Environment Vegetation Monitoring Technician
Job Description
The Great Basin Institute’s Ecological Monitoring Program focuses on collecting monitoring data to inform conservation and management of natural, cultural, and recreational resources in the Intermountain West, while providing emerging professionals opportunities to begin or enhance their careers. This program provides hands-on experience with rangeland surveys, terrestrial vegetation monitoring, and field data collection.
One component of the program works in cooperation with the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) to implement NDOW’s Land Health Assessment (LHA) program. The goal of the LHA program is to provide ecological monitoring data to inform conservation planning and adaptive management decisions. This data is used by resource specialists and land managers to inform future resource management decisions focused on protecting Nevada’s biodiversity and restoring productive terrestrial ecosystems to support wildlife.
For the 2023 field season, GBI is recruiting Vegetation Monitoring Technicians to work with GBI and NDOW staff. Each Tech will work under the supervision of a Crew Lead to characterize vegetation using LHA protocols, on various sampling sites across northern Nevada. Monitoring projects are predominantly located in sagebrush ecosystems and focused on post-fire restoration, habitat improvement, and baseline habitat condition. This opportunity differs from other GBI Ecological Monitoring positions as the primary monitoring goal is to conduct long-term vegetation monitoring, excluding soil indicators.
During the first month of training, the typical schedule is 5 days on (Monday-Friday) and 2 days off. During field work, car camping for 8 day “hitches” (Wednesday-Wednesday) in remote locations will be required, followed by 6 days off (Thursday-Tuesday). At the end of the field season, there is one week of office work, primarily focused on data QC and season wrap-up.
Field work will include:
• Maintaining safety awareness and practices;
• Extensive 4×4 driving on unmaintained roads;
• Navigating off-trail to sampling sites;
• Establishing or revisiting sampling plots and transects;
• Collecting vegetation data (including species inventory, forb diversity, species abundance, sagebrush shape, foliar cover, canopy gap, and herbaceous and woody heights);
• Taking photo-points;
• Making qualitative treatment assessments;
• Identifying plants to species in the field and/or using dichotomous keys; and
• Supporting extensive QA/QC data checks.
Compensation and Benefits:
21-week appointment total approximate Bi-weekly Compensation before taxes:
– Office: $1,344.48
– Average Field: $1,596.48
16-week appointment total approximate Bi-weekly Compensation before taxes:
– Office: $1,222
– Average Field: $1,474
How to Apply
For more information and to apply, please visit the Great Basin Institutes website.44 total views, 1 today