Title: Botanical Research Crew Leader
Pay Rate: $12.47/hr
Start Date: October 1, 2017
Hours: 1800
Number of positions: 1
Supervisor: Dr. Elizabeth Middleton, Grassland Botanist, Missouri
Department of Conservation
Summary: The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Grassland Systems
Field Station is recruiting 1 Botanical Research Crew Leader to assist in
collecting vegetation data in the tallgrass prairies of West-Central and
Southwest Missouri. The Crew Leader will play a key role in refining a 15
year project investigating the effect of patch burn grazing on remnant
prairie plant communities. This position offers an opportunity to continue
to develop plant identification skills, learn about tallgrass prairie
ecology and large-scale project design, and to interact with professionals
in the field. The Crew Leader will be able to gain additional skills
through a variety of formal and informal training opportunities (e.g., MS
Access, ARC GIS, plant identification, ATV safety)
Duties: Summer project tasks include identifying 200+ prairie plants to
species, assessing presence/absence and estimating plant coverage. The
Crew Leader will be responsible for collecting presence/absence data
independently, as well as working with a botany technician to collect plant
community diversity data. The Crew Leader will be responsible for some
data entry, and some data quality control in MS Access. The Crew Leader
will motivate and lead a summer botany crew (3 others) in the absence of
the Grassland Botanist. Fall-Winter project tasks include continued
development of a field plant manual, protocol and reviewing and improving
sampling logistics, refinement and maintenance of a process to manage
collected unknown plant material (both physical and digital), and
assistance in development of crew training materials. Other duties include
maintaining a herbarium database, leading in the pressing and mounting of
any collected plant material, assisting in training a summer botany crew,
and becoming familiar with the Heritage Database, and volunteering for
other Field Station projects, as time allows.
Qualifications: The Crew Leader must have a Bachelor’s Degree in Botany,
Ecology or related field and have completed plant taxonomy or similar
course. Demonstrated field botany experience is highly desired. Experience
in leading a field crew is preferred. The Crew Leader must have interest
in learning about tallgrass prairie plant communities. The Crew Leader
must be detail-oriented, self-motivated, enthusiastic, possess a strong
work ethic and excellent organizational skills. The Crew Leader must also
possess leadership qualities and the ability to coordinate field efforts to
efficiently meet research project objectives in the allotted timeframe.
The Crew Leader must work effectively with minimal supervision and as part
of a research team. The Crew Leader must be able to hike 3 + miles a day
with 15-20 lbs. of gear on uneven terrain, endure heat and high humidity,
and orient plots with the use of a compass. In May-September, the Crew
Leader will be required to work long hours outdoors, often with work
beginning at 6:30 am, and will be expected to endure harsh field conditions
(sun, heat, humidity, ticks, chiggers, briars, and hills). The Crew Leader
must be able to travel statewide including monthly overnight stays. The
Crew Leader must have a valid driver’s license and have demonstrated
experience driving, be comfortable driving 4-wheel drive trucks, hauling
ATVs on trailers, and backing trailers. A field vehicle is provided. The
Crew Leader must be willing to live with no internet access in the
available MDC-sponsored housing. The Crew Leader must be able to share
field housing with other botany crew members or other field station hourly
staff. The successful candidate must submit to a drug screen following
offer of employment.
For more information or questions, contact:
Elizabeth Middleton
Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Grassland Botanist
Phone: 660-885-6981 x 230
Email (preferred): elizabeth.middle...@mdc.mo.gov
Application:
Please send the following materials to Elizabeth Middleton
(elizabeth.middle...@mdc.mo.gov). Please put ‘Botanical Research Crew
Leader” in the subject line of your email.
1) electronic cover letter,
2) detailed CV, and
3) phone and email contact information for at least 2 professional
references, including a recent employer.
Deadline: Position will remain open until filled
