada’s leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii’ taa’poh’to’p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

The university’s commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments (oic@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role. 

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.