Botany Technician - Eldorado National Forest

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the Eldorado National Forest, is seeking ONE Botany Technician to work alongside Forest Service staff.

Local candidates are encouraged to apply!

Start Date: April 15, 2024

Estimated End Date: October 3, 2024

*a 25-week minimum commitment is desired *

Location Details/Description: Pollock Pines, CA Eldorado National Forest, Pacific Ranger District

The Eldorado National Forest is located in the central Sierra Nevada region within California and encompasses a total of 798,279 acres, which includes 193,027 acres of private ownership.

The Eldorado National Forest is bordered on the north by the Tahoe National Forest, on the east by the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and the Humboldt-Toiyabe, and to the south by the Stanislaus National Forest. The Eldorado is within 3 - 4 hours of the San Francisco Bay Area and about 1 - 1 1/2 hours from Sacramento. It ranges in elevation from 1,000 feet in the foothills to more than 10,000 feet above sea level along the Sierra crest. The mountainous topography is broken by the steep canyons of the Mokelumne, Cosumnes, American, and Rubicon rivers. Plateaus of generally moderate relief are located between these steep canyons.

The forest is also home to 297 lakes and reservoirs (including both public and private acreage), which total 11,994 surface acres. 11 large reservoirs account for 9,000 acres. The rest are mostly small, high mountain lakes. Both the rivers and lakes provide excellent fishing opportunities. The Eldorado National Forest provides diverse recreational opportunities to the public. The Forest offers every visitor the chance to enjoy nature and be outdoors. In addition to two popular wilderness areas (Desolation Wilderness and Mokelumne Wilderness), the forest offers more than 70-day use and overnight developed recreation facilities across the forest for the individual, families and groups.

For more information on the Eldorado National Forest, please click here.

Position Overview:

• Work for this position will take place in the North Zone of the Eldorado National Forest (Georgetown and Pacific Ranger Districts). The successful applicant will work as a member of the six-person North Zone botany team. Team members will:
  • Conduct surveys for threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant (TESP) species
  • Conduct surveys for known TESP populations to determine trends.
  • Conducts surveys of project locations to determine presence/absence of TESP species within Eldorado National Forest
  • Inventory, monitor, and map new and existing TESP and weed populations utilizing agency data collection applications, commercial global positioning systems and topographic maps.
  • Operate, maintain, and inventory weed management equipment.
  • Implement protection measures for TESP plant species in project areas
  • Implement protection measures to prevent the spread of invasive weed species
  • Aid partners in seed collection and pollinator surveys of TESP plant species
  • Aid partners in large scale seed collection of common species

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule: Mon-Thurs, 7:00am - 6:00pm

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $795/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided USFS Barracks depending on availability. Each member will receive reimbursement for housing costs up to a weekly rate not to exceed $100 per week.

Provided Training/Orientation: The ACE member will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. The Forest Service will provide the member with Avenza and Collector/Survey123 field data collection systems training. Additional training may include cross-training with other departments.

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required two-part criminal history check
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position should have a bachelor's degree in Botany, Resource Management, or relevant professional experiences in closely related fields.
• Experience and/or ability to learn the use of a GPS unit.
• Database management and ArcGIS software experience.
• Plant identification
• 4x4 vehicle and ATV experience
• Members should be capable of working alone, or with other people, during early morning hours, night, or during the day.
• Members should be capable of working in remote locations for backcountry work trips over an extended period of time, primitive camping

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to the online application page for this position here: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/. Early consideration will be given as resumes are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact USFS/BLM Member Manager, Caris Hill at chill@usaconservation.org.

EEO: American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

Current Openings for Botany Technician Eldorado National Forest Jobs at American Conservation Experience - EPIC