Vegetation Monitoring (AIM) Crew Lead

POSITION TITLE: Vegetation Monitoring (AIM) Crew Lead

STATUS: Seasonal (early April to mid-October 2024) full-time, Non-exempt. 

REPORTS TO: Conservation Science Coordinator or Spatial Ecologist
POSITIONS REPORTING TO THIS POSITION: Two Technicians

LOCATION: Smith Valley, NV

EXPECTED PAY RANGE: $23-25/hr, plus $40/night per diem while on hitch

Description: The Walker Basin Conservancy partners with the Bureau of Land Management to implement Assessment Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) surveys in western Nevada and eastern California. The AIM strategy is designed to collect standardized inventory and long-term vegetation and soils data to monitor habitat at multiple scales across the Western U.S. The Vegetation Monitoring Technicians will work in teams of three (two technicians and a Crew Lead) to conduct vegetation and ecological monitoring surveys within western Nevada (Carson City District) or eastern California (Bishop Field Office). There will be two crews in NV and one in CA. Crews will work on eight-day hitches, from Wednesday to Wednesday (10hr/day), with six days off in-between hitches.

The ideal candidate will

• Possess experience, knowledge and skills related to natural resources sampling, and data management.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills.
• Familiarity with the Great Basin Flora.
• Comfortable performing repetitive tasks with high accuracy and precision.
• Be organized and efficient in the field and work well in a team both leading and taking direction.
• Comfortable working outside in remote settings and camping in the field.

Expectations and Core Accountabilities

• Lead vegetation monitoring activities utilizing terrestrial Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) and wetland Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) protocols.
• Assess field situations independently, using problem solving and decision making to proactively mitigate problems and implement effective solutions.
• Collect vegetation and soil data (i.e. species richness, canopy cover, soil texture).
• Utilize dichotomous keys to identify plants to species.
• Extensive 4×4 driving on unmaintained roads with 4WD trucks or UTVs.
• Perform data management, including ensuring proper and complete data collection in the field utilizing Survey123 and Field Maps.
• Demonstrate Conservancy’s Core Values: Make a Difference, Ensure Excellence, and Own It.

Requirements

• Ability to lead a crew, problem solve in the field, and address team concerns with minimal oversight. Past leadership experience is strongly preferred.
• Ability to keep organized and capture detailed data records utilizing ESRI applications (Survey123 and FieldMaps).
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team, and individually when necessary.
• Working knowledge of plant identification, soil identification, as well as experience with habitat monitoring, particularly Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) methods strongly preferred.
• Ability to work outside in remote locations, sometimes independently and in extreme weather conditions. Past backcountry camping or hiking experience and a wilderness first aid certification is preferred, but not required.
• Navigate to field sites on rough roads with 4×4 trucks or UTVs.

Benefits

• Employer paid health, dental and vision plans
• Generous vacation, personal time, and sick leave.
• 403(b) plan
• Health and wellness stipend of $300 annually.
• Pro-deals for outdoor industry.
• Employer paid professional development.