Position Objectives: In cooperation with the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), The Great Basin Institute is recruiting 2 experienced individuals to serve as Vegetation/Habitat Assessment Field Leads. The overall objective of this habitat assessment effort is to perform detailed vegetation and site data collection at locations where habitat restoration projects will be undertaken and at sites where restoration is underway. Sites for monitoring climate change will also be sampled. Restoration project sites are located in Wyoming sagebrush, pinyon-juniper woodlands and mountain sagebrush communities across northern Nevada. Restoration projects are focused on wildlife habitat including Sage Grouse (endangered species candidate), Mule deer, and a variety of non-game species. The vegetation and site data are used to help guide proper treatment design and to provide a baseline data set against which treatment effects may be measured.
Duties: This position will play a vital role in facilitating the effective and efficient collection of monitoring data. General field duties include walking long distances over uneven and sometimes steep terrain, collecting GPS points of sampling plots and other plot-specific data, observing wildlife, identifying vegetative demographics and distribution, and taking photo-points. Sampling vegetation structure and composition using the Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) methodology will be the principle focus of field data collection, resulting in estimates for foliar cover, canopy gap, herbaceous and woody density, and plant species richness. AIM field data will be entered into the electronic Database for Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment (DIMA). The Field Lead will also coordinate with the GBI Project Lead and the NDOW Lead for project planning, equipment organization and maintenance, vehicle coordination, field protocol and data QA/QC, and team deployment and supervision. The successful applicant must have strong communication skills (both verbal and written) and exhibit strong leadership and organization skills. Office tasks include data organization, processing and QA/QC; post-processing GPS points; utilizing GIS to edit polygons as well as point and line data; and creating reports with GIS maps, pictures and concise field notes. This position may require pre-season travel to and from field sites with occasional camping in order to ground truth transect start points and to ensure that all transects are successfully completed during the field season, and may require long hours including early mornings and weekends. The timeframe for field data collection will generally be 8 days on (Wed-Wed) for travel to sampling region, field sampling and on-site camping, and return to GBI/NDOW in Reno followed by 6 days off (Thu-Tue). Time spent training during the beginning of the field season and post-season office work involving data QA/QC and report writing will follow a typical Mon-Fri schedule. Contract length: 13 April, 2015 - October 16, 2015 (27 weeks) Compensation: $1392 bi-weekly salary + field per diem Health Insurance: Provided Location: The position will be based out of GBIs Reno, NV office and field work will be staged from the Nevada Department of Wildlife Reno office. Field sites are located through northern Nevada, and may require several hours up to a full day of travel time to access. Terrain is typical of the Great Basin with wide, long valleys bordered by mountain ranges. Field conditions include hot, arid days with high exposure to the sun and nights with temperatures possibly dropping to near freezing at high elevations. 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 applicants with advanced degrees encouraged to apply; Previous experience leading a field crew strongly preferred Strong knowledge of botany, use of dichotomous keys and making field collections of plants knowledge of Great Basin plants, vegetation and the Intermountain Flora preferred; Understanding of basic principles related to the fields of soil science, wildlife biology, geology, and/or hydrology; Applicants should possess relevant or related field experience knowledge of and/or experience working in sage-grouse habitat and/or high desert ecology, preferable; Ability to navigate and set a bearing using a compass, navigate to predetermined locations using GPS, and read a topographic map while navigating in vehicle or on foot; Ability to collect, QA/QC, and post-process data using the DIMA, required; Preference for a clear understanding of GIS theory and applications, including experience with ArcGIS 10.x to create maps, manipulate and analyze data, and generate reports; Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with a diverse audience; Physically fit to work outdoors, carry personal and field equipment, lift heavy gear, and withstand working and primitive camping with no amenities for up to eight consecutive days in sometimes inclement weather during spring and summer in northern Nevada; Possess a clean, valid, state-issued drivers license and the ability to safely operate a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads; and Pass FBI criminal and National Sex Offender Public Registry background checks. How to Apply: Qualified and interested applicants should forward a cover letter, their résumé, and a list of three professional references to Amy Gladding, GBI Human Resources Coordinator, at [email protected]. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or religion. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
