Individual Placement - Botany Crew Member at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (ORPI)

Student Conservation Association•Ajo, AZ

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Botany Crew Member will support the botany program at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (ORPI) by contributing to vegetation monitoring, invasive species management, and landscape restoration. The role primarily involves fieldwork throughout the monument, including backcountry settings and areas along the international border. The position is based in Ajo, Arizona, and is scheduled from January 4, 2027, through April 16, 2027. The field assistant will work on invasive plant management, native plant nursery maintenance and propagation, restoration of illegal off-road vehicle routes, surveys for rare and endangered plants, and vegetation maintenance at Quitobaquito Springs. Other duties include recording field data using a variety of devices and assisting with data entry. There may also be opportunities to assist other Resource Division programs, including wildlife biology, physical sciences, cultural resources, and ecological monitoring. The position requires 40 hours per week. The field assistant will have a private room in a shared, furnished house with up to three other residents and will share a bathroom with one other person. Park housing is approximately 35 miles from the nearest grocery store in Ajo; Phoenix and Tucson are each about 2.5 hours away. Housing is provided at no charge.

Requirements

Experience working with handheld GPS, maps, and a compass for field navigation and data collection.
Ability to perform manual physical labor, including bending and stooping for up to 10 hours per day while exposed to the elements, and occasionally lift and/or move 50 pounds or more.
Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally, with a broad audience.
Ability to live and work in rural and remote field and office settings.
Must possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver's license.
Must be between ages 16 and 30 inclusive, or a veteran age 35 or younger.
Must be a U.S. citizen or national, or a lawful permanent resident alien of the United States.
Must possess a high school diploma or equivalent, agree to obtain one, or be enrolled in an institution of higher education.

Nice To Haves

Experience conducting fieldwork in a desert environment.
Familiarity with Sonoran Desert flora and/or experience identifying plants to species using a dichotomous key.
A degree or coursework in botany, ecology, natural resources, or a related field.
Familiarity with desktop and mobile mapping software, including Avenza, ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap, AGOL, Field Maps, and Survey123.

Responsibilities

Map and document invasive plant populations, hand-pull invasive plants, and assist with herbicide application under the supervision of a certified applicator.
Water and maintain nursery stock, propagate native plants for restoration outplanting, assist with germination trials, and maintain the compost pile.
Restore illegal off-road vehicle routes by raking, vertical mulching, planting and watering native plants, installing and replacing restoration signs and t-posts, installing erosion barriers, and operating trail cameras to monitor site re-use.
Assist with surveys for rare and endangered plant species.
Assist with invasive plant removal and vegetation maintenance at Quitobaquito Springs to keep trails and the spring channel in good condition.
Record field data using a variety of devices and assist with data entry.
As appropriate, assist other Resource Division programs, including wildlife biology, physical sciences, cultural resources, and ecological monitoring.