Description: In cooperation with the BLM-Wyoming Lander Field Office and BLM- Washington Spokane District Office, GBI is recruiting eight Field Technicians to work cooperatively with BLM Rangeland Managers and GBI Vegetation Monitoring Field Leads. As members of GBI’s AmeriCorps program, these Technicians will not only enhance the vast public lands of southwestern Wyoming and eastern Washington, but will also take part in the national service movement. Each of these Field Technicians will serve on a field crew (one Lead and two Technicians) to characterize vegetation using the Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) protocol and Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health (IIRH), for which training will be provided by The Jornada in Boise (27 April – 1 May). Duties include following established field protocols to conduct vegetation sampling and field data collection on new and existing monitoring sites within central Wyoming. Field work will include navigating to sampling sites, establishing sampling transects and plots, collecting vegetation data (including species ID, foliar cover, canopy gap, and herbaceous and woody density), taking photo-points, and quality-checking data. During these periods of field work, camping will be required. Field data will be used by BLM Natural Resource Specialists to inform management decisions.
Please follow this link for a video that highlights the BLM’s national strategy for landscape-scale data capture across the western states using AIM: http://youtu.be/LciTBPG2-Ss Location: The Lander Field Office (LFO) is recruiting six Field Technicians. The LFO manages 2.5 million acres of public lands within in Fremont County, the southwest corner of Natrona Country, and small portions of Carbon, Sweetwater and Hot Springs counties. These lands are multiple-use and offer a wide diversity of resources, including the National Historic Trails, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, historic mining areas, rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, hang gliding, livestock grazing and wild horse management. The BLM Spokane District Office is recruiting two Field Technicians and is located in Spokane, WA. Public lands managed by this district office cover over 425,000 acres east of the Cascade crest in the central Columbia Basin and in the highlands of northeastern Washington along the Canadian border. These lands cover a full range of habitats, including the central Columbia Basin sagebrush regime, many riparian zones, and the coniferous forest and sub-alpine areas of northeast Washington. Compensation: -Living Allowance** = up to $11,075 (23 Weeks*) - AmeriCorps Education Award*** = $2,822 - Housing stipend = $75/week - Camping Per Diem = $15/night - Student loan forbearance and interest accrual - Health Insurance Option * Duration of position is dependent upon funding availability ** Final living allowance amount and AmeriCorps Education Award value are determined by the length of the appointment ***AmeriCorps Education Award may be used for past, present or future education experiences, including payment of qualifying federal student loans. Loan forbearance and accrued interest payment on qualifying student loans is also available. Timeline: - 20 April – 25 September 2015 - Full time, 40 hours per week minimum Qualifications: Technical requirements: - Bachelor’s Degree in Life Sciences preferred, such as: Botany, Wildlife Biology, Range Ecology, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Resources or related subject; - Coursework in plant taxonomy and/or systematics (transcripts may be requested); - Experience identifying plants in the field and using a dichotomous key; familiarity with native and invasive plants of central Wyoming/ Great Basin Desert and associated natural resource issues preferred; - Experience conducting plant surveys using various monitoring protocols, including standard rangeland monitoring protocols, photo plots, and site observations; - Experience with data entry and analysis; - Experience with technical writing and/or producing written project/monitoring summary reports/grant reports; - Ability to read, interpret and navigate using topographic maps; - Experience working with hand-held GPS equipment for navigation and data collection; - Experience working with GIS software; and - Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access). Additional requirements: - Valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record; - Experience operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, including narrow, mountain forest roads; - Experience and training to operate UTV and ATV equipment; - Ability to work productively as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals; - Ability to work independently; - Ability to communicate effectively with team members, agency staff, and a diverse public; - Good organizational skills; - Willingness to spend multiple days camping in the field; - Willingness to sometimes work irregular hours (e.g., early mornings, late nights); - Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, work in all types of weather conditions, traverse uneven terrain, carry upwards of 40 pounds in a backpack, and otherwise maintain good physical condition; and - Meet AmeriCorps Eligibility Requirements: 1. U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status; 2. Must be at least 17 years of age; 3. Received a high school diploma or GED (or be willing to achieve this before using education award); 4. Eligible to receive and AmeriCorps Education Award (limit of four in a lifetime or equivalent of 2 full-time awards); 5. Pass state and federal criminal background checks and a search of the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSPOW); 6. Adhere to the rules, regulations and code of conduct as specified in the Member Service Agreement; and 7. Will not engage in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement 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 HR Coordinator, at [email protected]. Please include where you found this position posted and your preferred location. Incomplete applications will not be considered. No phone inquiries, please. We conform to all the laws, statutes, and regulations concerning equal employment opportunities and affirmative action. We strongly encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply to all of our job openings. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, age, disability status, Genetic Information & Testing, Family & Medical Leave, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We prohibit Retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the employer or the government, or against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of any complaint or otherwise oppose discrimination.
