Centennial Valley, MT

Job Title: Field Technician

Organization: Central Valley Association

Location: Centennial Valley, MT

Overview: The Centennial Valley Association (CVA) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Montana are seeking one dedicated individual to join our Team as a Field Technician for the 2022 field season. This will be a seasonal, joint position between both the CVA and TNC. The CVA and TNC are partners in the Centennial Valley, working together to maintain and conserve the Centennial Valley’s biological integrity while preserving a shared, working landscape for future generations of stewards, cattle ranching, wildlife, and fisheries.

CVA is a locally based, landowner-driven nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve traditional ranching as a way of life in the Centennial Valley and to maintain quality open space, wildlife habitat, water quality, and wildlife migration corridors as they exist today for future generations. CVA unites local ranchers, community members, agencies, NGOs, and other groups to collaborate on local conservation issues. CVA fosters a range of initiatives that include invasive weed management, maintaining and monitoring migration corridors, drought awareness, and providing outreach and education opportunities for the community and visitors.

 The Field Technician will report directly to CVA’s Executive Coordinator and TNC’s Land Steward and Science Manager. The Field Technician will be responsible for participating in and supporting various field and preserve projects that serve the Centennial Valley community, landscape, and partner organizations.

Duties:

• Monitoring and mapping invasive weed infestations using a GPS and ArcGIS.
• Treating invasive weed infestations with chemical and mechanical techniques, which includes backpack and hand-gun herbicide applications, as well as hand-pulling.
• Participating in invasive weed management weeks and community spray days with partners, landowners, and volunteers. 
• Assisting with the implementation of native plant revegetation.
• Constructing and maintaining temporary electric fence.
• Field data collection for freshwater, rangeland ecology, and adaptive management programs.
• Taking streamflow, staff gage, and rain gauge measurements. • Collecting, entering, and analyzing data into spreadsheets, databases, and/or ArcGIS.
• Developing reports for the community and partners on project progress/successes.
• Providing community and partner outreach and education via phone calls, emails, and posting information to kiosks located at the entrances to the Centennial Valley.
• General facility, property, vehicle, and equipment maintenance.
• Representing both organizations at community and partner events/meetings to provide support where needed.
• Communicating effectively with supervisory staff on a daily/weekly basis. 

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma and >1 year’s training or applicable job experience.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a remote, rural setting under sometimes adverse outdoor conditions.
• Ability to work well with others, with co-workers as housemates in a bunkhouse setting.
• Willingness to work with and learn from people with different backgrounds.
• Self-motivated, flexible, and safety-oriented. • Willing and able to take direction from CVA and TNC supervisory staff, partners, and community members.
• Experience with Microsoft Office programs.
• Experience with GPS and ArcGIS applications.
• Ability to spend multiple nights away at field sites.
• Must have a current state-issued driver’s license.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree/working towards bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management, Biology, Range Science, Agriculture, or related field, or >3 years applicable job experience in a natural resource or agricultural field, or a combination of both.
• Experience working and/or living in a rural, remote landscape.
• Experience working in grizzly bear territory. • Experience operating a full size, 4WD pickup truck and ATV/UTV on rough, dirt road conditions. A required ATV/UTV training course will be provided.
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills. • Experience working with ranchers or small, local communities.
• Developed data collection, entry, and analysis skills.
• Experience applying herbicide to invasive plant species.
• Experience with plant and animal identification, as well as using a dichotomous key.
• Experience with streamflow monitoring/comfortable in moving water.
• Familiarity with basic vehicle, housing, and equipment maintenance.
• Verizon cell phone service (this is the only carrier that works in the Centennial Valley).

Start/End Dates: May 23 – October 28

Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted from February 1 through February 28

How to Apply: Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three references to hiring@centennialvalleyassociation.org. Please include “2022 Field Tech” in the subject line. If there are any additional questions, contact the CVA’s Executive Coordinator, Kara Maplethorpe, at communityorg@centennialvalleyassociation.org or 715-681- 0795.