VEGETATION & ECOLOGICAL MONITORING

WITH

THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

AND

SOUTHWEST CONSERVATION CORPS

POSITION TITLE:              Crew Lead

POSITION TYPE:              Full-time, temporary, 28 weeks

LOCATIONS:                    Montrose, Dolores, Grand Junction, Cañon City, Monte Vista, and Gunnison, CO

SALARY:                          $685/week

BENEFITS:                      Paid training; camping food allowance; health benefits package

HIRING BENEFITS:           Public Land Corps hiring authority: _eligible to use, for two years upon completion of term, a noncompetitive hiring status for consideration when applying to competitive service positions for a federal agency. _

PROGRAM DATES:          From June 1, 2020 to December 11, 2020 or earlier (end date TBD)

SOUTHWEST CONSERVATION CORPS’S MISSION

It is the mission of the Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) to empower individuals to positively impact their lives, their communities, and the environment. For more information, visit www.sccorps.org.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

Participants will manage all aspects of vegetation monitoring using the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Assessment, Inventory, & Monitoring (AIM) methodology.  More information on the BLM’s AIM strategy can be found on the AIM website: http://aim.landscapetoolbox.org/.  Crews will consist of two crew members and one crew lead.  Together, they will monitor land health on BLM lands including National Monument lands, vegetation treatments, rangeland allotments, or reference areas.

Within all plots, the crew identifies vegetation to species, gathers species cover and composition data using line-point intercept, measures soil surface stability, and describes soil pits.  Data are georeferenced using a GPS unit and stored in an ArcGIS geodatabase.  Data are entered into a database on site with ruggedized tablets and are further analyzed and synthesized into various reports for future land management planning.  The crew may also assist with other public land management projects involving wildlife, range, and forestry.

Fieldwork is often in remote areas.  Crews are often required to drive to several different areas of the Field or District Office throughout a four- to eight-day work week (“hitch”), camp overnight, share camp meals and chores, hike several miles per day, and return to the office for equipment and data management.

CREW LEAD’S RESPONSIBILITIES

The crew lead supports and manages the field crew’s safety, wellbeing, development, and discipline.  Consistently exercises discretion and judgment.  Coordinates field logistics, scheduling, and crew tasks.  Oversees equipment management. 

Is a primary contact for the crew members, SCC staff, and BLM staff.  Completes necessary administrative paperwork.  Provides/asks for feedback to/from crew members, project lead, and SCC staff.  Completes mid-term and end-of-term written evaluations for self and crew members.

Before, during, and after field data collection, the lead is responsible for the organization and quality control of all AIM data collected.  As time allows, the crew lead will analyze, interpret, or make deductions for varying data, and report data to various BLM offices and stakeholders.  Written reports involve the presentation of scientific data and pre/post treatment analysis.

The crew lead should be passionate about sound science principles, be an advocate for the AIM program in the field office, and have a willingness to learn about how AIM data could be used in range, forestry, fire, and wildlife programs within the BLM.  They should also be passionate about facilitating the crew members’ experience similarly.

MINIMAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• College degree (Bachelor’s, at minimum) in ecology, botany, range science, soil science, wildlife biology, natural resource management, conservation biology, or a related field.
  • OR previous experience performing AIM or similar methodology
• Aged at least 21 years upon hire
• Able to produce identification as stipulated by I-9 upon hire
• Valid US driver's license and insurable driving record
• Able to pass Conservation Legacy’s and the Department of Interior’s background checks
• At least 1 to 2 years of experience identifying and/or using taxonomic keys to identify plants to species in the field, from photos, and from pressed specimens.
  • OR other communicable, proficient knowledge of plant identification
• Experience with and knowledge of Microsoft Suite Software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or other data-collection software
• Self-motivated and able to work independently with limited supervision after the initial training period. Must be able to operate in both office and field.
• Willing to manage and empower crew members in accordance with SCC’s mission and the BLM’s expectations.
• Physically capable of standing and walking (at a maximum 6 miles/day to/from plot, plus walking on plot, on rough, uneven terrain); bending, crouching, and stooping for long periods of time; and lifting/carrying items that weigh up to 40 pounds, in upwards of 100 degree (F) heat while maintaining a professional demeanor.
• Experience and willingness to spending multiple days (1-6 days at a time) car-camping in remote areas; familiarity with and willingness to adhere to best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles
• Willing to spend several hours per day and/or per week riding in, navigating, and driving a work vehicle on- and off-highway.
• Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, often in remote areas on unimproved roads. Willingness to constantly teach and demonstrate best driving practices.
• Able to work in and respond to adverse weather conditions including extreme heat, monsoonal rains, and hazardous wildlife (i.e. rattlesnakes, scorpions)
• With current, or able to obtain: CPR, First Aid and Defensive Driver Training Certificates

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• At least 6 months’ experience in vegetation monitoring and leading a crew of 2 or more people
• Applicants with previous AIM or Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health experience are highly preferred.
• Experience working as part of a team and able to work well with others
• Excellent communication, organizational, and planning skills
• Familiarity with CO flora and its associated taxonomic keys is preferred.
• Experience with hand texturing, characterizing soil pits, and identifying soil series or ecological sites based on observational and quantitative data
• Experience with handheld GPS units and External GNSS GPS antennae and basic troubleshooting
• Experience with ArcMap, ArcCatalog and ArcGIS Online interface
• Knowledge of creating maps, performing basic analysis and statistical tests, and organizing data
• Knowledge of downloading, using, and syncing ArcGIS Online Maps
• Field Safety and Risk Management Training

PUBLIC LAND CORPS:

The Public Land Corps (PLC) program provides the opportunity for young people between the ages of 16 and 30 (civilian) or 35 (veteran) years to work on conservation projects on public lands. Participants must successfully complete 640 hours that include at least 120 hours on federal lands through the PLC. PLC members are not federal government employees, but those who successfully complete the PLC requirements are then eligible to use, for two years, a noncompetitive hiring status for consideration when applying to competitive service positions. https://www.blm.gov/careers/students-and-grads/public-lands-corps

TO APPLY, GO TO PAGE: HTTPS://SCCORPS-OPENHIRE.SILKROAD.COM/EPOSTINGS/INDEX.CFM?FUSEACTION=APP.JOBINFO&JOBID=1903&SOURCE=ONLINE&JOBOWNER=992385&COMPANY_ID=16984&VERSION=1&BYBUSINESSUNIT=&BYCOUNTRY=0&BYSTATE=0&BYREGION=&BYLOCATION=NULL&KEYWORDS=&BYCAT=NULL&PROXIMITYCOUNTRY=&POSTALCODE=&RADIUSDISTANCE=&ISKILOMETERS=&TOSEARCH=YES&CITY=

_And begin an application at the bottom of the page.  Application involves cover letter, resume/CV, and screening questions. _

We anticipate beginning the interview process in January.  Apply now for advance consideration.  Feel free to reach out to Ecological Monitoring Coordinator Cassandra Owen at cowen@conservationlegacy.org with questions.

Required Skills Required Experience

COMPUTER SKILLS

• BASIC OUTLOOK skills as evidenced by creating and sending messages, working with address books, message handling, creating and using personal folders, scheduling appointments, working with meeting requests and managing tasks.
• BASIC MICROSOFT WORD skills as evidenced by the ability to produce basic business letters and simple tables and charts; as well as check spelling, set tabs, change page orientation, sort, save, open and organize electronic files.

OTHER SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE

• Demonstrated ability to observe and relate to people with objectivity, sensitivity, and tact.
• Demonstrated excellence in key leadership competency areas of effective written and verbal communication, successful problem solving, and prioritizing skills.
• Ability to facilitate meetings and make presentations as required.
• Positive attitude and tolerance to stress
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as treatment or habilitation plans, safety rules, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to communicate effectively with groups of individuals, their family members, and other service providers or employees of the agency.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of options in situations where only limited instructions exist.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Standing 25% of the day. Walking 25% of the day.  Sitting 50% of the day.
• Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, push, pull, and lift.
• Occasionally required to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Visual acuity necessary to prepare and analyze information, view a computer terminal, and determine the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned.
• May be exposed to infectious diseases.