The O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West at the University of Montana (UM) is currently recruiting CREW LEADS/ BOTANISTS for the 2021 field season. We will be partnering with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to implement their Terrestrial Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) strategy, which is targeted at collecting standardized inventory and long-term vegetation data at multiple scales across the BLM Districts in the Western U.S.

The AIM Field Crew Leads/Botanists will lead a team of 1-2 technicians to collect vegetation and soils data in grasslands and shrublands.

Principal duties include:

1) Describing sites following established protocols;

2) Completion of electronic field survey forms;

3) Identification of all plants to species using a dichotomous key;

4) Management of soil and vegetation samples and quality control of data;

5) Maintaining good working relationships among crews and managers, ensuring adherence to methods; and

6) Effectively representing UM to partners, information users, and landowners.

We have multiple projects in Idaho, north-central Montana, and Wyoming. All positions are field-based and require primitive camping in isolated regions. Crews will typically work eight 10-hour days, from Tuesday to Tuesday, with a six-day break between hitches. We expect staff to commit to the entire field season, practice safety awareness (including vehicle safety), and contribute to building a healthy, productive and enjoyable work environment.

JOB LENGTH: April/May through August/September, full-time

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in botany, soil science, range ecology, natural resources management, or related subject.
•  A minimum of two full field seasons or one full year collecting vegetation and soils data in sagebrush-steppe, grassland or similar plant community (BLM Terrestrial AIM experience preferred). A completed master’s degree with field work can satisfy this requirement.
• Ability to identify the full suite of rangeland plants to species in the field using a dichotomous key (e.g. ,Flora of the Pacific Northwest, Hitchcock and Cronquist), including challenging taxa (e.g., Poaceae, Asteraceae, Cyperaceae). Crews may encounter 60-90 plant species in a single plot, in various phenological states. Successful AIM sampling requires rapid and accurate field identification using dichotomous keys and meticulous documentation of unidentified plants.
• Good familiarity with commonly accepted plant nomenclature and taxonomy. Familiarity with rangeland plants of the Rocky Mountain and/or Intermountain West.
• Experience preparing and organizing voucher and herbarium specimens.
• Ability to describe soil horizons, textures and stability and collect soil samples for analysis.
• Experience supervising technicians, volunteers or undergraduate students. Leadership in a volunteer or community organization, or in the military, can satisfy this requirement.
• Experience managing gear and equipment for a crew, lab class, team or other organizational unit.
• Demonstrated experience carrying out data quality checks.
• Demonstrated ability to interact with BLM staff, private landowners and public land users in a professional manner.
• Experience navigating and collecting coordinates with hand-held GPS units.
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access) and preferably with Collector for ArcGIS and Survey123.
• Experience driving 4WD trucks, especially on unpaved roads. Valid driver’s license and clean driving record (DUI or other serious convictions need not apply).
• Experience in and willingness to spend multiple days camping in the field where hazards may be encountered (e.g., snakes, bears, lightning, fires, cold/wet weather, heat/sun exposure).
• Willingness to work irregular hours in harsh environments and challenging weather conditions and ability to carry 40 pounds in a backpack over rugged mountainous terrain.
• Willingness to stay in frequent communication with UM staff.
• CPR and First Aid Certification required; Wilderness First Aid is preferred.