*Leads* https://www.thegreatbasininstitute.org/job/vegetationhabitat-assessment-field-lead/
Position Objectives: In cooperation with the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), The Great Basin Institute is recruiting three experienced individuals to serve as Vegetation/Habitat Assessment Field Leads. The overall objective of this habitat assessment effort is to perform detailed vegetation and site data collection at locations where habitat restoration projects will be undertaken and at sites where restoration is underway. Additional sites will be sampled with a focus on climate change and sage-grouse habitat. Restoration project sites are located in Wyoming sagebrush, pinyon-juniper woodlands and mountain sagebrush communities across northern Nevada. Restoration projects are focused on wildlife habitat including Sage Grouse (endangered species candidate), Mule deer, and a variety of non-game species. The vegetation and site data are used to help guide proper treatment design and to provide a baseline data set against which treatment effects may be measured. Duties: This position will play a vital role in facilitating the effective and efficient collection of monitoring data. General field duties include regular use of best practices for safety, walking long distances over uneven and sometimes steep terrain, collecting GPS points of sampling plots and other plot-specific data, observing wildlife, identifying vegetative demographics and distribution, and taking photo-points. Sampling vegetation structure and composition using the Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) methodology will be the principle focus of field data collection, resulting in estimates for foliar cover, canopy gap, herbaceous and woody density, and plant species richness. AIM field data will be entered into the electronic Database for Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment (DIMA). The Field Leads will also coordinate with the GBI Project Lead and the NDOW Lead for promoting a culture of safety, project planning, equipment organization and maintenance, vehicle coordination, field protocol and data QA/QC, and team deployment and supervision. The successful applicant 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, and creating reports with GIS maps, pictures and concise field notes. This position may require pre-season travel to and from local field sites and long hours including early mornings and weekends. The timeframe for field data collection will generally be 8 days on (Wed-Wed) – for travel to sampling region, field sampling and on-site camping, and return to GBI/NDOW in Reno or NDOW in Ely – followed by 6 days off (Thu-Tue). Time will also be spent in the GBI or NDOW offices performing data entry and QA/QC, plant identification, and other office-related tasks. A traditional Mon-Fri schedule will be adopted for time spent training during the beginning of the field season and post-season office work involving data QA/QC and report writing. Contract length: 11 April, 2016 - October 14, 2016 (27 weeks) Compensation: $1392 bi-weekly salary + field per diem Health Insurance: Provided Location: Two lead positions will be based out of GBI’s Reno, NV office and field work will be staged from the Nevada Department of Wildlife Reno office. The third lead position and field crew will be based out of the Nevada Department of Wildlife Ely office (excepting training activities and some post-season work, which will take place in Reno, NV). Field sites are located through northern Nevada, and may require several hours up to a full day of travel time to access. 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 and nights with temperatures possibly dropping to near freezing at high elevations. Resources include big game habitat, Wilderness Study Areas, active grazing allotments, abandoned mine lands, historic and prehistoric cultural sites, and wild horse management areas. *Technicians* https://www.thegreatbasininstitute.org/job/vegetationhabitat-assessment-field-technician/ Position Objectives: In cooperation with the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), The Great Basin Institute is recruiting nine AmeriCorps members to serve as part of an inter-disciplinary vegetation/habitat assessment team. The overall objective of this habitat assessment effort is to perform detailed vegetation and site data collection at locations where habitat restoration projects will be undertaken and at sites where restoration is underway. Additional sites will be sampled with a focus on climate change and sage-grouse habitat. Restoration project sites are located in Wyoming sagebrush, pinyon-juniper woodlands and mountain sagebrush communities across northern Nevada. Restoration projects are focused on wildlife habitat including Sage Grouse (endangered species candidate), Mule deer, and a variety of non-game species. The vegetation and site data are used to help guide proper treatment design and to provide a baseline data set against which treatment effects may be measured. Duties: General field duties include regular use of best practices for safety, walking long distances over uneven and sometimes steep terrain, collecting GPS locations of sampling plots and other plot-specific data, observing wildlife, identifying vegetative demographics and distribution, and taking photo-points. Sampling vegetation structure and composition using the Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) methodology will be the principle focus of field data collection, resulting in estimates for foliar cover, canopy gap, herbaceous and woody density, and plant species richness. AIM field data will be entered into the electronic Database for Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment. This position will require travel to and from field sites and extended field camping in order to ensure that all transects are successfully completed during the field season. Implementation may require long hours including early mornings and weekends. The timeframe for field data collection will generally be 8 days on (Wed-Wed) – for travel to sampling region, field sampling and on-site camping, and return to GBI/NDOW in Reno or NDOW in Ely – followed by 6 days off (Thu-Tue). Time will also be spent in the GBI office or Reno and Ely NDOW offices performing data entry and QA/QC, plant identification, and other office-related tasks. A traditional Mon-Fri schedule will be adopted for time spent training during the beginning of the field season and post-season office work involving data QA/QC and report writing. Timeline and Compensation: 21-week positions (7) Contract length: April 25, 2016 - September 16, 2016 Living Allowance: $6,300 AmeriCorps Education Award*: $2,200 Monthly housing stipend: $350 Student loan forbearance Field camping per diem Health insurance provided 15-week positions (2) Contract length: May 9, 2015 – August 19, 2015 Living Allowance: $4,500 AmeriCorps Education Award*: $1,527.78 Monthly housing stipend: $350 Student loan forbearance Field camping per diem Health insurance provided * AmeriCorps Education Award may be used for past, present or future education experiences, including payment of qualified federal student loans.
