Employment Opportunity: Botany Field Crew Needed in the USFS's Spring Mountains near Las Vegas, NV

Transcription

1 Employment Opportunity: Botany Field Crew Needed in the USFS's Spring Mountains near Las Vegas, NV *Botany Field Team Lead: * 6- RAP- 060 *Botany Field Technician:* 6- RAP- 059 *Botany Field Team Lead* GBI / USFS, Humboldt- Toiyabe National Forest Member will provide national service on several units of the U.S. Forest Service s Humboldt- Toiyabe National Forest, a host site for Great Basin Institute s AmeriCorps Program. Description: In cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service Humboldt- Toiyabe National Forest, the Great Basin Institute is recruiting a Botany Field Team lead to join our AmeriCorps program. Working cooperatively with a GBI Botany Field Technician, the Field Lead will help to coordinate and implement a variety of restoration, botany and avian biology projects. Project work will occur on the Austin- Tonopah Ranger District for eight weeks, where the Field Lead will serve as the primary liaison between the field team and USFS personnel to ensure projects are being accomplished accurately. The Field Lead will be responsible for the oversight of project activities, including ensuring adherence to agreed- upon protocols and procedures, serving as a positive role model for other field team members, and facilitating accurate completion and documentation of project efforts. The Field Team will work on a number of projects, including surveys for plant and animal species of interest to determine presence and minimize impacts to these species. Primary foci for surveys will include avian fauna, sage grouse habitats, butterfly habitats, and rare plants. Restoration and enhancement activities may include: identification and documentation of disturbed locations in sensitive habitats; collecting seed of local genotypes of native plant species; closure of unauthorized motorized routes and recreation concentrated use areas; monitoring of past restoration projects and recommendations for sites not progressing as anticipated; burned area rehabilitation; and riparian and spring restoration. Collectively, the team is responsible for data collection, entry and analysis; report writing; project planning and mapping; and other tasks assigned by SMNRA resource biologists. Opportunities to participate in training (e.g. GIS, Wilderness 1st Aid) during the season may be available. Compensation & Timeline: 19- week appointment (22 May 30 September 2015) $9, Living Allowance o $2,182 Education Award* Student loan forbearance* $15 field per diem Location: The base of operations for this opportunity is north and west of Las Vegas, NV on the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (Clark and Nye

2 Counties, Nevada). Additional project areas will be on the Austin- Tonopah Ranger District (Nye, Lander, and Eureka Counties, Nevada). The successful applicant will experience a tremendous diversity of habitat types from the Mojave Desert habitat surrounding the SMNRA, to the Basin and Range province that is characteristic of much of Nevada. Many developed and undeveloped recreational opportunities are available in the region ranging from rock climbing and bouldering, to mountain biking, hiking, and fishing. Qualifications: Technical requirements: Coursework in and applied knowledge of plant taxonomy and ecology, including use of technical botanical keys (dichotomous plant key without pictures); Familiarity with plants of the area, including rare, sensitive, threatened and endangered, preferable; Familiarity with, or proven ability and desire to learn specific State and Federal laws and Forest Service policies related to plants; Experience (one year) conducting floristic field surveys or vegetation monitoring (e.g. repeat photography, or transect and quadrat systematic sampling); o Experience (one year) conducting restoration monitoring and maintenance work (e.g., seed collection, hand tool use); Experiencing collecting, preserving and mounting herbarium samples; Experience working with hand- held GPS equipment for navigation and data collection; Knowledge of GIS software (highly desirable but not required); and Experience with technical writing and/or producing written project/grant reports. Additional requirements: Experience leading/guiding field technicians and/or volunteer groups to complete field tasks; Ability to work productively both independently and as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals; Ability to communicate effectively with team members, GBI and agency staff, and a diverse public; Ability to perform physical labor for extended periods of time (e.g., digging, bending over, hauling material, hiking); 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; Willingness to spend multiple days camping in the field; o Willingness to work irregular hours (e.g. pre- sunrise mornings, late nights past midnight, weekends/holidays); Good organizational skills; o Valid, state- issued driver s license; clean driving record; and ability to safely operate a 4WD truck on paved and unpaved roads, including narrow, mountain forest roads; Meet AmeriCorps eligibility requirements: (1) U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status, (2) eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award (limit of four in

3 a lifetime or the equivalent of two full- time education awards), (3) pass National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and federal criminal background checks, (4) adhere to the rules, regulations and code of conduct as specified in the Member Service Agreement; and (5) will not engage in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement. How to Apply: Please follow this link to apply directly through our online portal: 6- RAP- 060 The Great Basin Institute conforms 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. This AmeriCorps positions is made possible by a generous grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service. *Botany Field Technician* GBI / USFS, Humboldt- Toiyabe National Forest Member will provide national service on several units of the U.S. Forest Service s Humboldt- Toiyabe National Forest, a host site for Great Basin Institute s AmeriCorps Program. Description: In cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service Humboldt- Toiyabe National Forest, the Great Basin Institute is recruiting two (2) Botany Field Technicians to join our AmeriCorps program. The Technicians will work cooperatively as part of a team to support a variety of restoration, botany and avian biology projects. The Technicians will work on a number of projects, including surveys for plant and animal species of interest to determine presence and minimize impacts to these species. Primary foci for surveys will include avian fauna, sage grouse habitats, butterfly habitats, and rare plants. Restoration and enhancement activities may include: identification and documentation of disturbed locations in sensitive habitats; collecting seed of local genotypes of native plant species; closure of unauthorized motorized routes and recreation concentrated use areas; monitoring of past restoration projects and recommendations for sites not progressing as anticipated; burned area rehabilitation; and riparian and spring restoration. Collectively, the team is responsible for data collection, entry and analysis; report writing; project planning and mapping; and other tasks assigned by SMNRA resource biologists. Opportunities to participate in training (e.g. GIS, Wilderness 1st Aid) during the season may be available. Technicians will split their time between the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (SMNRA) and either the Austin- Tonopah Ranger District in central Nevada or the Ely Ranger District in eastern Nevada. USFS housing will be available at no additional costs. Compensation & Timeline: 13- week appointment (22 May 20 August 2015)

4 $5,760 Living Allowance $1,515 Education Award* Student loan forbearance* $15 field per diem Location: The base of operations for this opportunity is north and west of Las Vegas, NV on the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (Clark and Nye Counties, Nevada). Additional project areas will be on the Austin- Tonopah Ranger District (Nye, Lander, and Eureka Counties, Nevada) and the Ely Ranger District (White Pine, Nye, and Lincoln Counties, Nevada). Successful applicants will experience a tremendous diversity of habitat types from the Mojave Desert habitat surrounding the SMNRA, to the Basin and Range province that is characteristic of much of Nevada. Many developed and undeveloped recreational opportunities are available in the region ranging from rock climbing and bouldering, to mountain biking, hiking, and fishing. Qualifications: Technical requirements: Coursework in or knowledge of plant taxonomy and ecology, including use of technical botanical keys (dichotomous plant key without pictures); Familiarity with plants of the area, including rare, sensitive, threatened and endangered, preferable; Experience conducting botanical field work including: Plant surveys using various protocols, Monitoring protocols such as repeat photography, and transect and quadrat systematic sampling, and o familiarity with restoration implementation and monitoring techniques (e.g., seed collection, hand tool use); Experiencing collecting, preserving and mounting herbarium samples; Experience working with hand- held GPS equipment for navigation and data collection; Knowledge of GIS software (highly desirable but not required); and Experience with technical writing and/or producing written project/grant reports. Additional requirements: Ability to perform physical labor for extended periods of time (e.g., digging, bending over, hauling material, hiking); 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; Willingness to spend multiple days camping in the field; Willingness to sometimes work irregular hours (e.g. pre- sunrise mornings, late nights past midnight); Ability to work productively both independently and as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals;

5 Ability to communicate effectively with team members, agency staff, and a diverse public; Good organizational skills; Valid, state- issued driver s license; clean driving record; and ability to safely operate a 4WD truck on paved and unpaved roads, including narrow, mountain forest roads; and Meet AmeriCorps eligibility requirements: (1) U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status, (2) eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award (limit of four in a lifetime or the equivalent of two full- time education awards), (3) pass National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and federal criminal background checks, (4) adhere to the rules, regulations and code of conduct as specified in the Member Service Agreement; and (5) will not engage in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement. How to Apply: Please follow this link to apply directly through our online portal: 6- RAP- 059 The Great Basin Institute conforms 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. This AmeriCorps positions is made possible by a generous grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service.