Nursery Technician (NPS, Lake Mead National Recreation Area)

The Research Associate Program at GBI, in cooperation with NPS at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, is recruiting two (2) Research Associate (RA) Nursery Technicians to participate in the Song Dog Native Plant Nursery seed collection program. The primary responsibility will be to collect native seed for restoration projects within Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Tule Spring Fossil Beds National Monument. Work will include surveying and accessing suitable native plant populations by vehicle or on foot; identification of native and non-native plants; determination of seed ripeness; determination of proper harvest, collection, and cleaning methods; and proper documentation of all accessions. The RA will perform all data management including GIS, Access, and photo data for all collections and the seed storage facility. The RA will also safely lead 5-to-10-member conservation crews and/or volunteers on seed collection and seed cleaning projects.

The Research Associates will monitor plant populations to determine proper seed harvesting times, lead seed collections and ensure seeds are processed properly and organized into the seed storage facility. A large portion of the time will be spent in the field. Field work will include plant identification, navigating in remote field settings, mapping plant populations, and collecting seeds. RAs will also be responsible for data entry and management in Access and ArcGIS. Duties will also include inventory and organization of the seed storage unit. Germinations tests will be conducted to determine seed viability. Other duties may include assisting the nursery with propagation projects, including transplanting, watering plants, fixing irrigation, and general nursery duties. Other work within the Vegetation Branch may include restoration projects such as out planting, participating in rare plant monitoring and invasive species removal, mapping and restoring illegal off road vehicle tracks, maintaining and installing barriers and fences to prevent off road vehicle use, and graffiti removal.  

Primary Responsibilities:

• Properly collect viable native seed in remote field settings and ensure collections are properly documented and entered into databases;
• Prepare and maintain adequate supplies to complete collections efficiently;
• Hiking and scouting sites to determine extent of populations and seed status;
• Successfully navigate to prospective sites, many of which are in remote areas, using road maps/apps/GIS and 4WD vehicles and hiking;
• Lead 5-10-person conservation crews on 8-day hitches for seed collections; and
• Ensure consistent adherence to quality assurance standards when entering data into electronic applications.

Timeline:

• September/October 2025 – August 2026, 45 weeks;
• Full time (40 hours/week); and
• Schedule: Monday-Thursday, 10-hour days, when conservation crews are scheduled, the RAs will work an 8-day hitch (10-hour days).

Location:

Lake Mead National Recreation Area encompasses nearly 1.5 million acres in southeastern Nevada and northwestern Arizona, including mountains, canyons, valleys, and two vast lakes. From the mouth of the Grand Canyon, the park follows the Arizona-Nevada border along what was formerly 140 miles of the Colorado River. Opportunities for recreation abound.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area (LAKE) Headquarters is in Boulder City, Nevada, a 30-minute drive from Las Vegas. LAKE encompasses nearly 1.3 million acres in southeastern Nevada and northwestern Arizona, including mountains, canyons, valleys, and two vast lakes.

Compensation and Benefits:

Compensation: $22.50 hourly;

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;
• Personal leave and holidays; and
• Access to Pro Deals.

Housing: Will not be provided and the selected participants will be expected to procure housing on their own.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Ability to identify native and non-native plants of the desert southwest;
• Knowledge of native plant seed physiology;
• Knowledge of native plant seed harvesting, cleaning, and storage methods;
• Must provide a valid driver’s license and possess a clean driving record; and
• Successful applicants must complete a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) or submit paperwork to NPS human resources indicating an active and fully adjudicated BI has already been completed prior to beginning position. If you already have a fully adjudicated BI, please let us know in your application.

Preferred:

• Experience with leading crews and volunteers;
• Ability to drive 4×4 vehicles and navigate in the backcountry using maps and GPS units;
• Ability to use ArcGIS software and GPS units to collect data;
• Ability to use Microsoft Office programs;
• Ability to do physical labor in the backcountry;
• Motivated to learn about the park’s resources; and
• Ability to communicate with park staff in an appropriate manner in written and verbal form.

Physical Demands

• Lift up to 40 pounds of material or equipment;
• Seed cleaning may require extended periods of sitting;
• Bend, lift, pull, and push;
• Crouch, stoop, kneel, stand, or bend for long periods of time;
• Walk for long periods of time on uneven surfaces carrying equipment; and
• Be outside in extreme heat or cold (depending upon the season).

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.