> > > https://www.thegreatbasininstitute.org/job/aim-vegetation-monitoring-field-technicians-palm-springs-ca/ > > In cooperation with the BLM-California Desert District Office, Palm Springs/South Coast Field Office, GBI is recruiting four Field Technicians to work cooperatively with BLM Resource Managers and GBI Vegetation Monitoring Field Leads. Each Field Lead will coordinate a field crew (one Lead and two Technicians) to characterize vegetation using the Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) protocol, for which training will be provided by the Jornada Experimental Range in Tucson, AZ during 22-26 February. Duties include following established field protocols to conduct vegetation assessments and collect field data at designated sampling sites in areas targeted for solar power development.
Field work will include maintaining safety awareness and practices, navigating off-trail to sampling sites, establishing plots and transects, identifying and describing soil horizons, and collecting vegetation data (including species inventory, foliar cover, canopy gap, and herbaceous and woody heights) and photo-points. Field data will be used by BLM Natural Resource Specialists to inform decisions regarding solar energy installations and other land management issues of the area. Terrain and climate of the survey region is typical of southwestern deserts. Field camping will be required. Funding for the full duration of this work is pending. Please follow this link for a video that highlights the BLM’s national strategy for landscape-scale data capture across the western states using AIM: http://youtu.be/LciTBPG2-Ss Location: The jurisdiction of the Palm Springs/South Coast Field office includes BLM lands within four counties of southern CA – Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Diego, comprising a wide range of habitats and geography, and diverse plant and animal populations. The focus of this work is on the Riverside East Solar Energy Zone (RESEZ), designated for solar development in 2012. The RESEZ is approximately 150,000 acres and contains several large-scale solar projects that have been established, or are in the process of being built. The region is bisected by Interstate 10 and a major transmission corridor. Prior to 2002, the area was subject to infrequent grazing, but has been closed to grazing since then. Many federally-designated wilderness areas span the study region and protect the habitats of the threatened desert tortoise and a number of endemic plant species. During the 1940s, the area was used as part of the Army’s Desert Training Center, and the area remains culturally significant as it contains several ancient geoglyphs. Compensation: o $3,820 Living Allowance o $1,212.44 AmeriCorps Education Award o Student loan forbearance and interest accrual o $75/week Housing Stipend o Camping per diem o Health Insurance provided (ACA-compliant, eligible on first day of work) *AmeriCorps Education Award may be used for past, present or future education experiences, including payment of qualifying federal student loans. Loan forbearance and accrued interest payment on qualifying student loans is also available. Timeline: o 21 February - 14 April 2016 (8 weeks)** o Possibility of extending to similar position in other BLM locations throughout the West (Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, or Utah) o Full-time, 40 hours per week ** Duration of position is contingent upon funding Qualifications: Technical requirements: • Bachelor’s Degree in Life Sciences, such as: Botany, Wildlife Biology, Range Ecology, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Resources or related subject; • Coursework in plant taxonomy and/or systematics (transcripts may be requested); • Experience identifying plants in the field and using a dichotomous key; • Familiarity with native and invasive plants of the Mojave and Colorado Desert and associated natural resource issues preferred; • Experience in describing and identifying soil horizons; • Experience conducting plant surveys using various monitoring protocols, including standard rangeland monitoring protocols, photo plots, and site observations; • Experience with data entry and management; • Ability to read, interpret and navigate using topographic maps; • Experience navigating and collecting coordinates with hand-held GPS units; • Experience creating maps and performing basic functions with GIS software (ArcMap); and • Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access). Additional requirements: • Valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record; • Experience operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, often in narrow or sandy areas; • Ability to work productively as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals; • Ability to work independently; • Ability to communicate effectively with team members, agency staff, and a diverse public; • Excellent organizational skills; • Familiarity with best practices for field safety and low impact principles; • Experience in and willingness to spend multiple days camping in the field; • Willingness to work irregular hours (e.g., early mornings, late nights); and • Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, work in all types of weather conditions, traverse uneven terrain, carry upwards of 40 pounds in a backpack, and otherwise maintain good physical condition. • Meet AmeriCorps eligibility requirements: (1) U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status, (2) eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award (limit of four in a lifetime or the equivalent of two full-time education awards), (3) pass National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and federal criminal background checks, (4) adhere to the rules, regulations and code of conduct as specified in the Member Service Agreement; and (5) will not engage in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement. How to Apply: Qualified and interested applicants should forward a cover letter, their résumé, and a list of three professional references to RA Recruitment at [email protected]. Please write “Palm Springs AIM Tech” in the email subject line and include where you found this position in your cover letter. We conform to all the laws, statutes, and regulations concerning equal employment opportunities and affirmative action. We strongly encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply to all of our job openings. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, age, disability status, Genetic Information & Testing, Family & Medical Leave, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We prohibit Retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the employer or the government, or against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of any complaint or otherwise oppose discrimination.
