Contract length: May 7, 2012 (or upon availability) November 2, 2012; potential for extension pending funding and performance review
Rate of Pay: $17.40/hour Benefits: Health insurance, Paid personal leave, Participate in field-based environmental methods course on the Black Rock NCA Location: Battle Mountain, NV Position Objectives: The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the Nevada Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is recruiting an experienced environmental scientist (ecologist) to work cooperatively as District Lead on a three-person interdisciplinary field team. The overall objective of the team is to perform land health assessments through inventory and monitoring of NV public range lands and riparian systems (Proper Functioning Condition). Biotic (vegetation), hydrologic, and soil indicators are used in conjunction with quantitative data to inform conservation planning and adaptive management decisions. As a candidate species under the Endangered Species Act, specific emphasis will be placed on sage grouse habitat to achieve a healthy and productive ecological condition. Duties: General field duties include walking long distances over uneven terrain; implementation of standardized assessment and monitoring protocols ( 1. Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring [AIM] Strategy and 2. Interpreting Indicators for Range Health [IIRH]); generate sampling site locations using randomized selection; taking GPS points and photos at each site; data management; and reporting on a quarterly basis. The District Lead will also coordinate with the GBI State Program Lead and the BLM Lead for project planning, equipment organization and maintenance, vehicle coordination, field protocol and data QA/QC, and team deployment and supervision. The successful applicants must have strong communication skills (both verbal and written) and exhibit strong leadership and organization skills. Office tasks include data organization, processing and QA/QC; post-processing GPS points; utilizing GIS to edit polygons as well as point and line data; and to create reports with GIS maps, pictures and concise field notes. This position requires advanced GIS skills in ArcGIS 9.x and related mapping software and will play a vital role in facilitating the effective and efficient collection of monitoring data. This position will require pre-season travel to and from field sites with occasional camping in order to ground truth transect start points and to ensure that all transects are successfully completed during the field season and may require long hours including early mornings and weekends. Location: Terrain is typical of the Great Basin with wide long valleys bordered by mountain ranges. Field conditions include hot, arid days with high exposure to the sun, as well as cold, damp winter weather. Resources include big game habitat, Wilderness Study Areas, active grazing allotments, abandoned mine lands, historic and prehistoric cultural sites, and wild horse management areas. Qualifications: * Bachelors degree in one of the major natural sciences applicants with advanced degrees encouraged to apply; * Understanding of basic principles related to the fields of botany, soil science, wildlife biology, geology, and/or hydrology; * Applicants should possess relevant or related field experience knowledge of and/or experience working in sage grouse habitat and/or high desert ecology, preferable; * Ability to navigate and set a bearing using a compass and to read a topographical map; * Ability to collect, QA/QC, and post-process data using handheld GPS units, required; * Possess a clear understanding of GIS theory and applications, including experience with ArcGIS 9.x to create maps, manipulate and analyze data, and generate reports; * Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with a diverse audience; * Physically fit to work outdoors, carry personal and field equipment, and withstand working and camping in inclement weather during summer, fall, and/or early winter in northern Nevada; * Possess a clean, valid, state-issued drivers license and the ability to operate a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads; and * Meet requirements of federal agency security background checks (e.g.: FBI criminal and National Sex Offender Public Registry) How to Apply: Qualified and interested applicants should forward a cover letter, their résumé, and a list of three professional references to Stacy Mitchell, GBI HR Assistant, at [email protected]. Please include where you found this position posted. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or religion. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
