LAND HEALTH ASSESSMENT (LHA) FIELD TECHNICIAN: A Temporary, Full-time Position. Pay: $6,635.00 Living Allowance, /$1,515.55AmeriCorps Education Award, Student loan forbearance and interest accrual, Field per diem. Dates: A 26-week appointment is anticipated. Initial contract duration will be January 25th – April 22nd 2016 with potential for extension, pending positive performance review and available funding to 22 July, 2016.
Location: Bureau of Land Management, Southern Nevada District, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Qual: Bachelor’s degree in one of the major natural sciences; applicants with a background in soils or botany preferred. • Understanding of basic principles related to field science and data collection. • Ability to utilize dichotomous keys for plant identification; knowledge of and/or field experience in plant ecology of the Mojave Desert region preferred. • Familiarity in describing and sampling soils; experience in soil texturing, identifying soil horizons, and soil properties preferred. • Ability to navigate and set a bearing using a compass, and to read a topographical map. • Ability to collect data using handhelds unit. • 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, desert environment for up to 8 days at a time. • Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license and the ability to operate a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads. • 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 lifetime or the equivalent of two full-time education awards), and (3) pass National Sex Offender Public Registry (NSOPR) and federal criminal background checks.
Duties: The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, Southern Nevada District Office, is recruiting two field technicians for a land health assessment team. This team will consist of three members, including the district LHA crew leader and two technicians with diverse areas of training and experience able to work cooperatively in a field-based setting. The overall objective of the team is to perform land health assessments through inventory and monitoring of geomorphic, vegetative and hydrologic characteristics of the landscape. Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) methods are implemented to collect quantitative landscape data, while Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health (IIRH) methods are implemented to collect qualitative landscape data. Analysis of soil pits dug on site will be used to confirm Ecological Site Descriptions (ESDs) to aid inaccurate assessments. All data collected are entered into an electronic database, and will be utilized for adaptive management decisions, restoration projects, and/or to improve wildlife habitat to achieve a healthy and productive ecological condition. General Field duties include walking long distances over uneven terrain while carrying equipment. Field technicians will collect GPS and photo points, identify soil characteristics, and collect vegetation composition and distribution data. Office tasks may include assisting with data organization, plant identification, processing and QA/QC of databases, post-processing GPS points, and contributing to report writing. Overnight camping will be required for up to 8 days at a time. This position will require travel to and from field sites and field camping in order to ensure that all transects are successfully completed during the field season. Implementation may require long hours including early mornings and weekends. The timeframe for field data collection will generally be either 4 days on (Mon-Thurs) or8 days on (Wed‐Wed) – followed by either 3 days off (Fri-Sun) or 6 days off (Thu‐Tue). Field Course: Participate in a field-based AIM and IIRHmethodologies, field protocols training, and additional BLM trainings. This position will be based out of the BLM Southern Nevada District Office in Lavages, Nevada. Terrain 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, and potentially cold, damp winter weather. Resources include desert tortoise habitat, big game habitat, Wilderness Study Areas, active grazing allotments, abandoned mine lands, historic and prehistoric cultural sites, and wild horse management areas.
Appl: Send Cover Letter, Resume and 3 references.
Contact: The Great Basin Institute, RA Recruitment at Rarecruitment@thegreatbasininstitute.org. Please write, “LHA Southern Nevada Tech” in the email subject line and include in your cover letter where you found this position posted.
Filing Date: 12/5/15.