Agency: United States Bureau of Land Management Location: Taos, New Mexico Start Date: Spring/Summer, 2014 Application Closing Date: Friday, March 28, 2014 Internship duration: 1 3 years (dependent on funding beyond year 1) Compensation: $18.77/hour, with full benefits To apply: http://www.clminternship.org/applying Position Reference Code (must be included when applying): Taos2014
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 Taos, New Mexico Field Office, which administers 656,000 acres of public land. The intern will be engaged in a broad range of plant related activities within this district 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. 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 office, pending future funding levels. QUALIFICATIONS Applicants must have familiarity with southwest flora and ecosystems (e.g., desert, shrub/scrub, grasslands, coniferous forests). Preference will be given to those with knowledge of New Mexico flora. Applicants should have extensive experience with plant identification, threatened and endangered plant species (monitoring/inventory, etc.), and seed collection efforts (Seeds of Success preferred). Experience working with a federal agency (BLM, NPS, USFS, USFWS, USGS, etc.) and preparing environmental assessment documentation (NEPA) is desired. Applicants must be willing to move to Taos, NM and commit to up to three years at this location. RESPONSIBILITIES -The intern 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. - 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 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 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. LOCATION Taos is a town of roughly 5,000 people (~10,000 including surrounding areas). Santa Fe (population ~70,000) is approximately 70 miles to the south of Taos. Amenities in Taos include several grocery stores, several discount/variety stores, 3 hardware stores, several bookstores, a hospital, an urgent care center, several family practice doctors, and an abundance of restaurants. There is no public transportation and commuting by bicycle is possible, however there is no developed infrastructure for bicycle traffic; therefore it is recommended the intern has a personal vehicle. HOW TO APPLY Please visit http://www.clminternship.org/applying for instructions on how to apply. Complete applications will include: online application form, cover letter, resume, transcript, and three letters of recommendation. **Please note that you MUST include the Position Reference Code, Taos2014, when you complete the online application. **CLM applications for general 2014 field positions are no longer being accepted. Please apply only if you meet the qualifications for this position.
