Field Ecologist, Eastern Research Group

Arizona (Remote); Golden, CO; Salt Lake City, UT

Position Title: Field Ecologist

Organization: Eastern Research Group (ERG)

Location: Arizona (Remote); Golden, CO; Salt Lake City, UT

Organization Overview: Eastern Research Group, Inc. (ERG) is a research and consulting firm that provides a wide range of support to federal, state, and commercial clients. ERG offers multidisciplinary teams with nationally recognized skills in engineering, science, economics, public health, informational technology, and communications. They hire people with the best minds and then provide them with a vibrant and flexible environment in which to develop their careers. The qualified individual must be highly motivated with the skills to prioritize, perform, and communicate effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Position Overview:  ERG seeks highly motivated Field Ecologists to support their ongoing ecological monitoring work with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Terrestrial Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) program during the 2024 field season. Each team consists of one crew lead and two technicians. Together, they will assess the health of BLM lands across Arizona, Utah, and Wyoming using the AIM strategy and methodology. Crews follow established field protocols to conduct vegetation identification of species, gather species cover and composition data, collect soil stability and soil profile descriptions of plant production, collect data utilizing ruggedized tablets, and assess special sage grouse habitat. The crew may also assist with other public land management projects involving wildlife, range, and forestry. The crew member will continuously learn the local flora and build botanical knowledge of common species.

ERG is currently soliciting multiple ecological monitoring field ecologist positions; both crew leads and technicians. More information on the BLM’s AIM strategy can be found on the AIM website.

The field season is expected to go through August/September of 2024, and there may be potential to work on other ERG projects based on work performance and skill.

Duties: 

  • Conduct field work consisting of vegetation sampling, plant identification, and soil classification at sites located throughout Arizona, Wyoming, and/or Utah
  • Participate in pre- and post-hitch activities, including hitch planning and logistics, plot tracking, data submission, data QA/QC, cleaning and maintenance of trucks and gear, and reporting
  • Drive and navigate to remote sites in a 4WD vehicle, often on unpaved and unimproved roads for extended periods of time (2-3 hours)
  • Camp for up to eight days at a time (a ‘Hitch’), often on remote BLM land, with little to no amenities (i.e. not a designated campsite). Backcountry camping/backpacking is not required; crews will car camp next to the work vehicle. One hotel night is offered per hitch for crews to refresh and submit data.
  • Hike on rough, uneven terrain (up to 6 miles day) in variable weather conditions, carrying sampling gear weighing up to 40 lbs.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • B.S. or working toward a degree in a natural science field
  • Field experience, including the ability to work in adverse weather conditions for extended periods of time including extreme heat and monsoonal rains, with the possibility of encountering hazardous wildlife (i.e. rattlesnakes, scorpions)
  • Experience and willingness to spend multiple days (up to 10 days at a time) car-camping in remote areas; familiarity or willingness to learn and adhere to best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles
  • Be physically capable of standing and walking (up to 6 miles/day on rough, uneven terrain), bending and crouching for long periods of time, and lifting/carrying items that weigh up to 40 pounds, in variable weather conditions, including heat upwards of 100-degrees (F)
  • Must love the outdoors and be passionate about learning the world of botany, soils, and rangeland ecology
  • Excellent communication skills, and ability to work both independently and as part of a team
  • Ability to maintain a positive attitude and adapt to changing conditions
  • Quality data collection skills and attention to detail
  • Valid US driver’s license and insurable driving record
  • Ability to pass background checks (federal, state, education, criminal and driving record)
  • Experience with and knowledge of Microsoft Suite Software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access)

Preferred Qualifications:

  • College Graduate (Bachelor’s, at minimum) with degree in ecology, botany, soil science, agriculture, range, plant ecology, natural resource management, or a related field
  • Current or ability to obtain CPR, First Aid, Wilderness First Aid, and Defensive Driver Training certificate
  • At least one year of experience using taxonomic keys to identify plants to species in the field, from photos, and from pressed specimens
  • Familiarity with Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming flora (generally sagebrush steppe, Great Basin, Colorado Plateau, and Sonoran Desert)
  • Experience or education using taxonomic soil keys or equivalent mechanism to identify ecological sites and using soil series descriptions or equivalent soil datasets
  • Experience digging quality soil pits to characterize and document soil horizons and hand texturing various types of soils
  • Crew Leads should have experience managing field crews or several seasons of conducting field work. Ideal candidates would have strong plant identification skills
  • UTV and trailer towing experience. Please highlight if you have this experience

Start/End Dates:

  • February 26, 2024 through August/September 2024, for positions based out of Arizona (Remote), Salt Lake City, UT, and Golden, CO
  • April 1, 2024 through August/September 2024, for positions based out of Salt Lake City
  • May 1, 2024 through August/September 2024, for positions based out of Golden and Salt Lake City

You do not have to live in these locations, but you would be required to start and end your hitches there with the rest of your crew.

Salary/Pay: $20 – $24 an hour

Compensation & Benefits:
  • $24/ hour for Crew Leads and $20/ hour for Technicians (overtime is paid at time and a half for both technicians and crew leads)
  • $30 Camping per diem per every night camped while in the field
  • $15 Meals and Incidental (M&IE) per diem while in the field
  • Mid-hitch hotel to rest, refresh, and submit data
  • Medical insurance offered and accrued sick leave (amount dependent on length of employment)

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