Job Opportunities:

Rangeland Vegetation and Invertebrate Sampling Coordinator & Technicians

April to July 2020

The Spatial Analysis Lab of the Montana Natural Heritage Program at University of Montana is hiring a Field Coordinator, Lead Field Technician, and two Assistant Field Technicians to sample vegetation and invertebrates for the State of Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. This work is part of an ongoing research project to map invertebrate availability as a food source for sage-grouse and songbirds in Golden Valley and Mussellshell Counties, MT.

Fill-time seasonal support is available for the upcoming field season, which is weather dependent, but scheduled to run 4/6/2020-7/24/2020 for the Coordinator position ($16-$18 per hour) and 4/13/2020 – 7/17/2020 for Field Technician positions ($12-$14 per hour). Lodging is provided during the field effort and transportation is provided from Roundup, MT to field sites.

Positions provide experience in rangeland field techniques, transect sampling and vegetation cover estimation, invertebrate surveys, and GPS operations. The work also involves interacting with private landowners and agency professionals.The successful applicants must be able to work in remote locations and able to live in a communal, rustic setting.  If you do not have current First Aid/CPR certification, you must become certified before arriving to begin work. The work schedule is subject to the weather, which may cause unpredictable days off—applicants must be willing to work when needed and take days off when the opportunity arises. Conditions include extreme temperatures, rain, snow, “gumbo” roads, wind, rattlesnakes, and abundant prickly pear.  The rewards include the endless vistas of central Montana, abundant recreation opportunities within a short (1-2 hour) drive, calf branding and roadside chats with ranchers, phenomenal wildlife viewing, and field research experience. A strong work ethic, good physical condition, and sense of humor are a must.  The position will require hiking up to several miles each day through sagebrush, over uneven terrain, and in very hot temperatures to reach some sampling sites; and driving a few hours each day in trucks over low maintenance roads.

FULL JOB DESCRIPTIONS ARE POSTED AT https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.umt.edu%2Fspatial-analysis-lab%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cmadeline.hennessey%40uconn.edu%7C732e3ce7734d448e333d08d7a636e62a%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637160627051730058&sdata=g67kyM7dOJeeZmn%2BHN906Kp5Q%2BsDkskWdPG0%2F2wR7L4%3D&reserved=0

Applications are due February 25th, 2020. To apply, please send a current resume, 1-page cover letter, and names and contact information for three references to Melissa Hart (melissa.hart@mso.umt.edu) with the subject line “Field Coordinator – Invertebrate Surveys”.

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