Lander and Pinedale, WY; Las Vegas and Elko, NV; Boise, ID; Missoula, MT

Position Title: Crew Lead, Field Technicians, and Riparian Botanists

Organization: University of Montana: Ecological Mapping Monitoring and Analysis group

Location: Lander and Pinedale, WY; Las Vegas and Elko, NV; Boise, ID; Missoula, MT

Organization Overview: The University of Montana is a flagship research institution with approximately 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The Ecological Mapping, Monitoring and Analysis group (EMMA) is part of the O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West, a regional studies and public education program. EMMA staff are engaged in mapping wetlands across the western US, including Alaska; and in carrying out inventory and monitoring projects for federal, state and tribal agencies.

The University of Montana (UM) O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West (OCRMW) is partnering with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to implement their Aquatic Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) strategy. This protocol is targeted at collecting standardized inventory and long-term hydrologic and biological data at multiple scales across BLM Districts in the Western U.S.

Position Overview:  They are currently recruiting Crew Leads, Technicians and Riparian Botanists with experience in fisheries, hydrology, ecology, and/or botany for data collection in Idaho, Nevada, and Wyoming from April through August/September (exact dates vary by project, see below).

Data collection will follow the AIM National Aquatic Monitoring Framework, specifically: 1) site evaluation, 2) water quality, 3) physical habitat and canopy cover, 4) macroinvertebrates, 5) photos, and 6) human influences. They will also implement vegetation assessment elements of the Multiple Indicator Monitoring (MIM) protocol. The field crews will consist of a Crew Lead, Technician, and Riparian Botanist.  All crews will be supported by Crew Managers and other professional EMMA staff. They ask seasonal staff to commit to the entire field season, practice safety awareness, and contribute to building a healthy, productive, and enjoyable work environment.

All positions are field-based and require primitive camping. Sampling sites may sometimes be near a town, but often the towns will have few amenities or entertainment, and crew members should plan to bring all their food with them each hitch. Expect that cell phone service from any carrier is poor to non-existent in many areas. Applicants should also understand that this is physically demanding work. Crews typically work eight consecutive 10-hour days, followed by a 6-day break, in all kinds of weather, and frequently must navigate sketchy roads or carry awkward and heavy equipment across uneven terrain to access a site. The wadeable streams sampled range from a few inches deep to fast-flowing small rivers that require good balance and a willingness to be waist or chest deep in water.

UM supplies all necessary monitoring equipment, including vehicles, to carry out the work. THey provide some group camping gear (stoves, coolers); however, individuals are responsible for their personal camping gear (tents, sleeping bags). They can lend camping gear on a case-by-case basis.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Aquatic Monitoring Field Technician
  • A Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Aquatic Ecology, Fisheries, Hydrology, Water Resources or related subject. Experience may be substituted for up to two years of education.
  • A minimum of one season of field data collection. Several lab courses with extensive field work can satisfy this requirement. However, preference will be given to people who have collected aquatic or hydrologic data in a work setting.

• Aquatic Monitoring Field Crew Lead
  • A Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Aquatic Ecology, Fisheries, Hydrology, Water Resources or related subject.
  • A minimum of one full year or two full seasons of fish, macroinvertebrate, hydrology, or water quality field data collection. A completed M.S. degree with field work can satisfy this requirement.
  • Experience characterizing aquatic habitats in the field using standardized protocols, including establishing transects and thalweg profiles, determinations of bankfull width, stream classification (Rosgen or other), habitat complexity, and riparian vegetation.
  • Experience supervising technicians, volunteers or undergraduate students. Leadership in a volunteer or community organization, or in the military, can satisfy this requirement.
  • Experience managing gear and equipment for a crew, lab class, team, or other organizational unit.

• Riparian Botanist
  • Coursework in Botany, Ecology, Range Science, Wetland Ecology, Plant Taxonomy or closely related subject.  A completed B.S. or B.A. degree in a related subject preferred.  Herbarium, horticultural, restoration or other related field experience may substitute for academic qualifications.
  • Ability to identify riparian graminoids, forbs, shrubs and trees to species using dichotomous keys.  Knowledge of wetland and riparian plants of the Rocky Mountains and/or Intermountain West is preferred although those without wide experience in the West or in riparian environments are still encouraged to apply.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A basic understanding of how field protocols are used to conduct sampling and field data collection at assessment and monitoring sites.
• Experience with data entry and management using personal computers or tablets. Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) and preferably with ArcGIS Field Maps and Survey123.
• Experience navigating and collecting coordinates with hand-held GPS units.
• Experience with using Google Earth or GIS to examine aerial imagery.
• Experience driving and maintaining 4WD trucks and other vehicles, especially on rough and unmaintained roads. Valid driver’s license and clean driving record (DUI or other serious convictions need not apply).
• Demonstrated ability to work productively as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals and to work independently as required.
• Experience in and willingness to spend multiple days camping in the field where multiple hazards (snakes, bears, deadfall, lightning, poison ivy, fires, etc.) may be encountered.
• Willingness to work irregular hours in harsh environments and challenging weather and carry 40-50 pounds in a backpack over uneven terrain.

Salary/Pay: 

• Position is full time, temporary (< 4 months).
• Compensation is based on qualifications and experience.
  • Monitoring Technicians earn $18-19 an hour
  • Crew Leads earn $20-22 an hour
  • Riparian Botanists earn $20-22 an hour
• All positions include (tax-free):
  • $268 meal per diem per 8-day hitch
  • Waders and boots (kept by employee on completion of the season, a ~$300 value)
  • Field/camping equipment (kept by employee upon completion of field season, ~$300 value)

Application Deadline: February 1, 2024

How to Apply: Please use the online application to view the full job description as well as how to apply.