Seed Bank Technician

Become our next Seed Bank Technician!

About Mojave Desert Land Trust

The Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. Our mission is to protect the Mojave and Colorado Desert ecosystems and their natural, scenic, and cultural resource values. Our service area spans nearly 26 million acres. Since 2006 we have secured permanent and lasting protection for over 125,000 acres.

MDLT is at an important inflection point. We are striving to meet significant environmental challenges in the desert with bold action to protect and restore land for the wildlife and people who call it home.

About our Team

We are a team of highly motivated and passionate people who care deeply about our mission and one another. At MDLT, we believe in and support workplace diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. It is our belief that a diverse and inclusive workforce leads to better discussions, decisions, and outcomes for everyone. In recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs. If you have the skills, the passion to make an impact, and enjoy an enthusiastic work environment where differences of opinion and diverse backgrounds are respected and welcomed, then we want to hear from you!

Job Summary

The Seed Bank Technician (Technician) is responsible for the collection, processing, and propagation of seed from MDLT properties and other lands within MDLT’s service area. The Technician is responsible for following MDLT’s protocols while scouting, collecting, processing, and testing native plant seed, recording, and entering collection data, and assisting with seed amplification in the nursery. The Technician will primarily focus on field or lab tasks depending on interest, ability, and workload, and will work alongside Mojave Desert Seed Bank and Native Plant Nursery Program staff and volunteers.

Employment Status

Regular full-time position working 40 hours per week, in-person. The position is a Regular Full-Time position normally scheduled to work a 9/80 work schedule. This schedule allows employees to work a total of 40 hours over a two-week period, but with an extended weekend every other week. Frequent overnight primitive camping is required during the spring and summer months of the year to conduct seed scouting and collecting activities. Technicians should expect to be in the field 20-30 weeks in a year, with at least one night of overnight camping per week. Travel throughout the MDLT service area in the Mojave and Colorado deserts is required. Occasional evening, weekend, and overtime work required.

Essential Functions

• Assists with the day-to-day operations of the seed bank, with an emphasis on seed scouting, collection, processing, and testing.
• Works closely with Program staff to develop collection priorities and implement them in the field.
• Conducts seed and herbarium collection on lands owned, managed, and/or monitored by MDLT under supervision of Field Coordinator and/or Program Manager.
• Interacts with private landowners, the public, agencies, and other conservation organizations.
• Collects and enters field data for all collections.
• Works with volunteers in seed collection, processing, and propagation.
• Maintains a clean and safe work environment.
• Understands and follows MDLT seed collection and processing guidelines.
• Assists in the nursery as needed, and with annual plant sales.
• Fulfills other duties as assigned in support of the Program.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience which would likely provide the necessary knowledge and abilities may be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would include the following:

Experience

• One year of work experience in an outdoor setting, such as agriculture, natural resource management, or similar field.
• Experience working with and identifying California native plants.

Education and/or Training

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, horticulture, or related field, or compelling evidence of equivalent education and/or experience.

Certificates, Licenses, Registration

• Must possess and maintain in good standing a valid California Class C Driver’s License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Applicant must have the ability to work long days and/or multiple days in the field during spring and summer months.
• Knowledge and experience in safely operating 4WD vehicles in a variety of terrains preferred.
• Physically able and willing to camp in remote and primitive areas for multiple days.
• Knowledge of California native plant species, their scientific names, and diagnostic traits preferred.
• Ability to keep and maintain detailed records.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with demonstrated effectiveness in working collaboratively, working with volunteers, and professionally representing MDLT.
• Proven self-starter, able to work efficiently and effectively with minimal supervision and able to appropriately use initiative to meet project goals; having the maturity and discretion to seek advice and policy guidance when needed and appropriate.
• Excellent judgement with respect to maintaining a safe work environment.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite. (SharePoint, OneDrive, Outlook)
• Working knowledge of ArcGIS preferred.

Physical and Mental Demands

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

Subject to reasonable accommodation in accordance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA):

• Possess the ability to frequently carry, push, pull, reach, and lift objects up to 50 pounds.
• Frequently stoops, kneels, crouches, crawls, and climbs while completing essential functions of the job.
• Hearing and vision within normal ranges with or without correction.
• Visual acuity, manual dexterity, and attention to detail sufficient to clean seeds proficiently and adjust sensitive lab equipment. Ability to spend extended periods of time in the laboratory performing complex protocols. Ability to take careful notes.
• Be physically active for prolonged periods without getting tired or out of breath. Ability to hike and scramble on uneven terrain.
• Ability to use digital navigation and mapping tools.
• Frequently works in inclement weather including heat, cold, rain and wind.
• Uses pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals substances.
• Regularly required to operate MDLT vehicles.
• Work in an office environment with some exposure to dust, dirt, and hazardous materials.
• Work at a desk for extended periods of time. Stand, walk, and sit for extended periods.
• Communicate orally with MDLT management, co-workers, volunteers, vendors, and the public in face-to-face, one-on-one and group settings. Regularly use the telephone for communications.
• Ability to use office equipment such as computer, keyboard, and copiers. Ability to look at computer monitors for extended periods of time.

Why our employees love working at MDLT

MDLT is the type of organization where you can balance great work with great life. Every day we go to work filled with passion to be excellent, to creatively problem solve and to innovate.

Pay will be based on experience and qualifications, ranging from $19.34 to $20.51 per hour. We also offer an excellent benefit package including:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance Benefits
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with a generous company match
• Generous paid time off – extensive vacation, holidays, personal time, and sick time – (additional paid Winter Break between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day)
• Cell Phone Stipend
• Flexible Savings Account (FSA) Pre-tax savings for medical expenses not covered by insurance
• Dependent Care Savings Account Pre-tax savings for childcare services