Rangeland Monitoring Technician

Title:                   Rangeland Monitoring Technician

Supervisor:        Program Manager

Duration:           May 15 – July 30 2025 (dates flexible)

Job Type:           Temporary Position

Location:            Northern Great Plains, primarily South Dakota, but possibly MT, ND & WY

Salary:                Monthly salary $5,000, mileage reimbursed

Application Deadline: Reviewing applications on a rolling basis.

Position Summary:

This is a temporary position with American Bird Conservancy (ABC). American Bird Conservancy is a fast-growing, results-focused nonprofit seeking employees with an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to make a difference for birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. Inspired by the wonder of birds, ABC achieves lasting results for the bird species most in need while also benefiting human communities, biodiversity, and the planet’s fragile climate.

American Bird Conservancy is hiring a rangeland monitoring technician to survey grassland/rangeland conservation projects on private lands in in the Northern Great Plains. The role will be to conduct surveys as well as to support work by our Coordinating Wildlife Biologists. Bird surveys are similar to Breeding Bird Survey protocols with 5-minute stops at each ½ mile. Reimbursement of mileage for personal vehicle use during surveys at $0.70/mile. Technician will collect vegetation data using the line-point intercept and canopy gap methods following protocols similar to Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) strategy and the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Natural Resources Inventory (NRI). Other duties to include data entry and summarization into report templates. Technician will be trained by ABC staff. However, successful candidates will already have strong bird and plant ID experience, experience with plant and/or rangeland surveys, and a strong, independent work ethic.

Primary Duties:

Primary duties include, but are not limited to:

• Bird identification on BBS-style surveys and ranch bird surveys as needed. Some surveys may include deploying and analyzing data recorded with Automated Recording Units (ARUs).
• Vegetation surveys following the line-point intercept method, canopy gap method, and additional measures of vegetation and rangeland health.
• Identification of common plant species and plant species considered a priority to habitat management of grasslands. Other species will be identified to key functional groups.
• Data entry and summarization using Excel. Data will be from bird and vegetation surveys as well as from eBird projects. Data summaries will then be input into report templates for biologists to review and then share with landowners.
• Some coordination and assistance may be needed with Motus tower maintenance and construction.

Candidates will be expected to work long hours with early starts in relatively difficult field conditions (e.g., high temperatures, exposure to the elements (sun, wind, rain), intense hiking, active cattle pastures, venomous snakes, prickly pear cactus, ticks, etc.).

• Technician may occasionally interact with landowners and the public. As such, technician must have good interpersonal skills and may be required to professionally interact with landowners in person.
• Technician will be required to drive a personal vehicle to and from field sites.
  • Mileage will be reimbursed ($ 0.70/mile) for personal vehicles driven for work purposes during the field season.
  • Personal vehicles should be in good condition and able to handle dirt/gravel/sandy roads.

*Note that road conditions may be difficult in some areas depending on weather.

This is an opportunity to be part of a large-scale grassland conservation effort involving partner conservation agencies and organizations in the Northern Great Plains.

Position Requirements:

• Experience with Great Plains plant identification, especially grasses and forbs
• Experience with vegetation surveys
• Experience with rangeland monitoring (e.g. NRCS’ NRI) is preferred but not required
• Experience with collecting data using Survey123 is preferred but not required
• Meticulous data collection skills
• Excellent navigational abilities
• Ability to work independently
• Excellent inter-personal skills
• Valid driver’s license
• Must be ≥ 18 years old, eligible to work in the US, and willing to undergo a background check
• Must be willing to gain basic Red Cross CPR/First Aid Training (online course expense to be covered by American Bird Conservancy)

Benefits:

• This position is temporary and does not include benefits.