Description:
In cooperation with the BLM California Eagle Lake Field Office (FO), GBI is recruiting four (4) Field Technicians to work cooperatively with BLM Rangeland Managers and GBI Vegetation Monitoring Field Leads. Each Field Technician will serve on a field crew (one Lead and two Technicians) to characterize vegetation using the Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring
(AIM) protocol and Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health (IIRH), for which training will be provided by The Jornada in either Reno (20-24
April) or Boise (27 April – 1 May). Duties include following established field protocols to conduct vegetation sampling and field data collection on new and existing monitoring sites within the eastern BLM Northern California District (Cedarville, Alturas, and Eagle Lake FOs). Field work will include navigating to sampling sites, establishing sampling transects and plots, collecting vegetation data (including species ID, foliar cover, canopy gap, and herbaceous and woody density), taking photo-points, and quality-checking data. During these periods of field work, camping will be required. Field data will be used by BLM Natural Resource Specialists to inform management decisions. Funding for this work is pending.

Please follow this link for a video that highlights the BLM’s national strategy for landscape-scale data capture across the western states using AIM: http://youtu.be/LciTBPG2-Ss

Location: The BLM Eagle Lake Field Office is located in Susanville, CA.
Public lands managed by the eastern BLM Northern California District cover over 1.5 million acres in northeastern California. The area features diverse landscapes, including forests, riparian areas, and expansive high deserts.

Compensation:
– $15.00/hour
– Additional $75/week housing stipend
– $15.00 Field per diem
– Health Insurance Option

Timeline:
– 13 April – 18 September 2015
– Full time, 40 hours per week

Qualifications:
Technical requirements:
– Bachelor’s Degree in Life Sciences preferred, such as: Botany, Wildlife Biology, Range Ecology, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Resources or related subject;
– Coursework in plant taxonomy and/or systematics (transcripts may be requested);
– Experience identifying plants in the field and using a dichotomous key; familiarity with native and invasive plants of northeastern California and associated natural resource issues preferred;
– Experience conducting plant surveys using various monitoring protocols, including standard rangeland monitoring protocols, photo plots, and site observations;
– Experience with data entry and analysis;
– Experience with technical writing and/or producing written project/monitoring summary reports/grant reports;
– Ability to read, interpret and navigate using topographic maps;
– Experience working with hand-held GPS equipment for navigation and data collection;
– Experience working with GIS software; and
– Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access).

Additional requirements:
– Valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record;
– Experience operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, including narrow, mountain forest roads;
– Experience and training to operate UTV and ATV equipment;
– 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;
– Good organizational skills;
– Willingness to spend multiple days camping in the field;
– Willingness to sometimes 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.

How to Apply:
Qualified and interested applicants should forward a cover letter, their résumé, and a list of three professional references to Amy Gladding, GBI HR Coordinator, at agladding@thegreatbasininstitute.org. Please include where you found this position posted. Incomplete applications will not be considered. No phone inquiries, please.

This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or religion. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.