Sage Grouse Field Technician

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management Battle Mountain, Carson City, Elko, Ely, Las Vegas, and Winnemucca District Offices, is recruiting range technicians for six (6) land health assessment teams. Teams will consist of three to four members including a GIS Lead. Each team will be comprised of environmental scientists (ecologists) having diverse areas of training and expertise to work cooperatively in a field based setting. The overall objective of the team is to perform land health assessments through inventory and monitoring (Proper Functioning Condition) of the geomorphic, hydrologic and vegetative characteristics; water quality and quantity sampling; wildlife habitat monitoring for Sage Grouse (endangered species candidate) and other indicator species. Data are utilized for management and adaptive management decisions, restoration projects, and/or to improve sage grouse habitat to achieve a healthy and productive ecological condition. The principle purpose of this project is to generate an understanding of the process used to develop land health assessments, including the data capture and evaluation.

Duties: 
General field duties include walking long distances over uneven terrain, assessing the physical processes of the stream corridor or meadow/spring features, collecting GPS points, observing and monitoring wildlife, identifying vegetative demographics and distribution, collecting water samples and water quality data, and taking photo-points. The Range Tech will also collaborate with the GIS Lead, GBI staff and the district BLM staff for project planning, equipment organization and maintenance, and data QA/QC. The successful applicants will have good communication skills (both verbal and written) and be team oriented. Office tasks may include assisting with data organization, processing and QA/QC; post-processing GPS points; and contributing to report writing.

Contract length: April 4, 2011 – October 14, 2011; potential for extension pending funding and performance review.

Rate of Pay: $8,457 living stipend + $2,675 education award

Field Course: Participate an undergraduate/graduate-level field-based environmental methods course on the Black Rock NCA

Location: Positions will be filled in each of the five following BLM Nevada Districts: Battle Mountain, Carson City, Elko, Ely, Las Vegas, and Winnemucca.  Terrain is typical of the Great Basin with wide long valleys bordered by mountain ranges. Field conditions include hot, arid days with high exposure to the sun, as well as cold, damp winter weather. Resources include big game habitat, Wilderness Study Areas, active grazing allotments, abandoned mine lands, historic and prehistoric cultural sites, and wild horse management areas.

Qualifications:
•    Bachelor’s degree in one of the major natural sciences
•    Understanding of basic principles related to field science and data collection
•    Ability to navigate and set a bearing using a compass and to read a topographical map;
•    Ability to collectdata using handheld GPS units, preferred;
•    Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with a diverse audience;
•    Willingness to work collaboratively in a team setting;
•    Physically fit to work outdoors, carry personal and field equipment, and withstand working and camping in an arid environment;
•    Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license and the ability to 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 the equivalent of two full-time education awards), and (3) pass National Sex Offender Public Registry (NSOPR) and federal criminal background checks.