Temporary Rare Care Field Technician I (Part-Time)
About The Position
Washington Rare Plant Care and Conservation (Rare Care) has a position available for a Rare Care Field Technician I . Position Description: The qualified individual to assist with fieldwork for seed collecting, ecological studies and vegetation monitoring. This position will support several ongoing projects in Washington State in a variety of ecosystems including shrub steppe in the Columbia Basin and coniferous forests of the east Cascade foothills. The Field Technician will work independently and occasionally in a crew of two to four people in rural and undeveloped areas that may require up to eight miles of hiking a day. The Technician may learn the local flora, build botanical knowledge, and build skills in collecting ecological data. Strong applicants will be passionate about the botanical world and other natural systems and demonstrate a willingness to share that passion and knowledge with other team members. Specific duties include: Collect seeds of rare native plant populations for ex situ seed banking Map and record populations with handheld GPS units Prepare seed collecting reports and Arc GIS maps to document collections Process seeds for long term storage Monitor vegetation (species cover and composition data, plant morphology measurements) and estimate plant and canopy cover Identify plants to species using botanical dichotomous keys Assist with day-to-day field logistics and maintain field equipment Perform field data collection, data entry, and QA/QC
Requirements
- Undergraduate coursework in botany, biology, environmental science or a related field.
- Ability to work and travel outdoors in variable weather including extreme heat, heavy rain and hazardous wildlife (i.e. rattlesnakes, scorpions) while maintaining a positive to neutral attitude.
- Capable of standing and walking (up to 8 miles/day on rough, uneven terrain), bending, crouching and stooping for long periods of time.
- Lifting/carrying items that weigh up to 30 pounds.
- Current or ability to obtain CPR and First Aid training.
- Self-motivated and able to serve independently with limited supervision after the initial training period.
- Able to work cooperatively with others and strong communication skills.
- Valid driver’s license.
- Two years college credits with major study in engineering or science, OR two years work experience equivalent to that performed by a research aide.
- Equivalent education/experience.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s degree in botany, biology, environmental science or a related field or equivalent experience.
- Experience with standard vegetation sampling techniques and familiarity with basic field sampling equipment.
- Experience with working and traveling in remote areas.
- Familiarity with the flora and ecosystems of Washington State and use of dichotomous keys.
- The applicant should be able to maneuver and operate in a mixture of office and fieldwork.
Responsibilities
- Collect seeds of rare native plant populations for ex situ seed banking
- Map and record populations with handheld GPS units
- Prepare seed collecting reports and Arc GIS maps to document collections
- Process seeds for long term storage
- Monitor vegetation (species cover and composition data, plant morphology measurements) and estimate plant and canopy cover
- Identify plants to species using botanical dichotomous keys
- Assist with day-to-day field logistics and maintain field equipment
- Perform field data collection, data entry, and QA/QC
Benefits
- Benefits: For information about benefits for this position, visit https://www.washington.edu/jobs/benefits-for-temporary-per-diem-and-less-than-half-time/
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
