Botany Field Technician – Research Associate I

Number of Positions:     1 (temporary)

Work Location:                 Colorado Springs, Colorado

Pay Rate:                             $23-$25/hour depending on experience and qualifications

Duration:                             4 months (approx. mid-May through mid-September 2024)

Position Description:

The Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) seeks an experienced botany field technician to map 20+ noxious weed species at the U.S. Air Force Academy in El Paso County, Colorado. This mapping effort will contribute to CNHP’s 21st season of weed mapping and monitoring at the Academy. The position requires field botany and basic GIS skills. The successful candidate will be able to use dichotomous keys or field guides to correctly identify weed species and have the necessary technical skills to use GPS and ESRI’s Field Maps and ArcGIS software to accurately map and attribute weed locations.

This position provides an excellent opportunity for a botany technician to contribute to our current knowledge of invasive species and the best management practices for preserving rare biodiverse ecosystems. The successful candidate will perform field work daily, mapping weeds on approximately 300 acres/day using a GPS through ESRI’s Field Maps on a tablet. The technician will be responsible for integrating GPS data with a file geodatabase in ArcGIS at the end of each field day and backing up files on a desktop computer. The technician will perform quality control to ensure data are correctly synced with ArcGIS Online and will coordinate with CNHP staff on the progress of the project. The technician will perform other project related tasks and activities as needed.

 Field work will be performed solo, although CNHP field crews will be on the base throughout the summer performing inventories for other projects. A computer will be situated in the Natural Resources office at the U.S. Air Force Academy for data processing. A vehicle will be available to use on the Academy and lodging will be provided if needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in botany, ecology, natural resources or related field
• Plant identification skills, especially Colorado noxious weeds, and experience with dichotomous keys
• One season experience with digital data collection
• One season of field experience
• Demonstrated organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills; ability to handle complex tasks with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently with guidance
• Demonstrated experience in the operation of personal computers and typical office suite software
• Ability to perform duties in an outdoor environment with natural hazards and under all weather conditions
• Effective interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, including ability to work with a diverse group of individuals and to maintain effective working relationships

Desirable Skills:

• Experience using ESRI Field Maps and Survey123
• Experience using Tablets for botanical data collection