Seeds of Success Native Seed Technician
Position Background: The Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition is hiring two
seed technicians to conduct native seed collection as part of the Bureau of
Land Management’s (BLM) Seeds of Success (SOS) program. The project’s main
goal is to increase the regional availability of native seed for large
scale rehabilitation projects in collaboration with the Nevada State BLM,
Great Basin Native Plant Project, and other partners. Positions will be
based in Ely, Nevada, although work will occur throughout the Great Basin
portion of the Ely BLM District. Expected start date is late May and will
continue until September, with the possibility of work into October.
Seed Technician Description: Primary responsibilities include:
identifying, scouting and collecting native seed from target species
populations, following rigorous SOS protocols, and completing associated
data sheets. Both conservation (10,000,-20,000 seeds) and operational
collections (3-5lbs. of seed) will be harvested. Much of the time will be
spent driving and hiking throughout eastern Nevada, while monitoring the
phenology of 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. Seed will be
dried and shipped to the Bend Seed Extractory in Bend, OR. Technicians
will work under the direction of a crew lead and be trained on SOS
protocols, species identification, and phenologic indicators to determine
seed readiness.
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 require bending
over for long periods of time.
Schedule: Technicians will generally work an 8 on 6 off schedule (10 hour
days), 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 -
Experience identifying plant species using dichotomous keys; plant taxonomy
coursework a plus
-Interest in learning about the Great Basin, its plant species, and
rehabilitation efforts
-Willingness to live and work outdoors in a harsh, highly variable desert
climate for 8 days at a time
-Ability to follow rigorous standardized protocols and record detailed
notes
-Ability to work effectively in small group settings
-Ability to bend over and kneel repeatedly, conducting tedious tasks for
several hours at a time -Valid driver’s
license; 4WD experience helpful
-Experience using BGBase, handheld GPS receivers, orienteering using map
and compass helpful
Ely Nevada Background: The Ely BLM District covers 11 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. Housing is not provided for these
positions, although if interested, we would be happy to help you find
housing.
Compensation: $14.00-15.00 DOE, plus a camping per diem of $38 per day when
camping
Deadline for applications is February 14, 2018, and will be reviewed as
they are received. Interested applicants should email a cover letter,
resume, and contact information for 3 references to Greg Gust at
ggust<<AT>>envlc.org. Questions regarding the positions should also be sent
to the above email address.
