Ecological Monitoring Soil and Vegetation Field Technician (Reno, NV)

The Great Basin Institute is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and service through the west. The Institute’s mission is to advance applied science and ecological literacy through community engagement and agency partnerships, supporting national parks, forest, open spaces and public lands.

The Ecological Monitoring Program at GBI serves as an excellent professional development opportunity for natural resource professionals looking for experience in botanical, soil, and rangeland surveys. This Program is a component of our well-established Research Associate Program, which focuses on the conservation and management of natural, cultural, and recreation resources in the Intermountain West while providing emerging professionals opportunities to begin or enhance their careers.

GBI’s Ecological Monitoring Program is dedicated to providing college graduates and emerging professionals with hands-on survey, inventory, monitoring, and reporting experience in natural resource management. Extensive training and technical field skills development provides employees a unique opportunity to obtain valuable experience in executing monitoring protocols that will increase their employment success.

In one component of the Program, participants implement the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) strategy for terrestrial systems, targeted at collecting standardized ecological information and long-term vegetation data at multiple scales across western BLM districts. In some instances participants may perform supplemental protocols such as Habitat Assessment Framework (HAF) (to inform conservation approaches for sage-grouse). Supplemental sampling may also include collecting data on forb diversity, annual production and pollinators, among other indicators.

This video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LciTBPG2-Ss&feature=youtu.be) highlights the national BLM AIM strategy for landscape-scale data capture across western states.

Description:
GBI is recruiting Ecological Monitoring Soils and Vegetation Field Technicians to work with GBI and BLM staff. Each Field Tech will work with one other technician under the supervision of a Field Lead to characterize vegetation using the terrestrial AIM core methods. In some instances, Habitat Assessment Framework (HAF), and/or other supplemental protocols will be performed, for which training will be provided. Aside from core AIM sampling, any supplemental protocols implemented will vary by location.

Duties include following established field protocols to perform vegetation sampling and field data collection at new and existing sampling plots. Data will be used by resource specialists and land managers to inform decisions regarding land management at various temporal and spatial scales. During field work, car camping for 7 night “hitches” in remote locations will typically be required.

Depending on performance and completion of work term this position can qualify for Public Lands Corps (PLC) status given that the applicant is 30 years old or younger at the time of GBI employment. This certificate allows for non-competitive status for future federal job applications and will last two years from the end of GBI employment.

Field work will include:

Maintaining safety awareness and practices;
Extensive 4x4 driving on unmaintained roads;
Navigating off-trail to sampling sites;
Establishing sampling plots and transects;
Identifying and describing soil horizons to help verify ecological site descriptions (ESDs);
Collecting vegetation data (including species inventory, forb diversity, species abundance, sagebrush shape, foliar cover, canopy gap, and herbaceous and woody heights);
Taking photo-points.

Additional duties include:

Regular communication with GBI support staff and agency staff;
Participation in GBI and agency trainings;
Entering data into both Field Maps and Survey 123 software;
Identifying plants to species using dichotomous keys; and
Employing extensive QA/QC data checks.

Compensation:

Total approximate compensation: $2990/month before taxes (including benefits the approximate hourly equivalent: $18.69/hour), plus health insurance (monthly premiums fully paid by GBI) and paid time off.

$15.50/hour
$150 bi-weekly housing stipend*
$30 per diem for every night camped in the field (up to 7 units in an 8 day work week)
Affordable Care Act Compliant Health insurance including vision and dental provided at no cost to the employee starting the first day of the month following employment start date.
Paid federal holidays
Paid personal time off (amount dependent on contract length)

*Housing stipend is untaxed and can be used at the discretion of the applicant. Housing is not provided. Applicants must be able to provide their own lodging.

Locations and timelines:

Locations and timelines listed below are tentative, some with potential for extension. Crews will be based out of either the Las Vegas or Reno GBI Offices but work in the following BLM Field Office (FO’s) areas:

Nevada Statewide Project:
• Battle Mountain, Carson City, Elko, and Winnemucca District Offices
• Start: April-June 4th - End:August 12th
• 3-person soils and vegetation monitoring crew

• Experience, education, or a combination of both in botany and/or range management to meet the following(Crew Leads should have education and experience with plants identification):
Bachelor’s degree in botany, biology, ecology, or rangeland ecology or other natural resources.
At least 9 semester hours in plant or biological sciences.

AND/OR

Bachelor’s degree in plant or soil science or similar with at least 9 semester hours in soils or a minimum of 1 year of field data collection describing soils. Any of the 4 certifications from the Soil Science Society of America may substitute for education or experience.

*Some Projects require a relevant Bachelor’s Degree.

Technical requirements:

• Experience identifying plants in the field and using a dichotomous key;
• Experience conducting plant surveys using various monitoring protocols, including standard rangeland monitoring protocols, photo plots, and site observations;
• Experience in describing and identifying soil horizons; familiarity with NRCS soils databases and Ecological Site Descriptions concepts preferred;
• Experience conducting plant surveys using various monitoring protocols, photo plots, and site observations;
• Experience with data entry and management;
• Experience with technical writing and/or producing written project summary reports;
• Ability to read, interpret and navigate using topographic maps;
• Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, often in remote areas on unimproved roads;
• Experience navigating and collecting coordinates with hand-held GPS units;
• Experience creating maps and performing basic functions with GIS software (ArcMap);
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access); and
• Experience with Field Maps, Survey 123, and ArcGIS Online.

Additional requirements:

• Willingness and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic setting, and to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the goals and objectives of the AIM program and the mission of GBI;
• Willingness to mentor and foster professional development for members of your crew;
• Valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record;
• Familiarity with native and invasive plants of the sampling area and associated natural resource issues preferred;
• Ability to work productively as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals;
• Ability to work independently;
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, agency staff, and a diverse public;
• Ability to accurately complete administrative tasks on time i.e. timesheet, paperwork, etc;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Familiarity with best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles;
• Experience in and willingness to spend up to seven consecutive nights camping with no amenities in remote locations;
• Willingness to work irregular hours (e.g., early mornings, late nights); and
• Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, work in all types of weather conditions, traverse uneven terrain, carry upwards of 40 pounds in a backpack, and otherwise maintain good physical condition.

Please indicate your availability and location/project preferences in your cover letter when applying. Application review will continue until all positions are filled. We encourage applying early to gain the best chance of getting top-choice locations. Only qualified candidates will be contacted.

Please apply through our official job posting link:
https://www.vscyberhosting.com/greatbasin/careers.aspx?rf=ASTP&req=2021-AIM-016

Vegetation Health Assessment Crew Lead (Reno, Nevada)

The Great Basin Institute is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and service through the west. The Institute’s mission is to advance applied science and ecological literacy through community engagement and agency partnerships, supporting national parks, forest, open spaces, and public lands.

The Ecological Monitoring Program at GBI serves as an excellent professional development opportunity for natural resource professionals looking for experience in botanical, soil, and rangeland surveys. This Program is a component of our well-established Research Associate Program, which focuses on the conservation and management of natural, cultural, and recreation resources in the Intermountain West while providing emerging professionals opportunities to begin or enhance their careers.

GBI’s Ecological Monitoring Program is dedicated to providing college graduates and emerging professionals with hands-on survey, inventory, monitoring, and reporting experience in natural resource management. Extensive training and technical field skills development provides employees a unique opportunity to obtain valuable experience in executing monitoring protocols that will increase their employment success.

As one component of the Program, participants implement the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) strategy for terrestrial systems, targeted at collecting standardized ecological information and long-term vegetation data at multiple scales across western public lands.

Opportunities with the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) will apply AIM principles to help guide proper restoration treatment design and provide a baseline dataset against which restoration treatment effects and long-term vegetation changes may be measured. This opportunity differs from other GBI terrestrial AIM monitoring positions in that the primary monitoring goal is to conduct long-term revisits on previously established project sites in targeted treatment areas and/or critical habitat ranges.

Description:

In partnership with the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), GBI is recruiting two Vegetation Health Assessment (VHA) Crew Leads to work with agency staff, GBI staff, and technicians. Each Field Lead will coordinate a field crew (one Lead and three Technicians) to characterize vegetation using the terrestrial AIM protocols and/or supplemental protocols. The modified methods focus on vegetation protocols with no soil survey components (i.e. soil stability, soil pits, etc.) implemented. The supplemental protocols will vary by project site and/or restoration treatment type.

Duties include following established field protocols to perform vegetation sampling and field data collection on new and existing monitoring sites. Data will be used by resource specialists and land managers to inform decisions regarding resource management at various temporal and spatial scales. During training, the typical schedule is 5 days on and 2 days off (Mon-Fri). During field work, car camping for 7 night “hitches” (Wed-Wed) in remote locations will be required, followed by 6 days off (Thu-Tue).

Field work will include:
• Supporting and managing a field crew of 3 technicians;
• Coordinating field logistics and schedules;
• Maintaining safety awareness and practices;
• Extensive 4x4 driving on unmaintained roads;
• Navigating off-trail to sampling sites;
• Establishing sampling plots and transects;
• Collecting vegetation data (including species inventory, forb diversity, species abundance, sagebrush shape, foliar cover, canopy gap, and herbaceous and woody heights);
• Making qualitative treatment assessments; and
• Taking photo-points.

Additional duties include:
• Regular communication with GBI support staff and NDOW agency staff;
• Participation in GBI and agency trainings;
• Entering data into both Field Maps and Survey 123 software;
• Managing ArcGIS Online databases;
• Identifying plants to species using dichotomous keys;
• Employing extensive QA/QC data checks; and
• Report writing and completing administrative paperwork.

Compensation:
• $1,408 biweekly salary
• $150 bi-weekly housing stipend*
• $15 per diem for every night camped in the field (up to 7 units in an 8-day work week)
• $32.30/month cell phone stipend
• Paid Health Insurance, including vision and dental (Monthly premiums paid by GBI)
• Paid state holidays
• Paid personal leave (amount dependent on contract length)

*Housing stipend is untaxed and can be used at the discretion of the applicant. Housing is not provided. Applicants must be able to provide their own lodging.

Contract Timeline:

Duration: 25 weeks from early April to September
• Tentative start date: April 4th, 2022, or earlier
• Potential for one lead to extend end date to assist with data and program needs

Location:
Based out of Reno, Nevada
• Crews will travel from the NDOW Field Office across Northern Nevada to various monitoring sites on private, BLM, and/or USFS land.

Required Qualifications

• Leadership experience, including supervising field crews and managing projects simultaneously.
• Experience, education, or a combination of both in botany and/or range management to meet the following (Crew Leads should have education and experience with plants identification):

• Bachelor’s degree in botany, biology, ecology, or other natural resources;
• At least 9 semester hours in plant or biological sciences;
AND/OR
• A minimum of 1 year of field data collection identifying plants;

Technical requirements:
• Experience identifying plants in the field and using a dichotomous key;
• Experience conducting plant surveys using various monitoring protocols, including standard rangeland monitoring protocols, photo plots, and site observations;
• Experience with data entry and management;
• Experience with technical writing and/or producing written project summary reports;
• Ability to read, interpret and navigate using topographic maps;
• Experience navigating and collecting coordinates with hand-held GPS units;
• Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, often in remote areas on unimproved roads;
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access);
• Experience creating maps and performing basic functions with GIS software; and
• Experience with Field Maps, Survey 123, and ArcGIS Online.

Additional requirements:
• Willingness and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic setting, and to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the goals and objectives of the AIM program and the mission of GBI;
• Willingness to mentor and foster professional development for members of your crew;
• Valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record;
• Familiarity with native and invasive plants of the sampling area and associated natural resource issues preferred;
• Ability to work productively as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals;
• Ability to work independently;
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, agency staff, and a diverse public;
• Ability to accurately complete administrative tasks on time i.e. timesheet, paperwork, etc;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Familiarity with best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles;
• Experience in and willingness to spend up to seven consecutive nights camping with no amenities in remote locations;
• Flexibility with field site locations across the program’s monitoring range;
• Willingness to work irregular hours (e.g., early mornings, late nights); and
• Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, work in all types of weather conditions, traverse uneven terrain, carry upwards of 40 pounds in a backpack, and otherwise maintain good physical condition.

Please indicate your availability (and location/project preferences if you applied to multiple Ecological Monitoring Program positions) in your cover letter when applying. Application review will continue until all positions are filled. We encourage applying early to gain the best chance of getting top-choice locations.

Please apply through our official job posting link: https://www.vscyberhosting.com/greatbasin/careers.aspx?rf=ASPT&req=2021-AIM-013

Vegetation Health Assessment Technician (Reno, NV)

The Great Basin Institute is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and service through the west. The Institute’s mission is to advance applied science and ecological literacy through community engagement and agency partnerships, supporting national parks, forest, open spaces, and public lands.

The Ecological Monitoring Program at GBI serves as an excellent professional development opportunity for natural resource professionals looking for experience in botanical, soil, and rangeland surveys. This Program is a component of our well-established Research Associate Program, which focuses on the conservation and management of natural, cultural, and recreation resources in the Intermountain West while providing emerging professionals opportunities to begin or enhance their careers.

GBI’s Ecological Monitoring Program is dedicated to providing college graduates and emerging professionals with hands-on survey, inventory, monitoring, and reporting experience in natural resource management. Extensive training and technical field skills development provides employees a unique opportunity to obtain valuable experience in executing monitoring protocols that will increase their employment success.

As one component of the Program, participants implement the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) strategy for terrestrial systems, targeted at collecting standardized ecological information and long-term vegetation data at multiple scales across western public lands.

Opportunities with the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) will apply AIM principles to help guide proper restoration treatment design and provide a baseline dataset against which restoration treatment effects and long-term vegetation changes may be measured. This opportunity differs from other GBI terrestrial AIM monitoring positions in that the primary monitoring goal is to conduct long-term revisits on previously established project sites in targeted treatment areas and/or critical habitat ranges.

Description:

In partnership with the Nevada Department of Wildlife, GBI is recruiting Vegetation Health Assessment Technicians to work with GBI and NDOW staff. Each Field Tech will work with two other technicians under the supervision of a Field Lead to characterize vegetation using modified terrestrial AIM core methods and/or supplemental protocols. The modified methods focus on vegetation protocols with no soil survey components (i.e. soil stability, soil pits, etc.) implemented. The supplemental protocols will vary by project site and/or restoration treatment type.

Duties include following established field protocols to perform vegetation sampling and field data collection on new and existing monitoring sites. Data will be used by resource specialists and land managers to inform decisions regarding resource management at various temporal and spatial scales. During training, the typical schedule is 5 days on and 2 days off (Mon-Fri). During field work, car camping for 7 night “hitches” (Wed-Wed) in remote locations will be required, followed by 6 days off (Thu-Tue).

Field work will include:
• Maintaining safety awareness and practices;
• Extensive 4x4 driving on unmaintained roads;
• Navigating off-trail to sampling sites;
• Establishing or revisiting sampling plots and transects;
• Collecting vegetation data (including species inventory, forb diversity, species abundance, sagebrush shape, foliar cover, canopy gap, and herbaceous and woody heights);
• Making qualitative treatment assessments; and
• Taking photo-points.

Additional duties include:
• Regular communication with GBI support staff and agency staff;
• Participation in GBI and agency trainings;
• Entering data into both Field Maps and Survey 123 software;
• Identifying plants to species using dichotomous keys; and
• Supporting extensive QA/QC data checks.

Compensation:
• $11,991.00 AmeriCorps Living Allowance (including the housing stipend and per diem)
• $2,417.14 AmeriCorps Education Award*
• Student Loan Forbearance and Interest Accrual Paid through AmeriCorps
• $150 bi-weekly housing stipend**
• $15 per diem for every night camped in the field (up to 7 units in an 8-day work week)
• Paid Health Insurance, including vision and dental (Monthly premiums paid by GBI)
• Paid state holidays
• Paid personal leave (Approximately ~40hrs)

* AmeriCorps Education Award may be used for past, present, or future education experiences, including payment of qualified federal student loans. Only received if term is completed.
** Housing stipend is untaxed and can be used at the discretion of the applicant. Housing is not provided. Applicants must be able to provide their own lodging.

Contract Timeline:
Duration: 21 weeks from early April to September
• 675 hour AmeriCorps position
• Tentative start date: April 11th, 2022

Location:
Based out of Reno, Nevada
• Crews will travel from the NDOW Field Office across Northern Nevada to various monitoring sites on private, BLM, and/or USFS land.

• Experience, education, or a combination of both in botany and/or range management to meet the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in botany, biology, ecology, or other natural resources;
• At least 9 semester hours in plant or biological sciences;
OR
• A minimum of 1 year of field data collection identifying plants;

Technical requirements:
• Experience identifying plants in the field and using a dichotomous key;
• Experience conducting plant surveys using various monitoring protocols, including standard rangeland monitoring protocols, photo plots, and site observations;
• Experience with data entry and management;
• Ability to read, interpret and navigate using topographic maps;
• Experience navigating and collecting coordinates with hand-held GPS units;
• Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, often in remote areas on unimproved roads;
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access); and
• Experience with Field Maps, Survey 123, and ArcGIS Online.

Additional requirements:
• Willingness and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic setting, and to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the goals and objectives of the AIM program and the mission of GBI;
• Valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record;
• Familiarity with native and invasive plants of the sampling area and associated natural resource issues preferred;
• Ability to work productively as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals;
• Ability to work independently;
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, agency staff, and a diverse public;
• Ability to accurately complete timesheets in a timely manner;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Familiarity with best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles;
• Experience in and willingness to spend up to seven consecutive nights camping with no amenities in remote locations;
• Flexibility with field site locations across the program’s monitoring range;
• Willingness to work irregular hours (e.g., early mornings, late nights); and
• Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, work in all types of weather conditions, traverse uneven terrain, carry upwards of 40 pounds in a backpack, and otherwise maintain good physical condition;

Ability to meet AmeriCorps eligibility requirements:
(1) U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status;
(2) eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award (limit of four in a lifetime, or equivalent of two full-time terms of service);
(3) pass National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and federal criminal background checks; (4) adhere to the rules, regulations and code of conduct as specified in the Member Service Agreement; and
(5) will not engage in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement.

Please indicate your availability (and location/project preferences if you applied to multiple Ecological Monitoring Program positions) in your cover letter when applying. Application review will continue until all positions are filled. We encourage applying early to gain the best chance of getting top-choice locations.

Please Apply through our official job posting link: https://www.vscyberhosting.com/greatbasin/careers.aspx?rf=ASPT&req=2021-AIM-013

Ecological Monitoring Soil and Vegetation Field Technician (Reno, Nevada)

The Great Basin Institute is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and service through the west. The Institute’s mission is to advance applied science and ecological literacy through community engagement and agency partnerships, supporting national parks, forest, open spaces and public lands.

The Ecological Monitoring Program at GBI serves as an excellent professional development opportunity for natural resource professionals looking for experience in botanical, soil, and rangeland surveys. This Program is a component of our well-established Research Associate Program, which focuses on the conservation and management of natural, cultural, and recreation resources in the Intermountain West while providing emerging professionals opportunities to begin or enhance their careers.

GBI’s Ecological Monitoring Program is dedicated to providing college graduates and emerging professionals with hands-on survey, inventory, monitoring, and reporting experience in natural resource management. Extensive training and technical field skills development provides employees a unique opportunity to obtain valuable experience in executing monitoring protocols that will increase their employment success.

In one component of the Program, participants implement the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) strategy for terrestrial systems, targeted at collecting standardized ecological information and long-term vegetation data at multiple scales across western BLM districts. In some instances participants may perform supplemental protocols such as Habitat Assessment Framework (HAF) (to inform conservation approaches for sage-grouse). Supplemental sampling may also include collecting data on forb diversity, annual production and pollinators, among other indicators.

This video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LciTBPG2-Ss&feature=youtu.be) highlights the national BLM AIM strategy for landscape-scale data capture across western states.

Description:
GBI is recruiting Ecological Monitoring Soils and Vegetation Field Technicians to work with GBI and BLM staff. Each Field Tech will work with one other technician under the supervision of a Field Lead to characterize vegetation using the terrestrial AIM core methods. In some instances, Habitat Assessment Framework (HAF), and/or other supplemental protocols will be performed, for which training will be provided. Aside from core AIM sampling, any supplemental protocols implemented will vary by location.

Duties include following established field protocols to perform vegetation sampling and field data collection at new and existing sampling plots. Data will be used by resource specialists and land managers to inform decisions regarding land management at various temporal and spatial scales. During field work, car camping for 7 night “hitches” in remote locations will typically be required.

Depending on performance and completion of work term this position can qualify for Public Lands Corps (PLC) status given that the applicant is 30 years old or younger at the time of GBI employment. This certificate allows for non-competitive status for future federal job applications and will last two years from the end of GBI employment.

Field work will include:
• Maintaining safety awareness and practices;
• Extensive 4x4 driving on unmaintained roads;
• Navigating off-trail to sampling sites;
• Establishing sampling plots and transects;
• Identifying and describing soil horizons to help verify ecological site descriptions (ESDs);
• Collecting vegetation data (including species inventory, forb diversity, species abundance, sagebrush shape, foliar cover, canopy gap, and herbaceous and woody heights);
• Taking photo-points.

Additional duties include:
• Regular communication with GBI support staff and agency staff;
• Participation in GBI and agency trainings;
• Entering data into both Field Maps and Survey 123 software;
• Identifying plants to species using dichotomous keys; and
• Employing extensive QA/QC data checks.

Compensation:
Total approximate compensation: $2990/month before taxes (including benefits the approximate hourly equivalent: $18.69/hour), plus health insurance (monthly premiums fully paid by GBI) and paid time off.

• $15.50/hour
• $150 bi-weekly housing stipend*
• $15 per diem for every night camped in the field (up
to 7 units in an 8 day work week)
• Affordable Care Act Compliant Health insurance
including vision and dental provided at no cost to
the employee starting the first day of the month
following employment start date.
• Paid federal holidays
• Paid personal time off (amount dependent on contract
length)

*Housing stipend is untaxed and can be used at the discretion of the applicant. Housing is not provided. Applicants must be able to provide their own lodging.

Contract Timeline:
Locations and timelines listed below are tentative, some with potential for extension. Crews will be based out of either the Las Vegas or Reno GBI Offices but work in the following BLM Field Office (FO’s) areas:

California:

Northern California Project:
• Redding, Applegate and Eagle Lake Field Offices
• April 11th - September 30th
• 3-person soils and vegetation monitoring crew
Bishop Project:
• Bishop Field Office
• April 11th - September 2nd
• 3-person soils and vegetation monitoring crew

Nevada:

Nevada Statewide Project:
• Battle Mountain, Carson City, Elko, and Winnemucca District Offices
• April 11th -August 12th
• 3-person soils and vegetation monitoring crew

Elko ESR Project:
• Elko District Office
• April 11th -July 22nd
• 3-person vegetation monitoring crew with ~33% of points requiring soil sampling

Winnemucca ESR Project:
• Winnemucca District Office
• April 11th-August 5th
• 3-person vegetation monitoring crew with ~33% of points requiring soil sampling

• Experience, education, or a combination of both in botany and/or range management to meet the following(Crew Leads should have education and experience with plants identification):

• Bachelor’s degree in botany, biology, ecology, or rangeland ecology or other natural resources.
• At least 9 semester hours in plant or biological sciences.

AND/OR

• Bachelor’s degree in plant or soil science or similar with at least 9 semester hours in soils or a minimum of 1 year of field data collection describing soils. Any of the 4 certifications from the Soil Science Society of America may substitute for education or experience.

*Some Projects require a relevant Bachelor’s Degree.

​

Technical requirements:
• Experience identifying plants in the field and using a dichotomous key;
• Experience conducting plant surveys using various monitoring protocols, including standard rangeland monitoring protocols, photo plots, and site observations;
• Experience in describing and identifying soil horizons; familiarity with NRCS soils databases and Ecological Site Descriptions concepts preferred;
• Experience conducting plant surveys using various monitoring protocols, photo plots, and site observations;
• Experience with data entry and management;
• Experience with technical writing and/or producing written project summary reports;
• Ability to read, interpret and navigate using topographic maps;
• Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, often in remote areas on unimproved roads;
• Experience navigating and collecting coordinates with hand-held GPS units;
• Experience creating maps and performing basic functions with GIS software (ArcMap);
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access); and
• Experience with Field Maps, Survey 123, and ArcGIS Online.

Additional requirements:
• Willingness and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic setting, and to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the goals and objectives of the AIM program and the mission of GBI;
• Willingness to mentor and foster professional development for members of your crew;
• Valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record;
• Familiarity with native and invasive plants of the sampling area and associated natural resource issues preferred;
• Ability to work productively as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals;
• Ability to work independently;
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, agency staff, and a diverse public;
• Ability to accurately complete administrative tasks on time i.e. timesheet, paperwork, etc;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Familiarity with best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles;
• Experience in and willingness to spend up to seven consecutive nights camping with no amenities in remote locations;
• Willingness to work irregular hours (e.g., early mornings, late nights); and
• Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, work in all types of weather conditions, traverse uneven terrain, carry upwards of 40 pounds in a backpack, and otherwise maintain good physical condition.

Please indicate your availability and location/project preferences in your cover letter when applying. Application review will continue until all positions are filled. We encourage applying early to gain the best chance of getting top-choice locations. Only qualified candidates will be contacted.

Please apply through our official job posting link: https://www.vscyberhosting.com/greatbasin/careers.aspx?rf=ASPT&req=2021-AIM-016

Ecological Monitoring Soil and Vegetation Field Lead (Reno, Nevada)

The Great Basin Institute is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and service through the west. The Institute’s mission is to advance applied science and ecological literacy through community engagement and agency partnerships, supporting national parks, forest, open spaces and public lands.

The Ecological Monitoring Program at GBI serves as an excellent professional development opportunity for natural resource professionals looking for experience in botanical, soil, and rangeland surveys. This Program is a component of our well-established Research Associate Program, which focuses on the conservation and management of natural, cultural, and recreation resources in the Intermountain West while providing emerging professionals opportunities to begin or enhance their careers.

GBI’s Ecological Monitoring Program is dedicated to providing college graduates and emerging professionals with hands-on survey, inventory, monitoring, and reporting experience in natural resource management. Extensive training and technical field skills development provides employees a unique opportunity to obtain valuable experience in executing monitoring protocols that will increase their employment success.

In one component of the Program, participants implement the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) strategy for terrestrial systems, targeted at collecting standardized ecological information and long-term vegetation data at multiple scales across western BLM districts. In some instances participants may perform supplemental protocols such as Habitat Assessment Framework (HAF) (to inform conservation approaches for sage-grouse). Supplemental sampling may also include collecting data on forb diversity, annual production and pollinators, among other indicators.

This video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LciTBPG2-Ss&feature=youtu.be) highlights the national BLM AIM strategy for landscape-scale data capture across western states.

Description:
GBI is recruiting Ecological Monitoring Soils and Vegetation Field Leads to work with GBI and BLM staff. Each Field Lead will coordinate a field crew (one Lead will supervise two Technicians) to characterize vegetation using the terrestrial AIM core methods. In some instances, Habitat Assessment Framework (HAF), and/or other supplemental protocols will be performed, for which training will be provided. Aside from core AIM sampling, any supplemental protocols implemented will vary by location.

Duties include following established field protocols to perform vegetation sampling and field data collection at new and existing sampling plots. Data will be used by resource specialists and land managers to inform decisions regarding land management at various temporal and spatial scales. During field work, car camping for 7 night “hitches” in remote locations will typically be required.

Depending on performance and completion of work term this position can qualify for Public Lands Corps (PLC) status given that the applicant is 30 years old or younger at the time of GBI employment. This certificate allows for non-competitive status for future federal job applications and will last two years from the end of GBI employment.

Field work will include:
• Maintaining safety awareness and practices;
• Extensive 4x4 driving on unmaintained roads;
• Navigating off-trail to sampling sites;
• Establishing sampling plots and transects;
• Identifying and describing soil horizons to help verify ecological site descriptions (ESDs);
• Collecting vegetation data (including species inventory, forb diversity, species abundance, sagebrush shape, foliar cover, canopy gap, and herbaceous and woody heights);
• Taking photo-points.

Additional duties include:
• Regular communication with GBI support staff and agency staff;
• Participation in GBI and agency trainings;
• Entering data into both Field Maps and Survey 123 software;
• Identifying plants to species using dichotomous keys; and
• Employing extensive QA/QC data checks.

Leadership:
• Supporting and managing a field crew;
• Coordinating field logistics and scheduling; and
• Report writing and completing administrative paperwork
​
Compensation:
Total approximate compensation: $3358.30/month before taxes (approximate hourly equivalent: $20.99), plus health insurance (monthly premiums fully paid by GBI), end of season bonus, and paid time off.

Breakdown:

• $1,408 biweekly salary
• $150 bi-weekly housing stipend*
• $15 per diem for every night camped in the field (up to 7 units in an 8 day work week)
• $32.30/month cell phone stipend
• Affordable Care Act Compliant Health insurance including vision and dental provided at no cost to the employee starting the first day of the month following employment start date.
• Paid federal holidays
• Paid personal time off (amount dependent on contract length)

*Housing stipend is untaxed and can be used at the discretion of the applicant. Housing is not provided. Applicants must be able to provide their own lodging.
Delete

Contract Timelines:
Locations and timelines listed below are tentative, some with potential for extension. Crews will be based out of either the Las Vegas or Reno GBI Offices but work in the following BLM Field Office (FO’s) areas:

California:

Northern California Project:
• Redding, Applegate and Eagle Lake Field Offices
• April 4th - September 30th
• 3-person soils and vegetation monitoring crew

Nevada:

Nevada Statewide Project:
• Battle Mountain, Carson City, Elko, and Winnemucca District Offices
• April 4th -August 12th
• 3-person soils and vegetation monitoring crew

Elko ESR Project:
• Elko District Office
• April 4th -July 22nd
• 3-person vegetation monitoring crew with ~33% of points requiring soil sampling

Winnemucca ESR Project:
• Winnemucca District Office
• April 4th-August 5th
• 3-person vegetation monitoring crew with ~33% of points requiring soil sampling

• Leadership experience, including supervising field crews and managing projects simultaneously.

• Experience, education, or a combination of both in botany and/or range management to meet the following(Crew Leads should have education and experience with plants identification):

• Bachelor’s degree in botany, biology, ecology, or rangeland ecology or other natural resources.
• At least 9 semester hours in plant or biological sciences.

AND/OR

• Bachelor’s degree in plant or soil science or similar with at least 9 semester hours in soils or a minimum of 1 year of field data collection describing soils. Any of the 4 certifications from the Soil Science Society of America may substitute for education or experience.

*Some Projects require a relevant Bachelor’s Degree.

​

Technical requirements:
• Experience identifying plants in the field and using a dichotomous key;
• Experience conducting plant surveys using various monitoring protocols, including standard rangeland monitoring protocols, photo plots, and site observations;
• Experience in describing and identifying soil horizons; familiarity with NRCS soils databases and Ecological Site Descriptions concepts preferred;
• Experience conducting plant surveys using various monitoring protocols, photo plots, and site observations;
• Experience with data entry and management;
• Experience with technical writing and/or producing written project summary reports;
• Ability to read, interpret and navigate using topographic maps;
• Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, often in remote areas on unimproved roads;
• Experience navigating and collecting coordinates with hand-held GPS units;
• Experience creating maps and performing basic functions with GIS software (ArcMap);
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access); and
• Experience with Field Maps, Survey 123, and ArcGIS Online.

Additional requirements:
• Willingness and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic setting, and to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the goals and objectives of the AIM program and the mission of GBI;
• Willingness to mentor and foster professional development for members of your crew;
• Valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record;
• Familiarity with native and invasive plants of the sampling area and associated natural resource issues preferred;
• Ability to work productively as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals;
• Ability to work independently;
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, agency staff, and a diverse public;
• Ability to accurately complete administrative tasks on time i.e. timesheet, paperwork, etc;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Familiarity with best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles;
• Experience in and willingness to spend up to seven consecutive nights camping with no amenities in remote locations;
• Willingness to work irregular hours (e.g., early mornings, late nights); and
• Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, work in all types of weather conditions, traverse uneven terrain, carry upwards of 40 pounds in a backpack, and otherwise maintain good physical condition.
​
Please indicate your availability and location/project preferences in your cover letter when applying. Application review will continue until all positions are filled. We encourage applying early to gain the best chance of getting top-choice locations. Only qualified candidates will be contacted.

Please apply through our official job posting link:
https://www.vscyberhosting.com/greatbasin/careers.aspx?rf=ASPT&req=2021-AIM-015

ESR Fire Impact Monitoring Crew Lead (Reno,Nevada)

The Great Basin Institute is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and service through the west. The Institute’s mission is to advance applied science and ecological literacy through community engagement and agency partnerships, supporting national parks, forest, open spaces and public lands.

The Ecological Monitoring Program at GBI serves as an excellent professional development opportunity for natural resource professionals looking for experience in botanical, soil, and rangeland surveys. This Program is a component of our well-established Research Associate Program, which focuses on the conservation and management of natural, cultural, and recreation resources in the Intermountain West while providing emerging professionals opportunities to begin or enhance their careers.

GBI’s Ecological Monitoring Program is dedicated to providing college graduates and emerging professionals with hands-on survey, inventory, monitoring, and reporting experience in natural resource management. Extensive training and technical field skills development provides employees a unique opportunity to obtain valuable experience in executing monitoring protocols that will increase their employment success.

The Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ES&R) process was developed by the Department of the Interior to help restore public lands to their former state following wildfire impact. Participants will implement the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) strategy for terrestrial systems, targeted at collecting standardized ecological information and long-term vegetation data at multiple scales throughout the Elko and Winnemucca, NV BLM district. Technicians will help BLM staff by applying AIM sampling to post-wildfire ES&R projects to gather insightful data on the efficacy of various treatments.

In one component of the Program, participants implement the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) strategy for terrestrial systems, targeted at collecting standardized ecological information and long-term vegetation data at multiple scales across western BLM districts. In some instances participants may perform supplemental protocols such as Habitat Assessment Framework (HAF) (to inform conservation approaches for sage-grouse). Supplemental sampling may also include collecting data on forb diversity and pollinators, among other indicators. Select locations will apply AIM sampling to post-wildfire Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ESR) monitoring.

This video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LciTBPG2-Ss&feature=youtu.be) highlights the national BLM AIM strategy for landscape-scale data capture across western states.

Description:
GBI is recruiting ES&R AIM Field Crew Leads to work with GBI and Winnemucca and Elko, NV BLM staff. Each Field Crew Lead will work with one other tech under the supervision of a Field Lead to characterize vegetation using the terrestrial AIM protocols. Aside from core AIM sampling, any supplemental protocols implemented will vary by location.

Duties include following established field protocols to perform vegetation sampling and field data collection at new and existing sampling plots. Data will be used by resource specialists and land managers to inform decisions regarding land management at various temporal and spatial scales. During field work, car camping for 7 night “hitches” in remote locations will typically be required.

Depending on performance and completion of work term this position can qualify for Public Lands Corps (PLC) status given that the applicant is 30 years old or younger at the time of GBI employment. This certificate allows for non-competitive status for future federal job applications and will last two years from the end of GBI employment.

Field work will include:
• Maintaining safety awareness and practices;
• Extensive 4x4 driving on unmaintained roads;
• Navigating off-trail to sampling sites;
• Establishing sampling plots and transects;
Identifying and describing soil horizons to help verify ecological site descriptions (ESDs);
• Collecting vegetation data (including species inventory, forb diversity, species abundance, sagebrush shape, foliar cover, canopy gap, and herbaceous and woody heights);
• Taking photo-points.

Additional duties include:
• Regular communication with GBI support staff and agency staff;
• Participation in GBI and agency trainings;
• Entering data into both Field Maps and Survey123 software;
• Managing ArcGIS Online databases;
• Identifying plants to species using dichotomous keys;
• Employing extensive QA/QC data checks; and

Leadership:
• Supporting and managing a field crew;
• Coordinating field logistics and scheduling; and
• Report writing and completing administrative paperwork


Projects, Locations and Tentative Timelines:
Locations and timelines listed below are tentative, some with potential for extension. Crews will be based out of the Reno GBI Office but work in the following BLM Field Office (FO’s) areas:

Nevada:

Elko ESR Project:
• Elko District Office
• April 4th -July 22nd
• 3-person vegetation monitoring crew with ~33% of points requiring soil sampling

"Within the 12.5 million acres of lands administered by the EKDO, several million acres have burned in recent decades by wildfires. Areas burned by wildfires are typically treated by the Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ESR) program to help ecosystems stabilize and recover from wildfires. The BLM is mandated to conduct treatment effectiveness monitoring on all ESR projects to document the effectiveness of the ESR treatments. The Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) strategy is an approved monitoring strategy for ESR treatment effectiveness monitoring."

Winnemucca ESR Project:
• Winnemucca District Office
• April 4th-August 5th
• 3-person vegetation monitoring crew with ~33% of points requiring soil sampling

"The Winnemucca Bureau of Land Management (BLM) district encompasses 11 million acres of northern Nevada with 8.2 million acres of public land. The BLM is mandated to conduct land health monitoring to document effectiveness of the decisions established in our Resource Management Plans, to determine treatment effectiveness, or for habitat evaluation, among others. The Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) strategy is the approved monitoring strategy for land health monitoring."

"During the 2018 fire season, the Winnemucca District’s Fire Program had 109 fires, which consumed a total of 217,602 acres of public land throughout the district. The largest fire in Nevada’s history (only within Nevada) was the Martin Fire, consumed over 416,821 acres, and spanned two districts. Rehabilitation efforts have continued through fire and fuels projects through winter of 2021. The ES&R team and BLM staff determined that over 530,000 acres of the Winnemucca District has been treated since 2018. Monitoring treatment areas using the AIM protocol is essential to determine the efficacy of restoration or rehabilitation efforts. Measures of success include density of seeded species and percent perennial cover after treatment. "


Compensation:
Total approximate compensation: $3358.30/month before taxes (approximate hourly equivalent: $20.99), plus health insurance (monthly premiums fully paid by GBI), end of season bonus, and paid time off.

Breakdown:

• $1,408 biweekly salary
• $150 bi-weekly housing stipend*
• $15 per diem for every night camped in the field (up to 7 units in an 8 day work week)
• $32.30/month cell phone stipend
• Affordable Care Act Compliant Health insurance including vision and dental provided at no cost to the employee starting the first day of the month following employment start date.
Paid federal holidays
Paid personal time off (amount dependent on contract length)

*Housing stipend is untaxed and can be used at the discretion of the applicant. Housing is not provided. Applicants must be able to provide their own lodging.

Qualifications:
• Leadership experience, including supervising field crews and managing projects simultaneously.

Experience, education, or a combination in botany, range management, and or soils to meet one or both of the following (Crew Leads should have education and experience with plants and/or soils):

Bachelor’s degree in botany, biology, ecology, or rangeland ecology or other natural resources with at least 9 semester hours in plant or biological sciences
or
A minimum of 1 year of field data collection identifying plants;

AND/OR

Bachelor’s degree in plant or soil science or similar with at least 9 semester hours in soils or a minimum of 1 year of field data collection describing soils. Any of the 4 certifications from the Soil Science Society of America may substitute for education or experience.

*Some Projects require a relevant Bachelor’s Degree.

Technical requirements:
• Experience identifying plants in the field and using a dichotomous key;
• Experience in describing and identifying soil horizons; familiarity with NRCS soils databases and Ecological Site Descriptions concepts preferred;
• Experience conducting plant surveys using various monitoring protocols, photo plots, and site observations;
• Experience with data entry and management;
• Experience with technical writing and/or producing written project summary reports;
• Ability to read, interpret and navigate using topographic maps;
• Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, often in remote areas on unimproved roads;
• Experience navigating and collecting coordinates with hand-held GPS units;
• Experience creating maps and performing basic functions with GIS software (ArcMap);
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access); and
• Experience with Field Maps, Survey 123, and ArcGIS Online.

Additional requirements:
• Willingness and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic setting, and to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the goals and objectives of the AIM program and the mission of GBI;
• Willingness to mentor and foster professional development for members of your crew;
• Valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record;
• Familiarity with native and invasive plants of the sampling area and associated natural resource issues preferred;
• Ability to work productively as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals;
• Ability to work independently;
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, agency staff, and a diverse public;
• Ability to accurately complete administrative tasks on time i.e. timesheet, paperwork, etc;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Familiarity with best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles;
• Experience in and willingness to spend multiple days camping in the field;
• Willingness to work irregular hours (e.g., early mornings, late nights); and
• Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, work in all types of weather conditions, traverse uneven terrain, carry upwards of 40 pounds in a backpack, and otherwise maintain good physical condition.

Please indicate your availability and location/project preferences in your cover letter when applying. Application review will continue until all positions are filled. We encourage applying early to gain the best chance of getting top-choice locations. Only qualified candidates will be contacted.


Please apply through the link below(Apply at the bottom of the official job posting for the soil and vegetation position.):
https://www.vscyberhosting.com/greatbasin/careers.aspx?rf=ASPT&req=2021-AIM-015

ESR Fire Impact Monitoring Technician (Reno, NV)

The Great Basin Institute is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and service through the west. The Institute’s mission is to advance applied science and ecological literacy through community engagement and agency partnerships, supporting national parks, forest, open spaces and public lands.

The Ecological Monitoring Program at GBI serves as an excellent professional development opportunity for natural resource professionals looking for experience in botanical, soil, and rangeland surveys. This Program is a component of our well-established Research Associate Program, which focuses on the conservation and management of natural, cultural, and recreation resources in the Intermountain West while providing emerging professionals opportunities to begin or enhance their careers.

GBI’s Ecological Monitoring Program is dedicated to providing college graduates and emerging professionals with hands-on survey, inventory, monitoring, and reporting experience in natural resource management. Extensive training and technical field skills development provides employees a unique opportunity to obtain valuable experience in executing monitoring protocols that will increase their employment success.

The Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ES&R) process was developed by the Department of the Interior to help restore public lands to their former state following wildfire impact. Participants will implement the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) strategy for terrestrial systems, targeted at collecting standardized ecological information and long-term vegetation data at multiple scales throughout the Elko and Winnemucca, NV BLM district. Technicians will help BLM staff by applying AIM sampling to post-wildfire ES&R projects to gather insightful data on the efficacy of various treatments.


This video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LciTBPG2-Ss&feature=youtu.be) highlights the national BLM AIM strategy for landscape-scale data capture across western states.

Description:

GBI is recruiting Ecological Monitoring Soils and Vegetation Field Technicians to work with GBI and BLM staff. Each Field Tech will work with one other technician under the supervision of a Field Lead to characterize vegetation using the terrestrial AIM core methods. In some instances, Habitat Assessment Framework (HAF), and/or other supplemental protocols will be performed, for which training will be provided. Aside from core AIM sampling, any supplemental protocols implemented will vary by location.

Duties include following established field protocols to perform vegetation sampling and field data collection at new and existing sampling plots. Data will be used by resource specialists and land managers to inform decisions regarding land management at various temporal and spatial scales. During field work, car camping for 7 night “hitches” in remote locations will typically be required.

Depending on performance and completion of work term this position can qualify for Public Lands Corps (PLC) status given that the applicant is 30 years old or younger at the time of GBI employment. This certificate allows for non-competitive status for future federal job applications and will last two years from the end of GBI employment.

Field work will include:
• Maintaining safety awareness and practices;
• Extensive 4x4 driving on unmaintained roads;
• Navigating off-trail to sampling sites;
• Establishing sampling plots and transects;
• Identifying and describing soil horizons to help verify ecological site descriptions (ESDs);
• Collecting vegetation data (including species inventory, forb diversity, species abundance, sagebrush shape, foliar cover, canopy gap, and herbaceous and woody heights);
• Taking photo-points.

Additional duties include:
• Regular communication with GBI support staff and agency staff;
• Participation in GBI and agency trainings;
• Entering data into both Field Maps and Survey 123 software;
• Identifying plants to species using dichotomous keys; and
• Employing extensive QA/QC data checks.

Projects, Locations and Tentative Timelines:
Locations and timelines listed below are tentative, some with potential for extension. Crews will be based out of either the Las Vegas or Reno GBI Offices but work in the following BLM Field Office (FO’s) areas:

Nevada:

Elko ESR Project:
• Elko District Office
• April-July 22nd
• 3-person vegetation monitoring crew with ~33% of points requiring soil sampling

"Within the 12.5 million acres of lands administered by the EKDO, several million acres have burned in recent decades by wildfires. Areas burned by wildfires are typically treated by the Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ESR) program to help ecosystems stabilize and recover from wildfires. The BLM is mandated to conduct treatment effectiveness monitoring on all ESR projects to document the effectiveness of the ESR treatments. The Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) strategy is an approved monitoring strategy for ESR treatment effectiveness monitoring."

Winnemucca ESR Project:
• Winnemucca District Office
• April-August 5th20
• 3-person vegetation monitoring crew with ~33% of points requiring soil sampling

"The Winnemucca Bureau of Land Management (BLM) district encompasses 11 million acres of northern Nevada with 8.2 million acres of public land. The BLM is mandated to conduct land health monitoring to document effectiveness of the decisions established in our Resource Management Plans, to determine treatment effectiveness, or for habitat evaluation, among others. The Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) strategy is the approved monitoring strategy for land health monitoring."

"During the 2018 fire season, the Winnemucca District’s Fire Program had 109 fires, which consumed a total of 217,602 acres of public land throughout the district. The largest fire in Nevada’s history (only within Nevada) was the Martin Fire, consumed over 416,821 acres, and spanned two districts. Rehabilitation efforts have continued through fire and fuels projects through winter of 2021. The ES&R team and BLM staff determined that over 530,000 acres of the Winnemucca District has been treated since 2018. Monitoring treatment areas using the AIM protocol is essential to determine the efficacy of restoration or rehabilitation efforts. Measures of success include density of seeded species and percent perennial cover after treatment. "

Compensation:
Total approximate compensation: $2990/month before taxes (including benefits the approximate hourly equivalent: $18.69/hour), plus health insurance (monthly premiums fully paid by GBI) and paid time off.

Breakdown:
• $15.50/hour
• $150 bi-weekly housing stipend*
• $15 per diem for every night camped in the field (up to 7 units in an 8 day work week)
• Affordable Care Act Compliant Health insurance including vision and dental provided at no cost to the employee starting the first day of the month following employment start date.
• Paid federal holidays
• Paid personal time off (amount dependent on contract length)

*Housing stipend is untaxed and can be used at the discretion of the applicant. Housing is not provided. Applicants must be able to provide their own lodging.

Qualifications:
• Experience, education, or a combination in botany, range management, and or soils to meet one or both of the following (Crew Leads should have education and experience with plants and/or soils):

Bachelor’s degree in botany, biology, ecology, or rangeland ecology or other natural resources with at least 9 semester hours in plant or biological sciences or a minimum of 1 years of field data collection identifying plants;

AND/OR

Bachelor’s degree in plant or soil science or similar with at least 9 semester hours in soils or a minimum of 1year of field data collection describing soils. Any of the 4 certifications from the Soil Science Society of America may substitute for education or experience.

*Some Projects require a relevant Bachelor’s Degree.

Technical requirements:
• Coursework or equivalent experience in plant taxonomy and/or systematics;
• Experience identifying plants in the field and using a dichotomous key;
• Experience in describing and identifying soil horizons preferred;
• Experience conducting plant surveys using various monitoring protocols, photo plots, and site observations;
• Experience with data entry and management;
• Ability to read, interpret and navigate using topographic maps;
• Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, often in remote areas on unimproved roads;
• Experience navigating and collecting coordinates with hand-held GPS units;
• Experience creating maps and performing basic functions with GIS software (ArcMap), preferred;
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access); and
• Experience with Field Maps, Survey 123, and ArcGIS Online.

Additional requirements:
• Willingness and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic setting, and to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the goals and objectives of the AIM program and the mission of GBI;
• Valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record;
• Familiarity with native and invasive plants of the sampling area and associated natural resource issues preferred;
• Ability to work productively as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals;
• Ability to work independently;
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, agency staff, and a diverse public;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Familiarity with best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles;
• Experience in and willingness to spend multiple days camping in the field;
• Flexibility with position location within field district offices
• Willingness to work irregular hours (e.g., early mornings, late nights); and
• Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, work in all types of weather conditions, traverse uneven terrain, carry upwards of 40 pounds in a backpack, and otherwise maintain good physical condition.

Please indicate your availability and location/project preferences in your cover letter when applying. Application review will continue until all positions are filled. We encourage applying early to gain the best chance of getting top-choice locations. Only qualified candidates will be contacted.

Please use the official job posting link below that will direct you to our Ecological Monitoring Soil and Vegetation Technician Position. Use the "Apply now" button at the bottom of the position.

https://www.vscyberhosting.com/greatbasin/careers.aspx?rf=ASPT&req=2021-AIM-016

Aquatic Monitoring Riparian Botanist – Boating Crew (Prineville, OR)

The Great Basin Institute is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and service through the west. The Institute’s mission is to advance applied science and ecological literacy through community engagement and agency partnerships, supporting national parks, forest, open spaces and public lands.

The Aquatic Monitoring Program at GBI serves as an excellent professional development opportunity for natural resource professionals seeking experience in aquatic, riparian, and rangeland surveys. This Program is a component of our well-established Research Associate Program, which focuses on the conservation and management of natural, cultural, and recreation resources in the Intermountain West while providing emerging professionals opportunities to begin or enhance their careers.

GBI’s Aquatic Monitoring Program is dedicated to providing college graduates and emerging professionals with hands-on survey, inventory, monitoring, and reporting experience in natural resource management. Extensive training and technical field skills development provides employees a unique opportunity to obtain valuable experience in executing monitoring protocols that will increase their employment success.

Description:

GBI is recruiting one (1) Riparian Botanist to serve on a rafting crew to assist in the implementation of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) National Aquatic Monitoring Framework (NAMF) for Multiple Indicator Monitoring (MIM) of stream channels and streamside vegetation as well as the Assessment, Inventory, Monitoring (AIM) of lotic ecosystems. The Riparian Botanists will work with BLM staff, GBI staff and Aquatic Monitoring Field Leads and Technicians. The Riparian Botanist will work as part of a three-person crew (one Crew Lead, one Riparian Botanist, one Technician) in the Prineville BLM District in Eastern Oregon to sample streams and boatable rivers BLM-managed land using the BLM’s Aquatic AIM protocol for lotic systems and the MIM protocol, respectively. AIM seeks to standardize the collection of quantitative data that can be used at multiple scales to assist the BLM in making resource management decisions. The key objective of the MIM protocol is to assess riparian vegetation. All Riparian Botanists will assist in collecting aquatic AIM data at various points throughout the season, as well as collecting MIM data.

Though some rivers will require access via rafting, they will be sampled using the BLM’s AIM protocol for wadeable lotic systems, and therefore, will require confidence and experience wading in deep water. Strong rafting experience and ability to drive a truck while towing a trailer are necessary. The botanist will be helping to navigate a raft on multi-day float trips for roughly the first half of the season. The second half of the season will require hiking, potentially long distance, to access the required streams.

More information about AIM and AIM implementation can be found at http://aim.landscapetoolbox.org/

More information about MIM can be found at: https://www.blm.gov/documents/national-office/blm-library/technical-reference/multiple-indicator-monitoring-mim-stream



Crews will interact with local BLM staff, national level staff at the National Operations Center (NOC), and GBI senior monitoring staff. Data collection involves measuring a variety of attributes including water chemistry and instream physical habitat, collecting aquatic macroinvertebrates, and conducting visual estimates in the riparian zone. Successful applicants will be required to work and camp in the field during 8-day sampling efforts (8 consecutive 10 hour days, followed by 6 days off). Camping primitively and in areas without cell service is likely. Additionally, river trips will require bringing minimal luxury items, as space for personal gear will be limited on the raft. Applicants should be prepared to encounter strenuous working conditions in varying environments throughout the season.

Field work and duties may include:
• Navigating, maintaining, and trailering an inflatable raft for at least part of the season.
• Collecting riparian vegetation data, including species inventory (greenline composition, green-line width, cover and constancy, stubble height, wood), stream bank stability, age and height classes of woody species, canopy cover, etc. and making qualitative ecological assessments
• Identifying plants to species or subspecies using dichotomous keys.
• Establishing sampling plots and transects (within the stream channel and streamside riparian area);
• Entering data into Excel data modules
• Aiding in the collection of Lotic AIM data
• Maintaining safety awareness and practices;

Additional duties include:
• Participation in GBI and BLM-led trainings, including required attendance of BLM-led Lotic AIM Field Methods training in addition to the BLM-led MIM training
• Route planning utilizing ArcMap, Google Earth, Avenza, and CalTopo;
• Navigating unmaintained roads and off-trail to sampling sites utilizing GPS and backcountry navigation techniques;
• Regular communication with GBI support staff and BLM staff;

Compensation:

Compensation: This is an hourly position. Total approximate compensation: $3230/month before taxes (approximate hourly equivalent: $20.19), plus health insurance and paid time off

• $17/hr
• $150 non-taxed biweekly housing stipend ($300/ month)
• $15/ night Camping per diem
• Paid Federal holidays
• Paid personal leave
• Paid health insurance (medical, dental and vision) at no cost to the employee

Dependent on performance and completion of work term this position qualifies for Public Lands Corps (PLC) status given that the applicant is 30 years old or younger at the time of application for federal employment

Location:
This crew will be based out of the BLM Prineville District in Oregon. There is the potential to assist crews in other districts as the season progresses.

Contract Timeline:
Projected season length: Approximately March 28 to September 30, 2022

Required Qualifications:

• Experience in plant identification, capable of identifying 95% of plants encountered to the species level, experience in riparian plant identification and field based monitoring is preferred. Qualifications may be met through education, experience, or a combination.

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Botany, Biology, Ecology, or Rangeland Ecology or other Natural Resources with at least 9 semester hours in plant or biological sciences. Courses in such areas as plant taxonomy, plant physiology, and plant ecology are acceptable subjects.

Experience: minimum of 1 year field data collection identifying plants

• Experience conducting vegetation data with a strong interest in riparian vegetation
• Experience with data entry and management;
• Ability to swim, sample in cold water, walk on uneven surfaces, and bushwack on steep terrain, sometimes hiking up to 10 miles a day.
• Willingness to spend 8 consecutive days camping in the field where multiple hazards may be encountered, while sometimes working irregular hours and camping in a new location each night
• Willingness to work multiple days in the field with limited or nonexistent phone or internet service.
• Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, carry 40-50lbs in a backpack, traverse over uneven terrain and otherwise maintain good physical condition.
• Valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record;
• Willingness and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic setting, and to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the goals and objectives of the AIM program and the mission of GBI;
• Ability to complete a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) and submit paperwork to BLM human resources prior to beginning position indicating that an active and fully adjudicated BI has been started or completed;
• Ability to work productively independently as well as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals;
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, agency staff, and a diverse public;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Familiarity with best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles;
• Strong swimming skills
• Prior river rafting experience

Preferred qualifications
• Experience driving a trailer and backing down put-in and take-out ramps;
• Swift Water Rescue certified, or willingness to obtain required certification by season start;
• Wilderness First Aid certified, or willingness to obtain required certification by season start;
• Ability to plan and pack gear for float trips up to 8 days long;
• Familiarity with riparian vegetation in the western United States
• Ability to read, interpret and navigate using topographic maps;
• Experience navigating and collecting coordinates with hand-held GPS units;
• Experience creating maps and performing basic functions with ESRI software (ArcMap, ArcGIS, ArcGISPro);
• Experience using Google Earth, CalTopo, Avenza;
• Backcountry travel experience and solid navigational skills, including navigating off trail

Please use the link to our official job posting to apply for this position