AmeriCorps Ecological Monitoring Field Technicians
Great Basin Institute and Bureau of Land Management

The Ecological Monitoring program at GBI, which focuses on the conservation
of natural resources in the Intermountain West, serves as an excellent
professional development opportunity for burgeoning natural resource
professionals looking for experience in botanical, soil, and rangeland
surveys.



As an element of this program, participants will implement the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) strategy,
which is targeted at collecting standardized inventory and long-term
ecological data at multiple scales across western public lands.



In accordance with these strategies and through partnerships with multiple
agencies, GBI’s Ecological Monitoring Program is dedicated to supporting
resource management while providing college graduates and emerging
professionals with hands-on survey, inventory, monitoring, and reporting
experience in natural resource management.



*Description:*

In partnership with cooperating agencies, GBI is recruiting an AmeriCorps
Ecological Monitoring Field Technician to work with agency staff and GBI
staff. Each AmeriCorps Field Technician will participate in a field crew to
characterize vegetation using the AIM protocol, for which training will be
provided.



Duties include following established field protocols to conduct vegetation
sampling and field data collection on new and existing monitoring sites.
Field data will be used by resource specialists and land managers to inform
decisions regarding resource management issues of the area. During periods
of field work, camping will be required. The timeframe for field data
collection will generally be either 4 days on (Mon-Thurs) or 8 days on
(Wed-Wed) – followed by either 3 days off (Fri-Sun) or 6 days off (Thu-Tue).



Field work may include:

·         Maintaining safety awareness and practices;

·         Navigating off-trail to sampling sites;

·         Establishing sampling plots and transects;

·         Identifying and describing soil horizons,

·         Collecting vegetation data (including species inventory, forb
frequency, sagebrush shape, foliar cover, canopy gap, and herbaceous and
woody heights);

·         Making qualitative range assessments; and

·         Taking photo-points



Additional duties include:

·         Participation in GBI and agency trainings;

·         Entering data into an Access-based database;

·         Identifying plants to species using dichotomous keys; and

·         Supporting QA/QC data checks



*Timeline:  *ASAP – August 3rd, 2018



*Location: *Las Vegas, Nevada



*Compensation:*

·         Living Stipend of approximately $9,239.22 dispersed biweekly
($1,026.58 biweekly)

·         $15 Camping per diem

·         Paid holidays and personal leave

·         Paid health insurance (medical, dental and vision)

·         Student loan forbearance and interest accrual paid

·         $2,215.24 AmeriCorps Education Award



*Qualifications:*

*Technical requirements:*

   - Bachelor’s Degree in Life Sciences, such as: Botany, Wildlife Biology,
   Range Ecology, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Resources or
   related subject preferred;
   - Coursework or equivalent experience in plant taxonomy and/or
   systematics;
   - Experience identifying plants in the field and using a dichotomous
   key;
   - Familiarity with native and invasive plants of the sampling area and
   associated natural resource issues preferred;
   - Experience in describing and identifying soil horizons preferred;
   - 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 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); and
   - Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access).



*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;
   - 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 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;
   - 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.



*Location Information:*



*Las Vegas: *Beyond the bright lights of the Strip, the Southern Nevada
District Office manages more than three million acres of Mojave Desert in
Clark and Nye counties. The scenery varies from dramatically colorful
geologic landforms and largely unspoiled panoramic vistas of Red Rock
Canyon National Conservation Area to remote and rugged wild landscapes of
Gold Butte Back Country Byway. Recreation opportunities abound and viewing
sites for desert plants and animals are easily accessible. Resources of the
Southern Nevada BLM District include desert tortoise habitat, big game
habitat, Wilderness Study Areas, active grazing allotments, abandoned mine
lands, historic and prehistoric cultural sites, and wild horse management
areas.





*How to Apply:*

Please visit our employment web page to apply directly through our online
portal:
http://crcareers.thegreatbasininstitute.org/careers/careers.aspx?rf=PD&req=
2018-ACI-019



Please indicate your availability and preferred locations/positions when
applying. Application review will begin in November and continue until
positions are filled. We encourage applying early in order to gain the best
chance at getting your top-choice locations.  Only qualified candidates
will be contacted.



We conform to all the laws, statutes, and regulations concerning equal
employment opportunities and affirmative action. We strongly encourage
women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply to
all of our job openings. We are an equal opportunity employer and all
qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without
regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender
identity, or national origin, age, disability status, Genetic Information &
Testing, Family & Medical Leave, protected veteran status, or any other
characteristic protected by law. We prohibit Retaliation against
individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the
employer or the government, or against any individuals who assist or
participate in the investigation of any complaint or otherwise oppose
discrimination.

Reply via email to