Botanical Field Assistant CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
TITLE: Botanical Field Assistant CLOSING DATE: February 23, 2007 POSITION TERM: Full time temporary position, from March 26, 2007 to June 22, 2007. REPORTS TO: Day to day supervision will be under the Plant Ecologist. As appropriate, occasional projects may be under the supervision of other Conservancy staff. SUMMARY: Assist the Conservancys Plant Ecologist with the gathering and recording of plant community and plant species data. Approximately 90% of time will be spent in the field, with the remainder in office activities. Training will be provided as needed. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Assist in the gathering and recording of data on vegetation monitoring transects and plots distributed throughout the island. 2. Record locations of rare plants and invasive weeds using Global Positioning Systems (GPS), correct GPS data using internet files, and incorporate into the Conservancys Geographic Information System (GIS) as appropriate. 3. Enter data using appropriate word processing, database, and spreadsheet programs. 4. Participate in other Ecological Restoration projects as needed, including, but not limited to, rare plant surveys and monitoring, restoration planting and weeding, wildlife surveys, and fence building or repair. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Education: B.A. or B.S. in botany, biology, environmental studies, or equivalent from an accredited institution or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience in natural resource monitoring. Experience: Prior field experience with plant or animal identification, surveying and monitoring desired. Familiarity with California plant species and communities, ecological restoration, and conservation biology a plus. Good oral communication skills are needed. Ability to work both independently or as part of a team is essential. Technical skills: Knowledge of basic word processing and database programs needed. Experience with GPS and GIS a plus. Possession of Class C Drivers License. Four wheel drive experience a plus. Careful and conscientious; attention to detail essential. Physical demands: Including but not limited to: ability to work and hike outdoors in all weather conditions, ability to work long hours outdoors, ability to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Field work involves limited manual labor, hiking over steep, rugged terrain with occasionally unstable rocky substrate and cactus or poison oak, and routine handling of plants. Work environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The office environment (at Middle Ranch) has moderate noise levels and is a non-smoking environment. Field conditions are strongly weather-dependent and may be hot, dusty, cold, muddy, and/or wet depending on season and degree of exposure. Smoking is allowed only at limited designated field sites. Wild animals such as bison and rattlesnakes may also be encountered in the field and pose some threat. Must be willing to live and work on Catalina. The work week is considered as a forty hour, five day work week. Work will occasionally take place on weekends, in which case equivalent time off will be given the following week. Housing is provided (room may be shared with another same-sex individual, depending on availability). Limited transportation between Avalon and Middle Ranch will be provided, with details to be worked out when position is filled. Pay range: The preferred pay range is $10-12 per hour with housing included. TO APPLY: For further details or to submit cover letter and résumé, contact: Jaye Rhodes, Plant Ecologist Santa Catalina Island Conservancy P.O. Box 2739 Avalon, CA 90704 (310) 510-1299 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Santa Catalina Island, one of Californias eight Channel islands, is located 20 miles off the southern California coast. This 48,000 acre island supports a number of endemic plant and animal species as well as a variety of plant communities and habitats, including grassland, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and riparian. Although rugged and mountainous and somewhat remote, the island is a major tourist destination served by daily air and sea passenger service, weather permitting. Development is largely restricted to Avalon, the only incorporated city (population 3,200). The Santa Catalina Island Conservancy was established in 1972 as a 501(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of Santa Catalina Island. The Conservancy currently owns 42,179 acres (88%) of the island. Its mission is to be a responsible steward of its lands through a balance of conservation, education, and recreation. The Conservancy is a relatively small organization offering an opportunity to work at the interface between scientific research, active ecological restoration, environmental policy and public participation. The Conservancy is currently expanding its ecological restoration efforts. Nonnative animal and plant control programs are in place, a native plant nursery has been established on the island, long range planning for a variety of restoration projects is underway, and a volunteer labor force to work on restoration projects has been established.
