Farm and Seed Technician (USFWS/BLM/NPS, Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation)

The Great Basin Institute, in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and Bureau of Land Management (BLM), is seeking one (1) Farm and Seed Technician to support native plant propagation, seed production and collection, and occasional nursery operations in collaboration with the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation. This role focuses on supporting efforts to produce high‑quality native seeds for NPS, FWS, and BLM. Work emphasizes field‑based farm tasks, seed harvest coordination, equipment operation, and detailed recordkeeping. Training, support, and coordination will be provided by the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation.

Core Responsibilities:

• Technicians will assist with all aspects of native seed farm operations, including:
  • Assisting with field preparation, planting, weeding, cultivation, irrigation setup, and ongoing crop maintenance;
  • Monitoring crop development and documenting germination, growth, flowering, and seed maturation stages;
  • Harvesting seed crops by hand or with mechanical aids and ensuring proper handling, labeling, and storage;
  • Cleaning, drying, and preparing harvested seed for storage or transfer to partner agencies;
  • Maintaining propagation areas, including sowing, transplanting, watering, fertilizing, and monitoring for pests or disease;
  • Recording and managing data related to seed lots, production fields, yields, and propagation trials;
  • Performing quality control (QC) on seed lots and associated documentation;
  • Assisting with operation and maintenance of irrigation systems; and
  • Maintaining clean, organized workspaces across nursery and field areas.
• Equipment and Field Support
  • Operating and maintaining basic farm and nursery tools;
  • Supporting tractor operations, including discing, mowing, ripping, and bed preparation (training provided if needed);
  • Performing daily and monthly equipment safety checks;
  • Supporting field infrastructure setup such as shade structures, propagation facilities, and irrigation lines; and
  • Driving project vehicles (trucks) to and from field sites as required.
• Additional Responsibilities
  • Supporting volunteer workdays focused on seed collection or nursery tasks;
  • Assisting with vegetation monitoring, seed collection from wildland sources, or habitat restoration tasks as needed;
  • Participating in partner trainings on seed production, nursery management, and safety; and
  • Reporting accomplishments and providing recommendations for improving program operations.

Timeline:

• 13-week appointment beginning as soon as possible;
• Full time (40 hours/week); and
• 5-8 hour days, M-F, with flexibility during planting and harvest periods.

Location:

The technician works primarily at the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation nursery and surrounding field sites in Santa Rosa, CA. Work is hands-on, collaborative, and aligned with seasonal restoration timelines.

The position reports to the Nursery and Seed Program Manager at the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation and collaborates closely with DOI Agencies involved in native seed and habitat restoration.

Compensation and Benefits:

Compensation: $21-23 hourly; dependent on experience;

Benefits: 

• Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental (with option to upgrade in coverage), and vision insurance premiums;
• $25,000 Basic Life & AD&D insurance at no cost;
• Sick Leave and holidays; and
• Access to Pro Deals such as Outdoor Prolink and Black Diamond.

Qualifications:

Technical Requirements:

• Familiarity with native plant horticulture, agriculture, restoration, botany, or related natural‑resource fields;
• Experience with nursery tasks, field planting, or crop production;
• Ability to maintain accurate records for seed lots and propagation activities;
• Willingness to learn tractor operation or apply existing tractor skills; and
• Comfort using tablets or computers for data entry.

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to lift 40+ lbs, work outdoors in varied conditions, and perform repetitive physical tasks;
• Commitment to safe equipment operation and farm practices;
• Willingness and ability to work in ever-changing conditions, including extreme temperatures, and as part of a team;
• Ability to bend and stoop for long periods of time while collecting seed, and to use hand tools, and occasionally lift buckets of water and other heavy loads;
• Ability to work a non-standard schedule, such as beginning at 5 am, to avoid heat-related issues, to follow plant phenology, or for coordination with team members;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with a diverse audience; and
• Strong interpersonal skills and willingness to work as part of a tight knit team.

Physical Demands:

Field work involves driving trucks on both highways and 4WD roads, occasionally up to 100+ miles or 8 hours per day, as well as hiking off designated trails in rugged terrain. Seed collection and nursery work requires regular and repetitive stooping, kneeling, standing and maneuvering on many different terrains, including uneven ground, steep slopes, and rocky outcrops. Contact with irritating plants may also be required, but in those instances PPE will be provided. Weather conditions will vary based on time of year from fog, cold winds and precipitation in the early spring to temperatures over 100F with humidity in the summer. Camping under primitive conditions at remote locations on data/seed collection trips may be required. Schedules are often determined by plant phenology and nursery needs. Incumbents must also be willing to spend days at a time working at a computer during periods of data entry and analysis.

Field and nursery work for this role includes:

• Repetitive bending, stooping, kneeling, and standing during planting, weeding, and harvesting;
• Working outdoors in varied weather, including hot summer conditions;
• Lifting and carrying 40–70 lbs of equipment, soil, seed bags, or irrigation components;
• Walking on uneven ground in production fields or collection areas;
• Occasional long days during key production windows (e.g., planting or harvest); and
• Handle plant material for many hours a day.