The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land

Management (BLM) and US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) is recruiting one

Native Seed Technician to join our AmeriCorps program to conduct seed

collecting and ecological restoration activities throughout the Great Basin

on Department of Interior (DOI) lands.

Primary Responsibilities:

Scouting and identifying populations of target native plant species

suitable for the program;

GPS mapping populations of plants, disturbance areas, and other features

using tablets, handheld devices, ArcGIS Online, ArcMap, and ArcCollector;

Monitoring the phenology of plant populations to identify optimal seed

collection times;

Collecting seed from plant populations for both restoration and

conservation collections and completing data forms in accordance with the

Seeds of Success (SOS) Technical Protocol;

Processing and shipping seed;

Taking herbarium vouchers, and processing and shipping as necessary.

Collecting tissue samples for genetic analysis and processing and

shipping;

Recording data electronically and on paper data forms, entering and editing

data related to restoration activities;

Photographing collection sites and plants;

Maintenance and regular inventory of field gear;

Daily and monthly vehicle checks, driving up to 5 hours a day;

Assisting with the coordination of conservation crew work;

Assisting with the coordination of volunteer seed collection and

restoration events;

Provide support for arid land restoration projects;

Monitoring and maintenance of reciprocal transplant study plots;

Reporting accomplishments and providing recommendations for program

improvements, priorities, and future projects.

Related Responsibilities:

Participate in trainings provided by BLM and US Fish & Wildlife staff and

community partners;

Meet with Host Site Supervisor on a regular basis;

Participate in required national service days; and

Participate in regular AmeriCorps team meetings.

Physical Demands:

Field work involves driving GBI trucks on both highways and 4WD roads,

often for 100+ miles per day as well as hiking off designated trails or

routes, across rugged terrain, up to 5 miles per day, but more typically

0-1 mile per day. Seed collection requires regular stooping, standing and

maneuvering on uneven terrain for many hours a day. Weather conditions will

vary from cold winds or rain in the early spring to temperatures over 100F

in the summer. The use of global positioning systems (handheld GPS units),

computers, PDAs, digital cameras, and on- and off-road vehicles are an

essential part of the job. Camping under primitive conditions at remote

locations on data collection trips will often be required. Schedules are

often determined by plant phenology.  Incumbents must also be willing to

spend days at a time working at a computer during periods of data entry and

analysis.

Lift up to 50-70 pounds of material or equipment

Bend, lift, pull, and push

Crouch, stoop, kneel, stand, or bend for long periods of time

Drive for many hours a day on highways and 4WD roads.

Handle plant material for many hours a day.

Walk and stand for long periods of time on uneven surfaces carrying

equipment

Elko, NV;

• Beginning on candidate’s earliest available start date through October

2019

Living Allowance stipend: * approximately $950 biweekly

AmeriCorps Education Award: **$2,255.24

Medical, dental and vision insurance provided at no cost

* Final living allowance amount and AmeriCorps Education Award value are

determined by the length of the appointment

**AmeriCorps Education Award may be used for past, present or future

education experiences, including payment of qualifying federal student

loans. Loan forbearance and accrued interest payment on qualifying student

loans is also available.

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