Botany Crew Lead (Boise NF and Payette NF)

Description

USFS, Idaho. Boise & Payette NF.

These positions serve to protect sensitive botanical and bumblebee species; contribute to USFS vegetation management and fuels reduction efforts; and support initiatives for healthy, productive, and resilient forest landscapes and resources. Outcomes of field work, conducted in accordance with USFS protocols, will advance planning for management actions on National Forest lands. Data will be used by resource specialists and land managers to inform decisions regarding land management at various temporal and spatial scales. Data from these surveys will inform mitigation measures set to protect targeted plant and bumblebee species, and vegetation communities considered habitat for designated wildlife. 

The Botany Field Cew Lead will work with GBI and Forest Service staff. The Field Crew Lead will coordinate a field crew (one Lead will supervise one or two Technicians) to complete botanical and bumblebee surveys in the Boise and Payette National Forests

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).

Essential Job Functions may include the following:

1. Following established field protocols to perform botanical and bumblebee field data collection. 
2. During field work, car camping for multiple, typically 2 to 3 night “hitches” in remote locations, will typically be required. 
3. Other duties will include: Maintain safety awareness and practices
4. Follow established field protocols to perform vegetation sampling and botanical and bumblebee inventories 
5. Perform botanical surveys to determine species identity, population characteristics, environmental conditions, factors affecting vigor and extent of species and their habitat
6. Perform bumblebee surveys to determine species identity, presence, population distribution, and to determine the condition of their habitat
7.  Establish sampling and monitoring plots 
8. Photograph or collect specimens as directed Produce maps of survey areas
9.  Record, enter and summarize data in FieldMaps and Survey 123 applications 
10. Use botanical keys to identify plants 
11. Assist with reporting tasks 
12. Regular communication with GBI support staff and agency staff Participation in GBI and agency trainings 
13. Managing ArcGIS Online databases
14. Identifying plants to species using dichotomous keys
15. Employing extensive QA/QC data checks
16. Leadership: Supporting and managing a field crew Coordinating field logistics and scheduling Report writing and completing administrative paperwork

LOCATION

Boise & Payette NF. Idaho.

The Boise National Forest and Payette National Forest are expansive public lands located in central and western Idaho, USA. The Boise National Forest is known for its rugged mountain terrain, diverse ecosystems, and recreational opportunities, including hiking, camping, and fishing. It spans over 2,000 square miles and offers a mix of dense forests, alpine lakes, and scenic vistas.

The Payette National Forest is similarly diverse, covering more than 2.3 million acres of mountainous terrain, featuring deep canyons, rivers, and abundant wildlife. It is particularly known for its rich history, outdoor recreation, and diverse habitats, supporting species like elk, bighorn sheep, and numerous plant species.

Both forests are vital for conservation efforts, including protecting sensitive species, and provide opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts and researchers alike.

WORK SCHEDULE

Projects begin as early as mid-April and end as late as November. Season schedules are project specific. 

Most Wildlife Crew Lead positions follow 10 hour days, 4 days a week schedule. 

Temporary Special Assignment employees are eligible to receive holiday pay, if partner approved. TSAs holiday schedule will comply with the project partner holiday schedule, unless otherwise specified in their employment offer. TSAs working five (5) eight (8) hour days per workweek will be paid eight (8) hours for all holidays. TSAs working four (4) ten (10) hour days per workweek will be paid ten (10) hours for all holidays.  Same with other approved/allowable workweek configurations; these can be accommodated accordingly with Banked Holiday(s).

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Wage: $26/hour with overtime at 1.5x hourly rate. Full time, average 40 hours per week

BENEFITS WILL NEED REVIEW EVERY TIME POSTED ( 1 YR OR <1 YR OR <90 DAYS)

>1YR duration In addition to a competitive base salary, this full-time,onsite position includes company-paid comprehensive medical, dental (with option to upgrade in coverage), and vision insurance, as well as $25,000 Life/AD&D policy. Voluntary short-term and long-term disability policies are available, and voluntary Life/AD&D policies for family members.  Mental health support resources are employer provided, competitive PTO accrual, and paid holidays. This exciting role contributes to GBI’s significant positive impacts within the fields of environmental research, education, and conservation.

TSA employees who serve a term under 52 weeks in duration, and have a thirty (30) day or less break between terms, and then sign a second term that (cumulatively) becomes greater than 52 weeks of employment, will be eligible for the >1-year TSA benefits (equivalent to Regular full-time employees).
 

Qualifications

Requirements/Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, employees must be able to satisfactorily carry out each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Ability to understand, implement and adhere to established data collection, inventory, assessment, and monitoring protocols
• Leadership experience, including supervising field crews and managing projects simultaneously
• Skills in GPS navigation and map reading
• Physical ability for fieldwork in remote areas, including overnight camping if necessary
• Effective communication skills for coordination with multidisciplinary teams
• 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
• Experience leading crews in the field preferred
• Experience hiking off trail
• Experience identifying plants in the field and using a dichotomous key
• Experience conducting plant surveys using various monitoring protocols, including standard rangeland monitoring protocols, photo plots, and site observations
• Experience with data entry and management
• Experience with technical writing and/or producing written project summary reports
• Ability to read, interpret and navigate using topographic maps
• Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, often in remote areas on unimproved roads
• Experience navigating and collecting coordinates with hand-held GPS units
• Experience creating maps and performing basic functions with GIS software (ArcPro or ArcGIS Online)
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access); and
• Experience with Field Maps, Survey 123, and ArcGIS Online.

Additional requirements:

• Willingness and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic setting, and to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the goals and objectives of the Forest Service and the mission of GBI
• Willingness to mentor and foster professional development for members of your crew
• Valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record
• Familiarity with the flora of the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain Flora and associated natural resource issues preferred
• Ability to work productively as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, agency staff, and a diverse public
• Ability to accurately complete administrative tasks on time (e.g., timesheet, paperwork, etc.)
• Excellent organizational skills
• Familiarity with best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles
• Experience in and willingness to spend multiple days camping in the field
• Willingness to work irregular hours (e.g., early mornings, late nights); and
• Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, work in all types of weather conditions, traverse uneven terrain, carry upwards of 40 pounds in a backpack, and otherwise maintain good physical condition.

1. Education: Bachelor’s degree in botany, biology, ecology, or rangeland ecology or other natural resources with coursework in plant or biological sciences or a minimum of 1 year of field data collection identifying plants

TO APPLY

Qualified applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview. For questions regarding this position, please contact

kmckinnon@gbinstitute.org

PHYSICAL DEMANDS  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands, stand, walk, bend, and have specific vision abilities to include close and distance vision, and ability to adjust focus working with computer business equipment and other job/industry specific equipment. The noise level in the work environment is usually low.

NOTE:  This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the organization's ongoing needs.

Disclaimer: Although the organization has attempted to accurately and thoroughly describe this position, GBI reserves the right to change the same, including to change, add to or subtract from the duties outlined, within the sole discretion of the organization, at any time, with or without advance notice.

Salary : $21 - $26