Trout Unlimited is a national organization with 300,000 members and supporters organized into over 400 chapters and councils nationwide.  These dedicated grassroots volunteers are matched by a respected staff of organizers, lawyers, policy experts, and scientists, who work out of more than 45 offices across the country.  Our mission is to conserve, protect, and restore North America's cold-water fisheries and their watersheds.   

Position Summary 

Trout Unlimited, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of freshwater ecosystems, is seeking four motivated and skilled Seasonal Aquatic Resources Field Technicians to join our team. These technicians will help fulfill the organization’s mission to bring together diverse interests to care for and recover rivers and streams, so our children can experience the joy of wild and native trout and salmon. The Aquatic Resources Field Technicians will report directly to the Great Lakes Field Coordinator and the Upper Peninsula Stream Restoration Manager and will assist TU staff with projects aimed to restore aquatic connectivity, in-stream, and riparian habitat, and promote the long-term values associated with aquatic restoration.   

The selected candidates will play a crucial role in the Great Lakes Road Stream Crossing Inventory, contributing to the protection and restoration of aquatic habitats in both the Ottawa and Hiawatha National Forests. The selected candidates will also assist in fish surveys with backpack electrofishing, benthic macroinvertebrate sampling, outreach activities such as plantings and community events, data entry and organization and weekly fieldwork planning and reporting. 

The anticipated employment date range is late May through October 2025. Work areas will be located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, based out of Marquette, MI. This position is compensated at a rate of $16/hour with a maximum of 40 hours/week and per diem during work related travel, rental work vehicle provided.  

Duties and Responsibilities

Great Lakes Road Stream Crossing Inventory: 

• Conduct field surveys and assessments of road-stream crossings to identify potential barriers to fish movement and habitat connectivity. 
• Collect and record data on stream conditions, hydrology, and infrastructure using standardized protocols. 
• Collaborate with partners to document and report findings for conservation and management purposes. 

Electrofishing and Temperature Logger Deployment: 

• Operate electrofishing equipment to sample fish populations in designated water bodies with keen attention to detail and utmost regard for scientific integrity.  
• Record and analyze data related to fish species composition, abundance, and size. 
• Use Survey123 applications to track temperature logger deployments and retrievals 

Macroinvertebrate and Didymo Sampling: 

• Conduct macroinvertebrate sampling to assess the health of aquatic ecosystems. 
• Identify and quantify macroinvertebrate species, contributing to the overall assessment of water quality. 
• Collect water samples to detect and assess the spread of invasive Didymo. 

Field Work and Rustic Camping: 

• Engage in fieldwork activities, including hiking, wading, and navigating varied terrain and weather conditions. 
• Participate in rustic camping for three nights each week as part of the fieldwork schedule, as long as conditions are safe. 
• Ensure proper care and maintenance of field equipment, camping gear and rental vehicle. 

Community Engagement and Outreach 

• Be able to effectively communicate Trout Unlimited’s mission and details of the work you’re completing to community members  
• Participate in TU’s community engagement events  
• Be aware of partnerships and TU volunteer Chapters presence and projects 

This is not an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities.  

Qualifications and Requirements 

• Working towards or completed a B.S. in a field related to fisheries management, aquatic ecology, watershed management, geomorphology, or biological systems engineering.  
• Experience using biological field equipment preferred (e.g., electrofishing equipment, surveying equipment, D-nets, etc.). 
• Experience with biological assessments preferred (e.g., macroinvertebrates, fish, habitat, etc.). 
• Experience with data entry and Microsoft Office programs. 
• Experience with Esri Applications (Survey123, Esri Field Maps, etc.) preferred.   
• Working knowledge of principles and practices of aquatic resource management. 
• Ability to work independently and in a team setting.  
• Self-motivated and highly energetic, with excellent time-management skills.  
• Ability to work in rugged terrain. 
• Ability to lift field equipment over 50lbs. 
• Valid driver’s license and own vehicle required. 
• Schedule flexibility, adaptability to varying environments and plans as they come.  
• Passion for protecting and restoring trout populations and their watersheds. 
• Comfortable with frequent travel and rustic camping for extended periods. 
• Comfortable with navigating remote roads in varying conditions. 
• Satisfactory completion of state and federal background checks.