Integrated Upland Monitoring Field Crew Leader, CA

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the National Park Service Mojave Desert Network (MOJN) Inventory & Monitoring (I&M) program, is recruiting two Field Crew Leaders.  The crew leaders will coordinate two field crews to conduct vegetation and soil monitoring. The overall objective for this part of the project is to perform integrated upland monitoring in Mojave National Preserve, Death Valley National Park, and Manzanar National Historic Site, CA. Vegetation, soils, and target invasive species will be monitored for status and trends. Data collected is intended to provide decision-makers with indicators and insights on the upland communities.

Duties:

General field duties include implementing Integrated Upland (IU) protocols designed to address MOJN I&M’s vital signs (training will be provided); walking long distances over uneven terrain; establishing monitoring sites; collecting vegetation and soils data using established procedures; taking GPS points and photos at each site; ensuring the consistency of data quality during the field season; and data management. The Field Crew Leader will also coordinate with the Field Crew Supervisor and MOJN I&M staff for project planning, oversight of field safety and logistics, field protocol and data QA/QC, team deployment and supervision, equipment organization and maintenance. This is a supervisory position, thus the successful applicant must have strong communication skills (both verbal and written) and exhibit strong leadership and organization skills. Office tasks include data organization, processing and QA/QC; and compiling pictures and concise field notes. This position will require regular travel and camping during the field season in order to ensure that all plots are successfully completed during the field season, and may require long hours including early mornings and weekends.

Locations:

Mojave National Preserve (MOJA) is 1.6 million acres, with about 44% of it designated as Wilderness. While most of MOJA is made up of the Mojave Desert, components of the Great Basin desert are found in higher elevations and parts of the southern portion of the park are made up of the Sonoran desert. Terrain of the survey area is typical of the Mojave Desert with wide, long valleys bordered by mountain ranges. Field conditions include hot, arid days with high exposure to the sun, as well as cold, winter weather. Resources of the region include threatened and/or endangered species habitat, big game habitats, abandoned mine lands, and historic and prehistoric cultural sites.

At 3.4 million acres, Death Valley National Park (DEVA) is the largest U.S. National Park outside of Alaska. 91% of the park is designated Wilderness. DEVA is located in a transition zone between the Mojave Desert and the Great Basin. The Integrated Upland monitoring project will take place in creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) mixed desert shrubland community found within DEVA.

Manzanar National Historic Site (MANZ) encompasses the intersection of the Great Basin desert, Mojave Desert, and eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. Historically, MANZ was a fruit orchard, and then in World War II, a Japanese Internment camp. Rabbitbrush shrubland will be monitored as it is representative of the natural Great Basin vegetation found in the surrounding areas.

Rate of Pay: $1,360 biweekly salary

Contract length: 8 September 2015 – 18 March 2016; potential for extension pending funding and positive performance review

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in one of the major natural sciences;
• Applicant must be able to demonstrate strong leadership and good organizational skills;
• Understanding of basic principles related to botany, soil science, wildlife biology, geology, and/or hydrology;
• Applicant must possess strong plant identification skills; those with additional field soil identification experience will be given preference;
• Applicants should possess relevant or related field experience – knowledge of and/or experience in Mojave Desert and nearby regions preferred;
• Ability to navigate and set a bearing using a compass and to read a topographical map;
• Ability to collect, QA/QC, and post-process data using handheld GPS units;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with a diverse audience;
• Physically fit to work outdoors, carry personal and field equipment, and withstand working and camping in inclement weather;
• Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license and the ability to operate a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads;
• First Aid or Wilderness First Aid training preferred;
• Meet requirements of federal agency security background checks (i.e., FBI criminal and National Sex Offender Public Registry, Department of Interior Security Screening); and
• Comfortable with flexible weekly schedules as it may change in response to project needs.

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. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. No phone inquiries, please.

We conform 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.