Description: The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management’s Moab and Arizona Strip Field Offices, is recruiting up to four (4) individuals to join our AmeriCorps Program as Seeds of Success (SOS) Native Seed Collection Technicians. The Technicians will conduct native seed collection and associated activities (e.g. seed cleaning and storage) in support of the Colorado Plateau Native Plants Program (CPNPP). The overarching goal of the CPNPP is to “improve the quality of, and increase the availability of, native seed commercially available for use in restoration and reclamation in areas of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.” Specific tasks may include, but are not limited to the following: • Scouting and identifying populations of target native plant species suitable for the program; • GPS mapping populations of plants, disturbance areas, and other features; • Monitoring the phenology of plant populations to identify optimal seed collection times; • Collecting seed from plant populations and completing data forms in accordance with the Seeds of Success (SOS) Technical Protocol; • Taking herbarium vouchers, and processing and shipping seed as necessary; • Recording data electronically and on paper data forms, entering and editing data related to restoration activities; • Participating in restoration projects, including planting native plants, watering plants, repairing fences, removing non-native plants; • Assisting with the coordination of volunteer seed collection and restoration events; and • Reporting accomplishments and providing recommendations for program improvements, priorities, and future projects.
Compensation and Timeline: • This is an AmeriCorps position, and members will receive a living stipend of $8,000, as well as a $75/week housing stipend. This is not an hourly wage or a salary and is paid to members bi-weekly throughout their term of service. Upon completion of the 20-week AmeriCorps term of service members shall receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award valued at $2,150 that can be used to pay off qualified student loans or paying tuition for a Title IV accredited college or program. • 20-week term of service beginning May 04, 2015; possibility of extension based on plant phenology, performance and available funding; • Full time, 40 hours per week. Location: The Technician(s) will be based out of either the BLM’s Moab Field Office, Arizona Strip Field Office (located in St. George, UT), or at the University of Northern Arizona at Flagstaff. Located in the southwest corner of Utah, St. George sits at the merge point of three unique ecosystems, the Mojave Desert, the Great Basin, and the Colorado Plateau, these public lands are a rich mix of geologic formations, biological habitats, scenic landscapes, and cultural history. Located in the heart of the Colorado Plateau in eastern Utah, the Moab Field Office encompasses 1.8 million acres of scenic canyon country. Carved by the Colorado and Green Rivers, Moab’s public lands include a vast variety of arches, natural bridges, mesas, and spires. Both offices offer tremendous access to hiking/back packing, rock climbing/bouldering, mountain biking, fishing, and numerous other outdoor activities. Viewing sites for desert plants and animals are also easily accessible. Qualifications: • Bachelors degree with coursework and field experience related to biology, botany, plant science, or related field; • Experience identifying plants using taxonomic keys or familiarity with Colorado Plateau plants; • Experience using hand-held GPS equipment for data collection and navigation; • Ability to read and navigate using topographic maps and a compass; • Understanding and/or experience using ArcView GIS software, helpful; • Willingness and ability to work in harsh, ever-changing desert conditions, including extreme temperatures, independently or as part of a team; • Ability to bend and stoop for long periods of time while collecting seed, and to use hand tools, and occasionally lift buckets of water and other heavy loads; • Ability to work a non-standard schedule, such as beginning at 5 am, to avoid heat-related issues, or for coordination with team members; • Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with a diverse audience; • Willingness to camp in remote, undeveloped sites for multiple days, if necessary; • Valid, state-issued driver’s license and familiarity driving 4WD vehicles on- and off-paved roads; and • Meet AmeriCorps eligibility requirements: (1) U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status, (2) must be at least 17 years of age and a US citizen that has received a high school diploma or GED (or be willing to achieve this before using education award), (3) eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award (limit of four in a lifetime, or equivalent of two full-time terms of service), and (4) pass National Sex Offender Public Registry (NSOPR) and federal criminal background checks. How to Apply: Qualified and interested applicants should forward a cover letter (including where you found this post), their résumé, and a list of three professional references to Amy Gladding, GBI HR Coordinator, at [email protected]. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 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.
