Botanist/Riparian Vegetation Specialist

Description: The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management’s Battle Mountain District Office, is recruiting an experienced botanist to work cooperatively with a BLM surface water hydrologist and another GBI riparian specialist as part of a multi-disciplinary team to characterize current riparian-wetland condition/functionality. Information collected is used in support of drought management decisions and/or rangeland health evaluations. The successful candidate should have a solid background in riparian-wetland botany, including plant and plant community identification and aquatic ecology. Additionally, the individual should have a solid understanding of soil science and the inter-relationship between soil type, water availability, and vegetative composition. General duties will be to identify individual riparian plants, describe existing and potential plant communities using soil survey information, detail successional sequences and assist with field survey techniques; proper functioning condition (PFC) assessments, multiple indicator monitoring (MIM) and surveys associated with drought monitoring. Additionally, will be responsible for providing written documentation of data collection; organizing photographic and GPS/GIS documentation of survey areas; recommending ways to maintain/improve watershed conditions; identifying soil types and relationships between site potential, current vegetation, and expected future conditions; developing conceptual models, and identifying trends.

Location: Battle Mountain, NV is located ~220 miles east of Reno, NV and ~300 west of Salt Lake City, UT along Interstate 80. Battle Mountain and the surrounding area (pop. ~4,000) is predominantly rural; situated in the high desert (~4,500 ft. elevation) where ranching/mining are the local economic drivers. The Mount Lewis Field Office within the Battle Mountain District Office is responsible for managing approximately 4.5 million acres of public land typically of basin-and-range topography with Great Basin Desert/sage brush steppe ecotype.

Compensation & Timeline:

-Rate of Pay – $16.00/hour

-Medical benefits (health and dental)

-Start Date: 6-month appointment beginning in May 2014, with potential for extension pending funding and a favorable performance review

-Full time, 40 hours per week

Qualifications:

-Bachelor’s degree in natural science field, with coursework and/or experience that demonstrate an understanding of the principles of botany;

-Knowledge of riparian soil characteristics and how they relate to plant communities;

-Knowledge of the Great Basin’s most common riparian/wetland plants (or willingness to learn prior to employment);

-Experience identifying riparian/wetland vegetation and ability to relate plant species to soil characteristics and water availability;

-Experience performing vegetation surveys, analyzing the data, and drawing conclusions;

-Ability to navigate and collect data using handheld GPS units;

-Experience utilizing a compass and reading topographic map;

-Experience using ArcGIS to create maps, analyze data, and organize layers;

-Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license with ability to safely operate and maintain a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads;

-Ability to work collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team;

-Effectively communicate, both written and orally, with a diverse audience;

-Ability to live and work in rural and remote field and office environment; and

-Physically fit to work outdoors, carry up to 50 pounds of personal and/or field equipment, and withstand the rigors of the Great Basin in the summer, fall and/or early winter.

-Successful applicant(s) must complete a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) or submit paperwork to BLM human resources indicating an active and fully adjudicated BI has already been completed prior to beginning position.

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 agladding@thegreatbasininstitute.org. Please include where you found this position posted. Incomplete applications will not be considered. No phone inquiries, please. 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.