\n
The O\u2019Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West at the University of Montana\u00a0(UM)\u00a0is currently recruiting\u00a0CREW LEADS\/ BOTANISTS<\/strong>\u00a0for 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.<\/p>\nThe AIM Field Crew Leads\/Botanists\u00a0will\u00a0lead\u00a0a team of\u00a01-2 technicians to collect\u00a0vegetation and soils\u00a0data\u00a0in\u00a0grasslands\u00a0and\u00a0shrublands.<\/p>\n
Principal duties include:<\/strong><\/p>\n1) Describing sites following established protocols;<\/p>\n
2)\u00a0Completion of electronic field survey forms;<\/p>\n
3) Identification of all plants to species using a dichotomous key;<\/p>\n
4)\u00a0Management of soil and\u00a0vegetation\u00a0samples\u00a0and quality control of data;<\/p>\n
5)\u00a0Maintaining good working relationships among crews\u00a0and managers,\u00a0ensuring adherence to methods; and<\/p>\n
6)\u00a0Effectively representing\u00a0UM\u00a0to partners, information users, and landowners.<\/p>\n
We have multiple projects in Idaho,\u00a0north-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.<\/p>\n
JOB LENGTH:<\/strong>\u00a0April\/May through August\/September, full-time<\/p>\nQUALIFICATIONS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- A bachelor\u2019s or master\u2019s degree in botany, soil science, range ecology, natural resources management, or related\u202fsubject.<\/li>\n
- \u202fA 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\u2019s degree with field work can satisfy this requirement.<\/li>\n
- Ability to identify the full suite of rangeland plants to species in the field using a dichotomous key (e.g.\u202f,Flora\u202fof the Pacific Northwest, Hitchcock and Cronquist), including challenging taxa (e.g.,\u202fPoaceae,\u00a0Asteraceae,\u202fCyperaceae). 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.<\/li>\n
- Good familiarity with commonly accepted plant nomenclature and taxonomy. Familiarity with rangeland plants\u202fof\u202fthe\u202fRocky Mountain and\/or Intermountain West.<\/li>\n
- Experience preparing and organizing voucher and herbarium specimens.<\/li>\n
- Ability to describe soil horizons, textures and stability and collect soil samples for\u202fanalysis.<\/li>\n
- Experience supervising technicians, volunteers or undergraduate students. Leadership in a volunteer or community organization, or in the military, can satisfy this requirement.<\/li>\n
- Experience managing gear and equipment for a crew, lab class,\u202fteam\u202for\u202fother\u202forganizational\u202funit.<\/li>\n
- Demonstrated experience carrying out data quality checks.<\/li>\n
- Demonstrated ability to interact with BLM staff, private landowners and public land users in a professional\u202fmanner.<\/li>\n
- Experience\u202fnavigating and collecting coordinates with hand-held GPS\u202funits.<\/li>\n
- Experience\u202fwith Microsoft Office (Word, Excel,\u00a0Access) and\u202fpreferably\u202fwith\u202fCollector for ArcGIS and Survey123.<\/li>\n
- Experience driving 4WD trucks, especially\u202fon unpaved roads. Valid driver\u2019s license and clean driving record (DUI or other serious convictions need not apply).<\/li>\n
- Experience\u202fin and willingness to spend multiple days camping in the field where hazards may be encountered (e.g.,\u202fsnakes, bears, lightning, fires, cold\/wet weather, heat\/sun exposure).<\/li>\n
- Willingness to work irregular hours in harsh environments and challenging weather conditions and ability to carry 40\u202fpounds in a backpack over rugged mountainous\u202fterrain.<\/li>\n
- Willingness\u202fto stay in frequent communication with\u202fUM\u202fstaff.<\/li>\n
- CPR\u202fand First Aid Certification required; Wilderness First Aid is\u202fpreferred.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n