Lead Vegetation Technician (NPS, Whiskeytown)

The Research Associate Program at GBI, in cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS) at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (WHIS) to recruit one Lead Vegetation Technician that will perform vegetation inventories of rare and invasive plants with a team of four Vegetation Technicians. Assist NPS staff to conduct surveys and implement management strategies for rare and invasive plants. The work will focus on a variety of objectives that contribute to a multi-year effort to promote native vegetation recovery and plant conservation in a post-fire environment at WHIS. The crew will work outdoors in a variety of environmental conditions (heat, cold, insects, etc.). Training and support will be provided for all duties. 

Primary Responsibilities:

• Lead crew members in vegetation monitoring following established protocols;
• Assist with both manual and herbicide treatments of invasive plants under the training and supervision of park staff;
• Properly identify vascular plant species and utilize dichotomous keys, while also being capable of teaching crew members how to develop such skills;
• Assist with field data collection, data entry, and QA/QC;
• Estimate cover of vascular plants;
• Collect and process seed of native plants for habitat restoration efforts;
• Maintain field equipment and tools;
• Be a productive member of the WHIS rare & invasive plant team;
• Participate in GBI or partner-sponsored training opportunities; and
• Monitor site-specific conditions and report safety concerns to NPS and GBI staff;
• Walking long distances over uneven terrain, off-trail, often in dense vegetation;
• Navigating off-trail with map compass and GPS;
• Collecting vegetation data using established procedures;
• Oversee database management, ensuring data quality and consistency by utilizing Microsoft Office, along with ArcGIS and associated apps;
• Treating invasive vegetation; and
• Promote safety culture within the crew and ensure that health and safety practices are maintained.

The successful applicants must have strong communication skills (both verbal and written) and exhibit strong teamwork and organization skills. Work ethic and professionalism will be valued above all else. Office tasks are only about 5% of work but include data organization, processing and QA/QC; and compiling concise field notes. The weekly field schedule follows a 9-hour day schedule from Monday to Thursday, with a 4-hour day on Fridays Changing conditions may require flexibility in set schedules.

Whiskeytown NRA was directly impacted by the 2018 Carr Fire, which burned 97% of the park. Work completed by the rare & invasive plants team will help to address recovery of vegetation after this fire and aid in the management of park vegetation going forward. Read more about Whiskeytown NRA and the Carr Fire here: https://www.nps.gov/whis/carrfire.htm

Timeline: 

• 26-week appointment; March 2025 to September 2025
• Full time (40 hours/week

Location:

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is home to a diverse assemblage of plant species, due in part to the park’s location within the Klamath Mountain physiographic province and its proximity to the Cascade Mountains, Coast Range, and Sacramento Valley. The park’s broad range in elevation, rugged topography, numerous soil types, and history of natural and human disturbance also contribute to the park’s species richness. The park’s many plant communities often intergrade with one another forming indistinct boundaries across the landscape. In general, these communities can be lumped into seven broad categories: Knobcone Pine, Chaparral, Mixed Oak Woodlands, Blue Oak Grasslands, Ponderosa Pine, Mixed Conifer, and Riparian. Whiskeytown NRA is located in the heart of Northern California. Opportunities are abundant in the area for recreation including boating, camping, hiking, birding, and fishing. Whiskeytown is also near the city of Redding, CA which can provide access to all large town amenities.

Compensation and Benefits:  

Compensation: $24 hourly.

Benefits: 

• Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental (with option to upgrade in coverage), and vision insurance;
• $25,000 Basic Life & AD&D insurance at no cost;
• Personal leave and holidays;
• Access to Pro Deals.

Qualifications: 
Required:

• Willingness to work long days and hike long distances in rugged terrain under variable weather conditions, including extreme heat and in raining conditions.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with a diverse audience;
• Ability to identify native and non-native plants of California and the Pacific Northwest;
• Undergraduate degree in botany, ecology, or a closely related field is preferred, ideally with;
• Coursework in plant taxonomy and/or systematics, botany, or forestry.;
• Experience with data entry, and data management, and GIS software is preferred;
• Experience using hand-held GPS for navigation.

Preferred: 

• Possess a valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record;
• Experience operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, particularly with unimproved roads;
• Possess a commitment to personal and team member safety, and communicate perceived safety threats immediately;
• Ability to work independently to accomplish goals;
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, agency staff, and a diverse public;
• Possess good organizational skills;
• Possess a favorably adjudicated background clearance;
• Must be motivated, self-directed, organized, and detail oriented in order to balance multiple tasks simultaneously;
• Possess a valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record.