GIS Technician w/ the Great Basin Institue

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land
Management, Needles Field Office is seeking to hire a GIS Technician to
assist in the collection, organization and management of GIS data, provide
support of the BLM’s Wilderness Monitoring program, and support of the
update of the Needles Field Office Lands with Wilderness Characteristic
Inventory.

Likely 60% of the Technicians time will be spent working with the BLM State
Office GIS Team, and the Needles Field Office staff to organize and manage
GIS data and to ensure that staff develop the capabilities to utilize the
system. Work processes will include representing our office to the State GIS
Team, organizing/editing existing data, and providing guidance to office
staff on the utilization of the office GPS/GIS system.

The Bureau has adopted "Keeping it Wild: An Interagency Strategy to
Monitoring Trends in Wilderness Character Across the National Wilderness
Preservation System" as the protocol used to monitor BLM Wilderness areas.
The Needles Field Office manages over 20% of the Bureaus Wilderness in 18
units. The program includes an inventory of various aspects of Wilderness
character involving both review of various field office program records,
field observations and survey. Field data is collected utilizing GPS and
then stored, analyzed and spatially depicted using GIS.

The Bureau also maintains an inventory of Lands with Wilderness
Characteristics, which are not currently designated as Wilderness. This
inventory requires updating on a routine basis. The office has completed
much of this update, but still requires an assessment of the primitive
backcountry roads within the Lands with Wilderness Characteristic Units.
This will require a GIS analysis of potential roads, and then field review
of the roads to measure their conditions against a preexisting criteria.

The Technician will conduct much of this work in coordination with BLM
staff, and may also serve as a Team Lead for a short term conservation crew
to help with the field survey and data collection.

Most of the work will be performed in an office setting, however, field work
will include rugged terrain; to include very steep, rough, uneven or rocky
surfaces; positions require physical exertions, such as, bending, crouching
and stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities. Individuals
should be capable of working in pairs in the field or individually in an
office environment.  Work may occur in temperature extremes exceeding 100F.
 There is some flexibility in choosing a work schedule, but likely the
Technician will work five 8-hour days (Monday - Friday), or four 10 hour
days with flexibility as long as the 40 hours/per week was being met.

Compensation:
o Rate of Pay: $18.59/hr
o Health and dental benefits
o Occasional field per diem
o Housing Allowance: $200.00 per month

Timeline:
o October 2012 through September 2013, or until funds are expended.
Potential for extension pending funding and performance review.

Qualifications:
o Coursework in recreation/wilderness management, natural resources, or
equivalent field experience desirable;
o Experience collecting field data and/or following established field
collection protocols;
o Experience creating maps and manipulating data using ArcGIS;
o Knowledge of Trimble GPS units, ArcMap, and ArcPad sotware;
o Experience with database development and management, including the
development and use of geo-databases.
o Ability to read and navigate using USGS topographic maps and a compass;
o Experience writing project reports and/or presenting technical data in an
organized and understandable manner;
o Motivated, self-starter, detail oriented, and possess good organizational
skills;
o Ability to camp and work in remote locations;
o Willingness to work to accomplish the goals and mission of the BLM and GBI;
o Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, traverse
uneven terrain and hike cross-country for extended distances (8-10 miles); and
o Clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license with ability to safely operate
a 4WD vehicle on paved and unpaved roads.
o Local applicants are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply:
Qualified and interested applicants should forward a cover letter, their
résumé, and a list of three professional references to Stacy Mitchell, HR
Coordinator, at smitchell@thegreatbasininstitute.org. Please include where
you found this position posted.

This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national
origin, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or
religion. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.