Botany Field Technician

Description: In cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management Casper (WY) Field Office, Great Basin Institute is recruiting two (2) qualified plant Botany Field Technicians to join our AmeriCorps Education Award Program. Field Technicians will be exposed to a wide array of tasks and gain familiarity with the operations of a federal land management agency. More specifically, Field Technicians will assist with the following:

-Work closely with agency personnel to assist with vegetation monitoring, inventory and spray noxious and invasive weeds, maintain program database and documents, and research needed information.

-Conduct plant surveys and mapping efforts in order to refine population boundaries for species of management concern. Survey efforts will be concentrated within areas identified for potential habitat treatment projects and locations where occurrence has been previously documented.

This position is field-work intensive with approximately 80% of the term spent in the field and the remaining 20% spent analyzing data and compiling progress and final reports to be submitted by established deadlines.

Compensation:

-Living Allowance: $8,025

-AmeriCorps Education Award*: $2,114

-$350 Monthly Housing Stipend

-Health and Dental benefits

-Housing: Trailer homes with amenities are available for $450 to 550 monthly, depending on the unit and availability

*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:  May 19, 2014 – September 26, 2014

Location: Based in Casper, WY, in the vicinity of Casper Mountain and southern Big Horns. The Casper Field Office manages 1,326,733 million acres of public land for diverse resources and uses, including National Historic Trails, rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking and livestock grazing.

Qualifications:

-Previous academic or professional training in botany, biology, ecology, or other related field;

-Required skills include:

-ability to identify plants to species and subspecies, including noxious and invasive plants;experience conducting plant population surveys;

-experience processing herbarium collections;

-ability to carry a backpack sprayer (30lbs) over rough terrain and spray weeds; and

-use of GPS and GIS technologies to collect, organize and display field data.

-Technical writing skills that communicate scientific results effectively and efficiently, highly desirable;

-Familiarity with the NRCS soil survey descriptions, highly desirable;

-Ability to conduct field work across rugged terrain, carry personal and technical field equipment, and withstand inclement weather conditions;

-Ability to self-motivate and accomplish objectives independently with minimal supervision;

-Function as part of an interdisciplinary team comprising various BLM resource specialists;

-Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license and the ability to safely operate a 4WD vehicle on and off paved 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 equivalent of two full-time terms of service), and (3) pass National Sex Offender Public Registry (NSOPR) and federal/state criminal background checks.

How to Apply: Qualified and interested applicants should forward a cover letter, their résumé, and a list of three professional references to Amy Gladding, HR Coordinator, at agladding@thegreatbasininstitute.org. Please include where you found this position posted. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 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.