LOCATION: Carlsbad, NM - BLM EARLIEST START DATE: 11/7/16 LATEST START DATE: 12/1/16 LENGTH OF INTERNSHIP: 1 – 3 years (dependent on funding beyond year 1) * POSITION DESCRIPTION: We are looking for a highly qualified individual for a three- year professional intern position. The intern will serve as a professional level staff botanist for the BLM Plant Conservation Program under direct guidance of the office mentor. The position will be based out of the Carlsbad, New Mexico Field Office, which administers 2.1 million acres of public land. The intern will be engaged in a broad range of plant related activities within this field office under the BLM multiple-use mandate. Pay will begin at an entry level salary consistent with a government pay grade of GS-7 and advance to the GS-9 level in the third year, contingent on acceptable performance and funding. Full benefits are provided (medical, dental, etc.). Funding beyond the 1st year to continue the position is anticipated but is not guaranteed at this time. It is intended that the selectee will conclude the internship with sufficient professional experience to significantly boost their qualifications in the botanical job market and may have the opportunity to be hired in a permanent capacity in the BLM, pending future funding levels and availability. Qualifications: The incumbent must be able to integrate into a federal land management office situation as a contractor, and work closely with BLM staff, other agencies and private entities, and the public to accomplish work as needed by the office. That work will involve advocating policies and positions that integrate botany (the BLMs Plant Conservation Program) as a component of daily office operations. The selectee will initially have minimal experience; training, support, and mentoring will be provided. It is expected that, with experience, the selectee will become able to handle most daily situations with minimal supervision. A background in botany or plant ecology is required and a master’s degree in a similar field is preferred. Position Responsibilities: - Implements various aspects of the Native Plant Materials/Seeds of Success Program, to develop, supply, and manage native plant materials for restoration of federal lands, including project planning, budget tracking, seed collection, and supervision of seasonal interns.
-Serves on interdisciplinary teams (IDT) including the NEPA team to design, monitor, and review a variety of land and resource management activities. Responsibilities include writing portions of Environmental Assessments and Resource Management Plans for botanical resources, special status plants, native plant materials, and in doing so, provides recommendations for the use of appropriate native plant materials for restoration, and provides analysis and recommendations for special status plant impacts, avoidance, and mitigation. -Assists in Oil and Gas permitting by serving as the botanical lead on the IDT by attending on-sites, reviewing NEPA, suggesting minimization, and mitigation as related to special status plant species. -Assists office biological staff in ESA Section 7 consultation when issues of adverse impact are expected for listed plants by providing pertinent analytical data and information necessary to complete consultation. -Serves as the program lead for office seed collection efforts; organize, oversee, train, lead, and direct seed collection teams according to established protocol and State and District guidance. -Assists in developing and implementing vegetation monitoring programs office-wide for rangelands, special status species, and other program areas where vegetation monitoring is required: -Coordinates and conducts inventories and surveys for special status plants and prepares reports documenting survey results, geographic location, and potential land use conflicts. -Assists in issuing and administering contracts and assistance agreements. -Collects and prepares voucher specimens for office herbarium and other institutional herbaria. Organizes, catalogs, and maintains the office herbarium as a reference collection only. - Maintains records in appropriate databases and GIS files. Collects field data using a GPS.
