Native Seed Collection Crew Lead
Position Background: The Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition seeks a Crew
Lead to conduct native seed collection as part of the Bureau of Land
Management’s (BLM) Seeds of Success (SOS) program. The position will be
based in Ely, Nevada and occur throughout the Great Basin portion of the
Ely BLM District. The project is a collaboration with the Nevada State
BLM, Great Basin Native Plant Project, and other partners. Primary
responsibilities include: identifying, scouting, and collecting native
seed from target species populations, personnel management of two crew
members, following SOS protocols, coordinating with partners, and
maintaining a safe work environment. This position is expected to start in
early to mid-May and continue through September with the possibility of
work into October.
Crew Lead Description: The Crew Lead will be responsible for leading all
aspects of the SOS project including pre-collection, seed collection and
post-collection activities. As part of this project, both conservation
(10,000,-20,000 seeds) and operational collections (3-5lbs. of seed) will
be collected. Much of the time will be spent driving throughout eastern
Nevada, scouting and monitoring target populations. In addition to the
collection of seed; voucher herbarium specimens, tissue samples for
molecular analysis, and associated metadata will be collected from each
population. Corresponding metadata will be entered into BGBase. Seed will
be dried and shipped to the Bend Seed Extractory in Bend, OR. The Crew
Lead will be trained on SOS protocols, species identification, and seed
readiness determination. The training will include a 4 day training module
in Fort Collins, Colorado.
This is primarily a field position with about 15% office work.
Individuals must be able to hike up to 4 miles a day carrying a 30 pound
pack, drive several hours a day on rugged two-track roads, camp in remote
backcountry settings, and work 10+ hours a day in variable, sometimes
extreme temperatures (30° - 105°F). The work will be tedious and will
require bending over for periods of time. Housing is not provided by the
ENLC, although we would be happy to help you find housing opportunities.
Schedule: The crew will primarily work an 8 on 6 off schedule, but may
work a couple of 4 day work weeks (3 days off) during the height of the
field season.
Desired Qualifications
-Bachelor’s degree in botany, biology, ecology, environmental science,
natural resources or related field -
Strong leadership skills; work effectively in small group settings
-Experience with seed collection and determination of seed readiness
(phenology)
-Experience identifying plant species using dichotomous keys; plant
taxonomy coursework a plus
-Willingness to live and work outdoors in a harsh, highly variable desert
climate
-Ability to follow rigorous standardized protocols and record detailed
notes
-Backcountry skills and Wilderness 1st Aid certification
-Ability to work and camp in remote settings for eight days at a time
-Valid driver’s license and 4WD experience (On and off paved road)
-Experience using BGBase, ArcMap, handheld GPS receivers, orienteering
using map and compass
-Ability to bend over and kneel repeatedly, conducting tedious tasks for
several hours at a time
Ely Nevada Background: This position will be based in Ely with work
primarily occurring on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land
Management, Ely District. The Ely BLM District covers almost 12 million
acres in East-Central Nevada, including portions of the Mojave and Great
Basin Deserts, as well as “sky island” mountain ranges at higher
elevations. The area is vast; about the size of Delaware, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, and Vermont combined. It is idyllic, remote, sparsely-
populated, and contains over 700,000 acres of designated wilderness.
Outdoor recreation opportunities include: hiking, backpacking, mountain
biking, rock climbing, backcountry skiing, fishing and hunting.
Compensation: $17.00-18.00 DOE, plus a camping per diem of $38 per day
when camping
Deadline for applications January 31. Interested applicants should email a
cover letter, resume, and contact information for 3 references to Patrick
Hellmann at phellmann<<AT>>envlc.org Please include “SOS Crew Lead” in
the subject of the email. Any questions regarding the position can be
directed to Greg Gust at ggust<<AT>>envlc.org
