Sage Grouse/Mojave Field Technician Position Objectives: The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management Ely and Las Vegas District Offices, is recruiting a field technician for a land health assessment team. This team will consist of three members including a GIS Lead. Each team will be comprised of environmental scientists (ecologists) having diverse areas of training and expertise to work cooperatively in a field based setting. The overall objective of the team is to perform land health assessments through inventory and monitoring of geomorphic, hydrologic and vegetative characteristics of the landscape; wildlife habitat monitoring for Sage Grouse (endangered species candidate) and other indicator species; and assessments of riparian and wetland habitats (proper functioning condition). Data are utilized for management and adaptive management decisions, restoration projects, and/or to improve sage grouse habitat to achieve a healthy and productive ecological condition. The principle purpose of this project is to generate an understanding of the process used to develop land health assessments, including the data capture and evaluation.
Duties: General field duties include walking long distances over uneven terrain, and will require Field Technicians to collect GPS and photo points, observe and monitoring wildlife, and/or identify vegetative demographics and distribution. Office tasks may include assisting with data organization, processing and QA/QC; post-processing GPS points; and contributing to report writing. Field Course: Participate in a field-based environmental methods and field protocols training on the Black Rock NCA. Compensation: $16,250 Living Stipend $5,550 AmeriCorps Education Award Student loan forbearance Daily field per diem Contract length: November 7, 2011 November 2, 2012 Location: This position will be based out of two primary locations. During the winter, from Nov. 2011 until April 2012, field work will be concentrated primarily in the Mojave and will be based out of the Southern Nevada BLM District Office in Las Vegas. From April 2012 until the end of the contract, field work will be rotated to the eastern region of the state with the position being based out of the Ely BLM District Office in Ely, NV. Terrain is typical of the Great Basin and Mojave Desert, with wide long valleys bordered by mountain ranges. Field conditions include hot, arid days with high exposure to the sun, and potentially cold, damp winter weather. Resources include big game habitat, Wilderness Study Areas, active grazing allotments, abandoned mine lands, historic and prehistoric cultural sites, and wild horse management areas. Qualifications: Bachelors degree in one of the major natural sciences Understanding of basic principles related to field science and data collection Ability to navigate and set a bearing using a compass and to read a topographical map; Ability to collect data using handheld GPS units, preferred; Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with a diverse audience; Willingness to work collaboratively in a team setting; Physically fit to work outdoors, carry personal and field equipment, and withstand working and camping in an arid environment; Possess a clean, valid, state-issued drivers license and the ability to operate a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads; and 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 the equivalent of two full-time education awards), and (3) pass National Sex Offender Public Registry (NSOPR) and federal criminal background checks. How to Apply: Qualified and interested applicants should forward a cover letter, their résumé, and a list of three professional references to Bridget Walden, GBI HR Coordinator, at [email protected].
