Land Health Assessment Lead (ID)

Position Objectives:
The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the Idaho Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is recruiting an experienced environmental scientist (ecologist) to work cooperatively as a Land Heath Assessment Lead for (3) two-person interdisciplinary field teams. The overall objective of the team is to perform land health assessments through inventory and monitoring of ID public range lands and riparian systems (Proper Functioning Condition). Biotic (vegetation), hydrologic, and soil indicators are used in conjunction with quantitative data to inform conservation planning and adaptive management decisions. As a candidate species under the Endangered Species Act, specific emphasis will be placed on sage grouse habitat to achieve a healthy and productive ecological condition.

Duties:
General field duties include walking long distances over uneven terrain; implementation of standardized assessment and monitoring protocols ( 1. Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring [AIM] Strategy and 2. Interpreting Indicators for Range Health [IIRH]); generate sampling site locations using
randomized selection; taking GPS points and photos at each site; data management; and reporting on a quarterly basis. 

Specific duties for the LHA Lead include:
* Supervision, management, and coordination of all LHA teams;
* Acting liaison to BLM staff  and other project affiliates;
* Project planning, equipment organization and maintenance, vehicle coordination, field protocol and data QA/QC, and team deployment;
* Data organization, processing and QA/QC; post processing GPS points; utilizing GIS to edit polygons as well as point and line data; and to create
reports with GIS maps, pictures and concise field notes;
* Occasional travel, camping, and site visits to BLM district offices;
* Plan and coordinate with BLM staff on current and future projects; and
* Complete and submit quarterly reports to GBI April, July, and October 15th in addition to a final report no later than November 02, 2012;

The successful applicants must have strong communication skills (both verbal
and written) and exhibit strong leadership and organization skills. Office tasks include data organization, processing and QA/QC; post-processing GPS points; utilizing GIS to edit polygons as well as point and line data; and to create reports with GIS maps, pictures and concise field notes. This
position requires advanced GIS skills in ArcGIS 9.x and related mapping software and will play a vital role in facilitating the effective and efficient collection of monitoring data. This position will require pre-season travel to and from field sites with occasional camping in order to ground truth transect start points and to ensure that all transects are
successfully completed during the field season and may require long hours including early mornings and weekends.

Location:
Terrain is typical of the Great Basin with wide long valleys bordered by mountain ranges. Field conditions include hot, arid days with high exposure
to the sun, as well as cold, damp winter weather. Resources include big game habitat, Wilderness Study Areas, active grazing allotments, abandoned mine lands, historic and prehistoric cultural sites, and wild horse management areas.

Qualifications:
* Bachelor’s degree in one of the major natural sciences – applicants with advanced degrees encouraged to apply;
* Understanding of basic principles related to the fields of botany, soil science, wildlife biology, geology, and/or hydrology;
* Applicants should possess relevant or related field experience – knowledge of and/or experience working in sage grouse habitat and/or high desert
ecology, preferable;
* Ability to navigate and set a bearing using a compass and to read a topographical map;
* Ability to collect, QA/QC, and post-process data using handheld GPS units, required;
* Possess a clear understanding of GIS theory and applications, including experience with ArcGIS 9.x to create maps, manipulate and analyze data, and
generate reports;
* Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with a diverse audience;
* Physically fit to work outdoors, carry personal and field equipment, and withstand working and camping in inclement weather during summer, fall,
and/or early winter in northern Nevada; and
* Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license and the ability to operate a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads.



How to Apply:
Qualified and interested applicants should forward a cover letter, their résumé, and a list of three professional references to Stacy Mitchell, GBI
HR Assistant, at [email protected].  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.