Invasive Plant Management Crew Lead

GREAT BASIN INSTITUTE • Bishop, CA

19d • $26 - $26

About The Position

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the Inyo National Forest, is recruiting one Invasive Plant Management Crew Lead. This project will contribute to the Basin & Range Forestry program’s mission of assisting the USFS in their critical goal of reducing the extent and spread of invasive plant infestations that threaten wildland values in a timely and cost-effective manner, while protecting human health and ecosystem functions. The work you will do will directly enhance the quality of California’s forests, ensuring their continued vitality for generations to come. The Invasive Plant Management Crew Lead will support agency staff and crew member in implementing the forests integrated pest management program for invasive species control. Work will include early detection rapid response (EDRR) surveys, infestation mapping, treatment, and monitoring. Invasive species treatments will focus on addressing risks to diverse ecosystems, watersheds and wildlife habitat across the forest The Crew Lead will be responsible for crew safety and oversight, including coordination of daily tasks and project needs, providing or assisting in training, communicating regularly with agency staff to plan and assess crew accomplishments, and liaising with GBI staff as needed. A Temporary Special Assignment (TSA) employee is one who is hired for a specific temporary assignment external from the institute’s administrative operations with one of GBI’s partners for 52 weeks or greater or less than 52 weeks and may work full-time (30 or more hours per week) or part-time (less than 30 hours per week).

Requirements

• Experience managing invasive species in a wildland setting
• Experience using technical keys and other resources to identify plants to the species level
• Ability to lead one crew member in surveying, inventorying, treating, and monitoring invasive species
• Experience safely handling, mixing, and transporting herbicide, and maintaining application equipment
• Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license with the ability to safely operate and maintain a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads
• Ability to work effectively in a team setting with USFS staff, GBI staff, interns, volunteers, academic, state, and federal partners
• Proficiency in navigation using GPS, topographic map and compass
• Ability to work safely and productively in remote field settings under adverse conditions. This includes occasionally overnight camping and backpacking in remote areas for consecutive nights
• Ability to understand, implement and adhere to established data collection protocols
• Capacity to collect and maintain field data in an organized manner that is easily understood and accessible to other resource staff
• Strong organizational skills and ability to work cooperatively as well as independently
• Strong communication skills with diverse audiences, both written and oral
• Physically fit to work outdoors, including hiking up to 10 miles a day with a heavy pack, carry 25 pounds continuously and 50 pounds occasionally, repeated digging and pulling, and similar actions.
• Experience leading crews in the field, including oversight of crew safety, communication, fidelity to methods and data quality
• Bachelor’s degree in botany, plant ecology, or a closely related field in the biological sciences, including coursework in plant taxonomy and/or systematics AND one year of botany related field work; OR
• Three years of professional fieldwork experience.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of the flora of the Eastern Sierra, Great Basin and Mojave Desert Ecoregions

Responsibilities

• Survey areas for new infestations of invasive species
• Map and characterize new infestations and update information on existing infestations
• Treat infestations using a variety of chemical and mechanical methods
• Monitor treatment effectiveness
• Utilize GIS to plan, track and report Invasive species management actions
• Complete quality assurance and quality control on all data collected
• Enter data in to Forest databases
• Lead and mentor Invasive Plant Management technician

Benefits

• Medical, dental (with an option for upgraded coverage), and vision insurance
• A $25,000 Life/AD&D policy
• Voluntary short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Optional Life/AD&D coverage for family members
• Mental health support resources
• Generous paid time off (PTO) accrual and paid holidays
• Reasonable shared accommodation will be provided to the crew lead and member as part of the compensation package.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level