Field Technician (May – August)

Compensation: $17.00/hour, free housing, vehicle use, and field equipment.

Field Season: May 20th, 2024-August 23rd, 2024.

Position Description: The Centennial Valley Association (CVA) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Montana are seeking one dedicated individual to join our Team as a Field Technician in 2024. This is a seasonal, joint position between both organizations. The CVA and TNC are partners in the Centennial Valley, working together to maintain and conserve the Centennial Valley’s biological integrity while preserving a shared, working landscape for future generations of stewards, cattle ranching, wildlife, and fisheries.

The Field Technician will be responsible for participating in and supporting various field and preserve projects that serve the Centennial Valley community, landscape, and partner organizations, including:

• Early Detection, Rapid Response Invasive Weed Management
• Native Plant Revegetation
• Hydrology Monitoring & Riparian Health
• Field data collection for scientific research
• Wildlife-Friendly Fencing
• General Preserve Maintenance
• Education and Outreach

Position may require odd hours, including nights, weekends, and work weeks >40 hours.

Position Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Effectively communicating with partners and stakeholders, supervisory staff, and Team Members.
• Treating invasive weed infestations via chemical and mechanical techniques, monitoring and mapping infestations, and participating in community spray days and weeks.
• Assisting with native plant revegetation for rangeland and wildlife habitat.
• Constructing and maintaining temporary electric fence.
• Collecting, entering, and analyzing field data for freshwater, rangeland ecology, and adaptive management programs into spreadsheets, databases, and/or ArcGIS.
• Taking streamflow, staff gage, and rain gauge measurements.
• Providing community and partner outreach and education via phone calls, emails, and other methods.
• General facility, property, vehicle, and equipment maintenance.
• Representing both organizations at community and partner events/meetings to provide support where needed.

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma and >1 year’s training or applicable job experience.
• Ability to hike five or more miles per day, lift 50lbs, and work in sometimes adverse outdoor conditions.
• Willingness to work with and learn from people with different backgrounds.
• Willing and able to take direction from CVA and TNC supervisory staff, partners, and community members.
• Experience with Microsoft Office programs (Word, Publisher, Excel, Access).
• Ability to spend multiple nights away at field sites.
• Must have a current state-issued driver’s license.
• Self-motivated, flexible, and safety-oriented.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree/working towards bachelor’s degree and/or > 3 years related job experience in Natural Resources Management, Biology, Range Science, Agriculture, or related field.
• Experience working and/or living in a rural, remote landscape with small, local communities.
• Experience working in grizzly bear territory.
• Experience operating a full size, 4WD pickup truck and ATV/UTV.
  • Note: A required ATV/UTV training is provided.
• Experience with herbicide applications, streamflow monitoring/comfortable in moving water, and/or experience with GPS and ArcGIS applications.
• Experience using a dichotomous key for plant and animal identification.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a small organization where your co-workers are possibly your roommates in a bunkhouse setting.
• Developed data collection, entry, and analysis skills.
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with basic vehicle, housing, and equipment maintenance.
• Verizon cell phone service (this is the only carrier that works in the Centennial Valley).

About the Organizations: CVA is a locally based, landowner-driven nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve traditional ranching as a way of life in the Centennial Valley and to maintain quality open space, wildlife habitat, water quality, and wildlife migration corridors as they exist today for future generations. CVA unites local ranchers, community members, agencies, NGOs, and other groups to collaborate on local conservation issues. CVA fosters a range of initiatives that include invasive weed management, maintaining and monitoring migration corridors, drought awareness, and outreach and education opportunities for the community and visitors.

TNC in Montana is a state chapter of an international organization whose mission is to protect the lands and waters on which all life depends. TNC Montana’s High Divide Headwaters program works with private and public land managers in southwest Montana on a variety of on-the-ground land stewardship projects including invasive plants, stream restoration, sagebrush steppe restoration, and fence modification to maintain resilient and productive lands and waters.

Location: Centennial Valley, Montana. Nearest towns with amenities: Lima, MT and West Yellowstone, MT. The Centennial Valley is an extremely remote, high-elevation valley in southwestern Montana. Access to work sites may require up to 1 hour of travel on marginal dirt roads. Residence in provided housing is a requirement of the position.