Ecological Monitoring Technician (Reno, NV)
Great Basin Institute

The Great Basin Institute is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and service through the west. The Institute’s mission is to advance applied science and ecological literacy through community engagement and agency partnerships, supporting national parks, forest, open spaces and public lands. 

The Ecological Monitoring Program at GBI serves as an excellent professional development opportunity for natural resource professionals looking for experience in botanical, soil, and rangeland surveys. This program focuses on the collection of reliable and consistent quantitative data on the status, condition, and trend of natural resources on public lands. GBI Ecological Monitoring Program partners with the Bureau of Land Management to acquire these data by implementing the Assessment Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) Strategy, a national program that sets rigorous standards for data collection for use across jurisdictions and agencies. Data collected documents changes in resource condition over time and informs decision making at the landscape scale. Select locations will apply AIM sampling to post-wildfire Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ESR) monitoring.  

GBI’s Ecological Monitoring Program is dedicated to providing college graduates and emerging professionals with hands-on survey, inventory, monitoring, and reporting experience in natural resource management. Extensive training and technical field skills development provides employees a unique opportunity to obtain valuable experience in executing monitoring protocols that will increase their employment success.  

This video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LciTBPG2-Ss&feature=youtu.be) highlights the national BLM AIM strategy for landscape-scale data capture across western states.  

Description:

GBI is recruiting Ecological Monitoring Soils and Vegetation Field Technicians to work with GBI and BLM staff. Each Field Tech will work with one other technician under the supervision of a Field Lead to characterize vegetation using the terrestrial AIM core methods. In some instances, Habitat Assessment Framework (HAF), and/or other supplemental protocols will be performed, for which training will be provided. Aside from core AIM sampling, any supplemental protocols implemented will vary by location.

Duties include following established field protocols to perform vegetation sampling and field data collection at new and existing sampling plots. Data will be used by resource specialists and land managers to inform decisions regarding land management at various temporal and spatial scales. During field work, car camping for 7 night “hitches” in remote locations will typically be required.

Field work will include:

• Maintaining safety awareness and practices; 

• Extensive 4x4 driving on unmaintained roads;

• Navigating off-trail to sampling sites; 

• Establishing sampling plots and transects; 

• Identifying and describing soil horizons to help verify ecological site descriptions (ESDs);

• Collecting vegetation data (including species inventory, forb diversity, species abundance, sagebrush shape, foliar cover, canopy gap, and herbaceous and woody heights); 

• Taking photo-points.

Additional duties include:

• Regular communication with GBI support staff and agency staff;

• Participation in GBI and agency trainings;

• Entering data into both Field Maps and Survey 123 software;

• Identifying plants to species using dichotomous keys; and

• Employing extensive QA/QC data checks.

Projects, Locations and Tentative Timelines:

Locations and timelines listed below are tentative, some with potential for extension. Crews will be based out of the Reno GBI Office but work in the following BLM Field Office (FO’s) areas:

• California:

  • California Project:

    • Season Length: Approximately 6 Months, starting in early April

    • Ridgecrest, Bishop, Eagle Lake, Applegate, and Redding Field Offices

    • 3-person soil and vegetation monitoring crews

• Nevada:

  • Nevada Statewide Project:

    • Season Length: Approximately 6 Months, starting in early April

    • Winnemucca, Battle Mountain, Elko and Ely District Offices 

    • 3-person soils and vegetation monitoring crews

  • Nevada ESR Fire Impact Monitoring Project:

    • Season Length: Approximately 6 Months, starting in early April 

    • Winnemucca, Battle Mountain and Ely District Offices

    • 2 or 3-person soils and vegetation monitoring crews

Compensation:

Total approximate compensation: $3500-3900/month before taxes (including benefits the approximate hourly equivalent: $22-24/hour), plus health insurance (monthly premiums fully paid by GBI) and paid time off.

Breakdown:

• $19.00-$21.00/hour depending on experience

• $150.00 bi-weekly housing stipend* (Pro-rated if less than 80 hours worked)

• $35.00 per diem for every night camped in the field (up to 7 units in an 8 day work week)

• Affordable Care Act Compliant Health insurance including vision and dental provided at no cost to the employee starting the first day of the month following employment start date.

• Paid federal holidays

• Paid personal time off (amount dependent on contract length)

*Housing stipend is untaxed and can be used at the discretion of the applicant. Housing is not provided. Applicants must be able to provide their own lodging.

Qualifications:

• Experience, education, or a combination in botany, range management, and or soils to meet one or both of the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in botany, biology, ecology, or rangeland ecology or other natural resources with coursework in plant or biological sciences or a minimum of 1 years of field data collection identifying plants;

AND/OR

• Bachelor’s degree in plant or soil science or similar with coursework in soils or a minimum of 1 year of  field data collection describing soils. Any of the 4 certifications from the Soil Science Society of America may substitute for education or experience. 

Technical requirements:

• Coursework or equivalent experience in plant taxonomy and/or systematics;
• Experience identifying plants in the field and using a dichotomous key; 
• Experience in describing and identifying soil horizons preferred;
• Experience conducting plant surveys using various monitoring protocols, photo plots, and site observations;
• Experience with data entry and management;
• Ability to read, interpret and navigate using topographic maps;
• Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, often in remote areas on unimproved roads;
• Experience navigating and collecting coordinates with hand-held GPS units;
• Experience creating maps and performing basic functions with GIS software (ArcMap), preferred;
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access); and
• Experience with Field Maps, Survey 123, and ArcGIS Online.

Additional requirements:

• Willingness and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic setting, and to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the goals and objectives of the AIM program and the mission of GBI;
• Valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record;
• Familiarity with native and invasive plants of the sampling area and associated natural resource issues preferred;
• 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;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Familiarity with best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles;
• Experience in and willingness to spend multiple days camping in the field;
• Flexibility with position location within field district offices
• Willingness to work irregular hours (e.g., early mornings, late nights); and
• 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.

Please indicate your availability and location/project preferences in your cover letter when applying. Application review will continue until all positions are filled. We encourage applying early to gain the best chance of getting top-choice locations.