U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, Fort Collins Science Center NATIONAL LAND COVER DATABASE SHRUB/GRASS MAPPING PROJECT
Position: Biological Science Technician, Full-Time, Temporary (1 individual) Duty Station: Fort Collins, Colorado Salary: GG-0404-06: $18.13/hr.; GG-0404-07: $20.15/hr. Start Date: First half of May, 2014 End Date: Last half of October, 2014 Project Description: This position supports the National Land Cover Database (NLCD) Shrub/Grass Mapping Project sponsored by the BLM in partnership with the Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics Consortium (MRLC). The project is using Landsat remote sensing data to produce five new map products (percent bare ground, percent shrub cover, percent sagebrush cover, percent litter cover, and percent herbaceous cover) for the NLCD. This position will specifically support the shrub/grass mapping effort across Idaho, Nevada, and Utah. Duties: Incumbent will gather vegetation quantity information (primarily ground cover) on public lands in the western United States. Travel will be extensive, and incumbent will be on the road for two to four weeks at a time. Incumbent must be willing and able to work and camp independently in remote locations. Incumbent will be expected to navigate to and assess pre- selected sites, as well as to distinguish and perform ad hoc sampling across the entire range of shrub-steppe habitat types in a given study area. Put simply, you will spend many long days by yourself in the middle of nowhere, driving and hiking through rough and rugged terrain to perform the same task over and over while exposed to heat, dust, wind, rain, lightning, insects, and snakes. We hope you cant wait. Duties will include: (1) operating a government-owned 4x4 vehicle on undeveloped and technically challenging roads; (2) navigating with maps, compass, GPS technology, and GIS software; (3) hiking off-trail in rugged terrain to reach vegetation sampling sites; (4) accurately surveying and delineating sample units using compass, GPS, and GIS; (5) accurately identifying native and invasive plants and consistently assessing habitat conditions; (6) using ArcGIS to create shapefiles and enter attribute data on the fly in the field using a ruggedized tablet computer; (7) diligently maintaining and backing-up all data; (9) submitting accurate records (time sheets, vehicle logs, etc.) in a timely fashion; and (10) working with project members to coordinate efforts and perform other logistical tasks. Physical Demands: Field work will be strenuous at times. Position demands hiking moderate to long distances over untracked terrain in varying temperatures, carrying equipment, and lifting objects weighing up to 40 pounds. Qualifications: A valid drivers license is required. Basic qualifications are as follows: GG-06: Experience or education beyond high school as described below is required: 1 year, 9 months field party experience OR 4 years sub- professional experience (technical work performed in support of field or laboratory investigation relating to the biological sciences which provided basic knowledge or skills in gathering, recording, and assembling scientific data; using scientific instruments; setting up and operating test apparatus; and manipulating quantitative data; may include assisting professional employees in such duties.) OR 4 years college study related to biology plus 3 months lab or field work experience. Satisfactory completion of a field course in biology may be substituted for the 3 months of field and/or laboratory experience. GG-07: Experience or education beyond high school as described below is required: 2 years, 9 months field party experience OR 5 years sub- professional experience (described above) OR 5 years college study (with 18 hours of graduate level course work or equivalent) related to biology plus 3 months lab or field work experience. Satisfactory completion of a field course in biology may be substituted for the 3 months of field and/or laboratory experience. Extensive field experience in plant identification and habitat assessment, real-world knowledge of ArcGIS software, and a demonstrated ability to work independently under adverse field conditions are essential for this grade. Please submit a cover letter (indicating the grade(s) you are applying for) and résumé, or any questions, to: Collin Homer, [email protected] Submission Deadline: March 19, 2014
