Appointment Type: Temporary/Seasonal
Job Location: Northern California, BLM Redding, Eagle Lake, and Applegate Field Offices
Salary: $16.00 -$18.50 hourly + per diem rate, which is as follows:
*$59.00 to cover meals and incidentals in Lassen and Modoc Counties, California
*$69.00 to cover meals and incidentals in Washoe County, Nevada
Position Dates: late March to early August
**As a federal government contractor, all employees will be required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by the legislative deadline for vaccine mandates. All candidates must attest to being able to meet this requirement in order to be considered. In compliance with EEO guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination, NatureServe will consider reasonable accommodations for individuals with medical exemptions and those whose religious beliefs conflict with receiving a vaccine. **
NatureServe is a 501(C)3 organization that supports biodiversity conservation at the local, national and international levels through our network of member programs and other institutional alliances. NatureServe is recruiting a seasonal biological field lead technician to collect data in support of vegetation community sampling in dry sagebrush and woodland habitats in northeastern California and northwestern Nevada. The project involves field data collection of terrestrial Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) information on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in the Redding, Applegate and Eagle Lake districts in northern California and adjacent Nevada, with supplemental data collection in support of ongoing fire rehabilitation monitoring.
NatureServe is seeking to fill one lead field biological technician to conduct field sampling. The field season is expected to occur from late March to early August. The work will include following established vegetation and soil sampling methods on new or existing ecological monitoring sites, including plot and line-based sampling, identification of plants to the species level, digging soil pits, and analyzing soils. Knowledge of native plants, the flora of northeastern California and northwestern Nevada, ecological field monitoring methods, field sampling and project management needed. Availability for participation in a BLM Terrestrial AIM training near Susanville, CA the first week of April is strongly preferred.
Lead Technician position includes responsibility for supporting crew safety in the field, coordinating sampling logistics and scheduling, and organization and quality control of paper and electronic field data.
Must be able to work 10-hour days for 8 days at a time (followed by 6 days off), while working and camping in remote locations.
Required qualifications:
· A completed bachelor’s degree with two years of coursework in ecology, natural resources, range management, or an equivalent combination of training and experience
· Field experience collecting scientific data and sampling vegetation
· Ability to identify plants in the field to the species level and experience using dichotomous keys
· Experience coordinating logistics of data collection and safety planning for field crews
· Experience navigating with topographic maps and compass, aerial photography, and GPS to remote field locations
· Ability to hike up to 5 miles / day while carrying a heavy pack (up to 40 lbs.), and ability to assist in digging soil pits and in analyzing soils and erosion data
· Willingness and ability to work long hours and unusual schedules while car camping
· A valid driver’s license
Desired qualifications:
· Willingness to work in challenging conditions including hot and cold weather, rugged terrain, and outdoor hazards while maintaining a commitment to team safety
· Careful attention to detail and strong organizational skills to complete lengthy field forms and electronic data entry
· Previous experience with the BLM AIM methodology
· Wilderness First Aid or other field safety training preferred for all positions
· Experience driving 4x4 vehicles and UTVs on rough roads
For additional information contact: Emily Seddon at Emily_Seddon@natureserve.org