In cooperation with the BLM Idaho Salmon Field Office, GBI is recruiting one Field Lead to work cooperatively with BLM Resource Managers and two GBI Vegetation Monitoring Field Technicians. The Field Lead will coordinate the three-person field crew to characterize vegetation using the Sage-grouse Habitat Assessment Framework, for which training will be provided. Duties include following established field protocols to conduct vegetation sampling and collect field data at designated sampling sites within pastures and grazing allotments.
Field work will include maintaining safety awareness and practices, navigating off-trail to sampling sites, establishing plots and transects, and collecting vegetation data (including foliar cover, herbaceous and woody heights, sagebrush shape, and nested forb frequency), and photo-points. Additional duties will include coordination and oversight of field safety and logistics, scheduling, database management, quality assurance and quality control data checks, and reporting. Field data will be used by BLM Natural Resource Specialists to inform decisions regarding habitat assessment on grazing allotments and other land management issues of the area. Field camping will be required. Location: The jurisdiction of the Salmon Field office includes BLM lands that span across 493,000 acres of northeastern Idaho. The area comprises a wide range of habitats and geography, and diverse plant and animal populations. The BLM Salmon Field Office manages a wide range of multiple land uses primarily including grazing, recreation, mining, fisheries, fire and realty. Terrain and climate of the survey region is typical of the Great Basin Desert. Vegetation types sampled will generally be within upland sagebrush steppe, with few sites in forested or riparian areas. Compensation: o $1,400 Bi-weekly Salary o $75/Week Housing Stipend o $15.00 Field per diem Timeline: o 9 June – 26 July 2016 (7 weeks) o Full-time, 40 hours per week minimum Qualifications: Technical • Leadership experience; • 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 Great Basin Desert and Intermountain region; • Experience in rangeland management and protocols of the Great Basin Desert and Intermountain region; • Experience conducting plant surveys using various monitoring protocols, including standard rangeland monitoring protocols, photo plots, and site observations; • Experience with data entry and management; • Experience with technical writing and/or producing written project summary reports; • 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). Other • 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; • Experience leading a field crew; • 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. 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 “Field Lead for Salmon BLM” 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.
