Natural Resources Field Lead (Applicants may be based in ID, UT, WY or NV)

Functional Department: Operations

Company: NWRC

Reports To (Position Title): Project Manager

POSITION PURPOSE:

This person will be leading a two-person team and is responsible for making sure all the data is accurately collected each day. This is a field-based position with all of the work taking place in an outdoor environment where weather and terrain can be demanding. Field teams will be expected to work 10-12 hour days and will be required to work extended sessions, typically eight (8) days on and six (6) days off throughout the field session. The position may involve an irregular schedule and extended hours. The position will report to a Project Manager located in Idaho Falls, Idaho; however, the field team may be stationed near the survey area.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Working in a team of 2, lead on field sampling assignments.
• Follow established field protocols in conducting vegetation sampling at pre-determined sampling locations (including species inventory, foliar cover, canopy gap, species abundance, and herbaceous and woody heights)
• Provide guidance to entry level range technician on the collection and maintenance of field data
• Dig soil pits and characterize soil horizons to correlate sites with ecological site descriptions (ESDs)
• Make qualitative range assessments
• Take photo-points of range assessments and vegetation samplings
• Enter data into handheld electronic units and upload photographs to the NRCS server
• Identify plants to species using field applications, books, dichotomous keys, or other tools
• Employ QA/QC data checks.
• Extensive 4×4 driving on unmaintained roads and two-tracks.
• Navigate off-trail to sampling sites with lower level technicians as needed
• Maintain safety awareness and practices
• Regular communication with North Wind support staff and NRCS range staff
• Participation in North Wind and NRCS training

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist in the preparation of materials such as maps and equipment
• Assist in logistical planning and preparation for field hitches

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in botany, rangeland science, biology, natural resource management, soils, ecology or closely related field. Working towards degree in similar field with appropriate classwork may be substituted for degree.
• Familiarity with NRCS’s National Resources Inventory (NRI) methodology and/or BLM’s Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) protocols desired. Other vegetation sampling techniques may also be desirable.
• Experience should include:
• • Experience identifying plants in the field;
  • Experience describing and identifying soil horizons;
  • Experience conducting plant surveys using various monitoring protocols, including standard rangeland monitoring protocols, photo plots, and site observations;
  • Experience with data entry and management;
  • Reading, interpreting and navigating using topographic maps;
  • Experience navigating with hand-held GPS units

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong work ethic
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to follow written and oral instruction
• Ability to provide guidance and instruction to lower level technicians
• Willingness to work irregular hours (e.g., early mornings, late nights)
• Knowledge of vegetation and soil survey and monitoring techniques.
• GPS experience.
• CPR/First Aid certified desired, but not required
• Willingness and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic setting, and to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the goals and objectives of the NRI program and North Wind’s commitment to providing the NRCS with the highest quality data.

Special Requirements:

• Valid driver’s license and Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, often in remote areas on unimproved roads.
• Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug test and background check.
• CPR/First Aid certified desired, but not required
• Familiarity with NRCS’s National Resources Inventory (NRI) methodology and/or BLM’s Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) protocols desired.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Ability to travel to a location, walk and conduct fieldwork for long hours, sometimes in inclement weather, rugged terrain, and ability to carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 30 pounds is required.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

• Ability to work in remote locations and away from home for up to eight days at a time.
• Outdoor working environment.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The nature of those accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.