Botany Technician

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, is recruiting 5 Botany Technician to support the Carson City Field Office, located in Carson City/Reno, NV. Under the direction of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) resource specialists, would survey, map, assess, and monitor BLM sensitive species. 

Botany technicians, working with other Bureau of Land Management (BLM) resource specialists, would survey, map, assess, and monitor BLM sensitive species.  The botanical technicians would record habitat condition, plant diversity, native and non-native species invasions, along with documenting impacts to plants or habitat resulting from livestock overgrazing and off-highway vehicle (OHV) damage. The team would map noxious weeds and collect native seed for the Seeds of Success (SOS) restoration program.  Data collection will involve the use of mobile devices utilizing various apps appropriate for the task at hand. The team would synthesize field data with ancillary datasets and work with the BLM botanist, wildlife biologist, and rangeland management specialist to devise management actions to restore sensitive species and their habitat along with burned habitat. All collected data would be entered into a GIS and accompanying databases. Data analysis and written reports would follow.  Other duties include environmental outreach with youth and adults.

Duties Include:
• Record habitat condition, plant diversity, native and non-native species invasions, along with documenting impacts to plants or habitat resulting from livestock overgrazing and off-highway vehicle (OHV) damage.
• Map noxious weeds and collect native seed for the Seeds of Success (SOS) restoration program.  
• Data collection using mobile devices utilizing various apps appropriate for the task at hand. 
• Synthesize field data with ancillary datasets and work with the BLM botanist, wildlife biologist, and rangeland management specialist to devise management actions to restore sensitive species and their habitat along with burned habitat.
• Enter all collected data into a GIS and accompanying databases. Data analysis and written reports would follow.  
• Other duties include environmental outreach with youth and adults.

Ongoing projects within the Carson City District Office have necessitated botanical field work within the Carson City District.  This area, in western Nevada and eastern California, encompasses 5 million acres with a varied landscape made up of: coniferous forests of the Eastern Sierra Nevada; pinyon-juniper woodlands/sagebrush dominated areas; and salt desert shrub dominated areas.  Local ecosystems include: high-altitude montane, sand dunes, alkali playas, meadows, and areas recovering from wildfire.

Physical Demands:
Duties require outside work involving walking, bending, climbing hills, lifting and carrying various materials or supplies which are occasionally heavy.  Use of a UTV will be occasional.  Remote field sites will likely require frequent camping out at the site for a period of 1-3 nights.  Daily work shifts of 8 to 10 hours are anticipated within a 40 hour work week.

Work Environment:
Approximately 90 percent of the work is in the field.  The fieldwork will involve driving and walking over rough and sandy terrain with wide variations in temperature ranging from below freezing in the fall and winter to above 90 degrees F during the summer.

Approximately 10 percent of the work is in the office. Office work involves: 
1.) Use GIS to create maps and conduct analysis;
2.) Visit University Herbarium to collect data on plant locations and to verify plant specimens;
3.) Enter data into the database;
4.) Process seed collections and ship to appropriate destinations;
5.) Report writing;
6.) Create lesson plans and activities for environmental education;

The team nature of this position requires a dedication and openness to working with others who may have different personalities, perspectives/worldviews, experiences, and competencies.

Contract Timeline:

• 34 Wks appointment beginning in April 2024;
• Full-time (40 hrs/wk);
• 1200/hrs required for AmeriCorps Award

Location:

Carson City Field Office (Carson City/Reno).

Compensation and Benefits:

This is an AmeriCorps position; candidates will receive a living allowance dependent on their length of service. The living allowance is a fixed amount, not an hourly wage or a salary. AmeriCorps benefits include:
• Living Allowance: estimated $726/wk before taxes
• Segal Education Award: After successfully completing an AmeriCorps term of service members are eligible to receive the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. Award varies based on term of service. You can use the award to repay qualified student loans and to pay current educational expenses at eligible institutions of higher education and training programs. This placement is eligible for a $4,826.50 award;
• Student Loan Forbearance: If you are currently paying on any federal student loans you have the option to put those loans into forbearance during your time as an AmeriCorps volunteer, that will allow you to cease payments while serving;
• Interest Accrual Repayment: As AmeriCorps alum, you are eligible to have the National Service Trust pay all or a portion of the interest that accumulated on your qualified student loan(s) during your term of service. These payments are made in addition to the Education Award, and are not deducted from your Education Award balance. To be eligible to have accrued interest paid: The loan must have been placed in forbearance for the service period, and you must have successfully completed a term of service and received an Education Award.

Job Qualifications:

• A degree in Botany, Plant Ecology, Forestry, Rangeland Management or Natural Resource.  Botanical technicians would have a basic knowledge of plant biology, with the ability to identify plants down to the species level using appropriate botany manuals and keys. Knowledge of Great Basin-Eastern Sierra Nevada vegetation is a plus, but that knowledge may also be gained while on the job.
• Knowledge of seed collection techniques (training will be done at Field Office or other locations).
• Ability to operate a Utility-Task-Vehicle (UTV) training and safety certification will be provided by the Field office as needed.
• Familiarity with common software applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe, ESRI, Google Maps, etc.
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Experience with data entry and QA/QC procedures;
• Reliable, team-player with strong leadership and communication skills;
• Possession of a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license; and 
• Be able to clear a DOI background check