Reno, NV

Position Title: Ecological Monitoring Technician

Organization: Great Basin Institute

Location: Reno, NV

Organization Overview: The Great Basin Institute is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and service through the west. The Institute’s mission is to advance applied science and ecological literacy through community engagement and agency partnerships, supporting national parks, forest, open spaces and public lands.

Position Overview: Great Basin Institute (GBI) is recruiting Ecological Monitoring Soils and Vegetation Technicians to work with GBI and BLM staff. Each technician will work with one other technician under the supervision of a Field Lead to characterize vegetation using the terrestrial AIM core methods. In some instances, Habitat Assessment Framework (HAF), and/or other supplemental protocols will be performed, for which training will be provided. Aside from core AIM sampling, any supplemental protocols implemented will vary by location. Duties include following established field protocols to perform vegetation sampling and field data collection at new and existing sampling plots. Data will be used by resource specialists and land managers to inform decisions regarding land management at various temporal and spatial scales. During field work, car camping for 7 night “hitches” in remote locations will typically be required.

Duties:

• Maintaining safety awareness and practices
• Extensive 4×4 driving on unmaintained roads
• Navigating off-trail to sampling sites
• Establishing sampling plots and transects
• Identifying and describing soil horizons to help verify ecological site descriptions (ESDs)
• Collecting vegetation data (including species inventory, forb diversity, species abundance, sagebrush shape, foliar cover, canopy gap, and herbaceous and woody heights)
• Taking photo-points

Qualifications:

• Experience, education, or a combination of both in botany and/or range management to meet the following(Crew Leads should have education and experience with plants identification):
  • • Bachelor’s degree in botany, biology, ecology, or rangeland ecology or other natural resources
    • At least 9 semester hours in plant or biological sciences.
  • And/or
    • Bachelor’s degree in plant or soil science or similar with at least 9 semester hours in soils or a minimum of 1 year of field data collection describing soils. Any of the 4 certifications from the Soil Science Society of America may substitute for education or experience.

Start Date: April 12 (6 month contract)

Salary/Pay: $18 – 20 depending on experience

How to Apply: For more information and to apply, please visit the Great Basin Institutes website.