Conservation Technician

Start date: 5/4/2026

End date: 11/13/2026

Position Description

IAE SW seeks to hire a crew member to support an innovative new project funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The crew member will work closely with the crew lead and other IAE staff to implement a Native Crop Toolkit, supporting habitat restoration efforts on farms in the Albuquerque area. Tasks will include habitat assessments, seed scouting and collection, grower support (such as weeding and site preparation), and outplanting. The crew member will work closely with Southwest Seed Partnership growers and protocols. The weekly work schedule will consist of four 10-hour days (7am-5pm, Monday through Thursday) per week. The crew will be based out of Santa Fe, NM, and will travel to field sites in provided vehicles. Field sites are located in Central and Northern New Mexico and may require occasional overnight camping.

Specific Responsibilities

• Native seed collection:
  • Scout plant populations, track phenology, hand collect seed, and record site data.
  • Seed collections will be made from native wildflowers to support IAE’s pollinator habitat restoration projects.
• Native seed production field maintenance:
  • Assist with planting, weeding, and general maintenance of native seed production fields in a farm setting.
• Restoration:
  • Assist with invasive species identification and removal, broadcast seeding, planting, and watering at IAE pollinator habitat restoration sites.
• Outdoor education:
  • Support grower workshops and trainings.
• Native seed processing
  • Assist with seed cleaning, packaging, labeling, and data collection.
• Monitoring
  • Habitat assessments and surveys for monarch butterflies and other native pollinators.

Studies have shown that Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), women and other marginalized groups are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and qualifications for the role.

Minimum Qualifications

• Flexibility – IAE’s Southwest office is comprised of a small, dynamic team in which opportunities frequently arise to assist colleagues with tasks and projects outside the direct scope of the position
• A positive attitude with an interest in ecology and botany
• Excellent communication skills and experience working on a team
• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• Basic computer skills
• One or more seasons of ecological field experience
• Experience navigating to remote field sites using GPS
• Ability to work in bent-over, kneeling, or standing positions for significant periods of time
• Ability to work in and respond to adverse field conditions which may include extreme heat and sun exposure, monsoonal rains, flash flooding, lightning, and hazardous wildlife
• Comfortable in a backcountry setting: ability to work long hours in adverse weather conditions while maintaining attention to the task and safety
• Must have a valid driver’s license (in good standing) and ability to drive a 4WD vehicle on rugged, off-highway gravel or dirt roads

Preferred Qualifications

• Plant identification skills and experience using technical keys and collecting plant vouchers, with preference given to those with skills in identifying plants of the Southwest
• Seed collection experience
• Electronic data collection experience
• Experience working in an agricultural setting
• Familiarity and comfort working with heavy machinery and hand tools, such as augers
• Coursework/training in botany and/or degree in botany or related field