Position Objectives: The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management Battle Mountain, Carson City, Elko, and Winnemucca District Offices, is recruiting field technicians for four (4) land health assessment teams. Teams will consist of three total members including a GIS Lead and two field technicians. 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 the assessment of soil, hydrology and biological (vegetative) conditions; water quality and quantity sampling (Proper Functioning Condition); and baseline data collection for Sage Grouse habitat and other indicator species. 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. Compensation: o $8,000 Living Stipend o $2,775 AmeriCorps Education Award o Student loan forbearance o Daily field per diem Timeline: April 2, 2012 October 12, 2012 Field Training: Participate in a field-based environmental methods course on the Black Rock NCA as well as a Dept. of Interior protocol training event (travel expenses paid for both training events). Location: Two positions will be filled in each of the four following BLM Nevada Districts: Battle Mountain, Carson City, Elko, and Winnemucca. 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 Experience with vegetation identification preferred; 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 at [email protected]. Please include where you found this position posted.
