Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2020 18:25:51
From: Morgan Brandenburg <mbrandenburg@conservationlegacy.org>
Subject: Aquatic Ecological Monitoring Crew Leader
Lotic Ecological Monitoring
with the Bureau of Land Management
and Southwest Conservation Corps
Position Title: Crew Leader
Position Type: Full-time, temporary
Number of Positions: 2
Location: Taos BLM Field Office, New Mexico or Las Cruces BLM District Office, New Mexico
Program Dates: Taos: Approx. early April 2021 to early April 2022 (52 weeks). Las Cruces: Approx. early April 2021 to late November 2021 (40 weeks).
Salary: $685/week
Benefits: Paid training; camping food allowance ($15/day via company credit card); health benefits
Hiring Benefit: Public Land Corps hiring authority: eligible to use, for two years upon completion of term, a noncompetitive hiring status for consideration when applying to competitive service positions for a federal agency; see below.
Southwest Conservation Corps’s Mission
It is the mission of the Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) to empower individuals to positively impact their lives, their communities, and the environment.
Bureau of Land Management’s Mission
The Bureau of Land Management’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
Program Overview:
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the National Aquatic Monitoring Center (NAMC) have developed the National Aquatic Monitoring Framework to fulfill the Aquatic Assessment, Inventory, Monitoring (AIM) initiative. The National Aquatic Monitoring Framework (NAMF) uses the most common indicators within the land health standards (and to functioning stream systems). The NAMF promotes integrated data collection throughout BLM lands by providing guidance for selection of sample reaches within streams, electronic data capture and storage, tools for consistent data analysis and interpretation to inform management questions. The NAMF is a standardized approach for how the BLM can meet multiple monitoring requirements in a consistent, quantitative and credible manner.
One Crew Lead and one Crew Member will work together to sample wadeable streams and rivers on BLM land using the National Aquatic Monitoring Framework and Aquatic AIM methodology. They will collect water quality data, stream habitat data, and benthic macroinvertebrate samples, entering all appropriate data into Survey123, a tablet-based data-recording program, while on site. All data will be georeferenced using a GPS unit and stored in an ArcGIS geodatabase. Work will be completed in remote areas on BLM lands. Unconventional work hours, including 10 (sometimes 10+) hour days, are expected. Using a BLM- provided vehicle, crews will drive to several different areas of a vast sample area throughout a four- to eight-day work week (colloquially, “hitch”), camp overnight, hike several miles per day, and return to the office for equipment and data management. The crew may also have the opportunity to assist with other public land management projects involving fisheries, wildlife, range, forestry and others.
Crew Lead’s Responsibilities
Supports and manages the crew’s safety, wellbeing, and development. Consistently exercises discretion and good judgment. Coordinates field logistics, scheduling, crew tasks, and management of the crew’s equipment. Provides/asks for feedback to/from crew member regarding performance. Facilitates a quality experience for the Crew Member via SCC’s program structure, and that the Crew Member is learning skills and competencies according to their development plan.
Is the primary contact between the crew, the SCC supervisor, and BLM staff. Maintains a positive working relationship with BLM project and data lead(s). Completes necessary administrative paperwork. Before, during, and after field data collection, the Crew Lead is primarily responsible for the organization and quality control of all AIM data collected in SARAH.
Completes summary reports of the data, coordinating with and presenting to the BLM Project Lead.
The Crew Lead should be passionate about sound science principles, respectful of the equipment and methodology, an advocate for the AIM program in the Field or District Office, and willing to learn about how AIM data could be used in range, forestry, fire, and wildlife programs within the BLM.
Minimal Qualifications:
* College graduate (Bachelor’s, at minimum) with coursework in hydrology, fisheries, water resources science, ecology, biology, natural resource management, or a related field,
* OR previous experience performing AIM or similar methodology
* Aged at least 21 years upon hire
* Ability to produce identification as stipulated by I-9upon hire
* Valid US driver’s license and insurable driving record
* Able to pass Conservation Legacy’s and the Department of Interior’s background checks
* Experience working as part of a team and able to lead and work well with others
* Have excellent communication (including in-person, email, and phone), organizational, and planning skills
* Experience with Microsoft Suite Software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or other similar software
* Experience collecting data electronically
* Interest in large scale, spatially-balanced monitoring designs, and how extensive sampling can assist in understanding dynamic aquatic systems
* Self-motivated and able to work independently with limited supervision after the initial training period, with excellent discernment of when to ask for help. The applicant must be able to maneuver and operate in both the office and field.
* Willing to empower crew members to improve in performing their duties and all associated skills
* Capable of standing and walking (at a minimum 6 miles/day on rough, uneven terrain), bending, crouching and stooping for long periods of time while taking precise, repetitive measurements, and lifting/carrying items that weigh up to 40 pounds, in upwards of 100 degree (F) heat while maintaining a professional demeanor
* Experience and willingness to spend multiple days (1-8 days at a time) car-camping in remote areas
* Familiarity with and willingness to adhere to best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles
* Willing to spend several hours per day and/or per week riding in, navigating, and driving an agency four-wheel drive pick-up truck on- and off-highway, sometimes over/around tricky or unexpected obstacles. If little prior off-road driving experience, then willing to learn.
* Sound and fair physical and emotional risk assessment
* Ability to work in and respond to adverse weather conditions including extreme heat, monsoonal rains, and hazardous wildlife (i.e. rattlesnakes, scorpions, biting/stinging insects, horses)
* Current (or able to obtain) CPR, Wilderness First Aid (compensated), and Defensive Driver Training certificates
Preferred Qualifications:
* Six months’ experience in aquatic or terrestrial monitoring/inventory in a leadership capacity, or previous experience with the lotic or terrestrial AIM methodology
* Education and/or experience in hydrology, fisheries and/or water resource science
* Familiarity with the dynamic nature of streams and river systems dependent on monsoonal precipitation
* Experience determining bank-full in dynamic stream systems
* Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, often in remote areas on unimproved roads
* Willing to constantly teach and demonstrate best driving practices
* Experience with handheld GPS units and External GNSS GPS antennae and basic troubleshooting
* Experience with ArcMap, ArcCatalog and ArcGIS Online interface
* Knowledge of downloading, using, and syncing ArcGIS Online Maps
* Knowledge of creating maps, performing basic analysis, and organizing data
* Field safety and risk management training
* Experience working or recreating in desert or rangeland ecosystems
Public Land Corps:
The Public Land Corps (PLC) program provides the opportunity for young people between the ages of 16 and 30 (civilian) or 35 (veteran) years to work on conservation projects on public lands. Participants must successfully complete 640 hours that include at least 120 hours on federal lands through the PLC. PLC members are not federal government employees, but those who successfully complete the PLC requirements are then eligible to use, for two years, a noncompetitive hiring status for consideration when applying to competitive service positions. https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blm.gov%2Fcareers%2Fstudents-and-grads%2Fpublic-lands-corps&data=04%7C01%7Cpat.anderson%40uconn.edu%7C2f310734b9f2490040bd08d89e87305e%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637433650800524268%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=FKVOsrz7rYtMSuu0MFG4SGbd1nnGdWcq17QN7sIxCZs%3D&reserved=0
To apply, go to position announcement here and click “New Application” at bottom.
Or, go to: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsccorps.org%2Fsmall-teams&data=04%7C01%7Cpat.anderson%40uconn.edu%7C2f310734b9f2490040bd08d89e87305e%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637433650800524268%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=xgR3MU2MOhcmGyd9PDwyIVqjx5oCJryo4rhH8nEuyOg%3D&reserved=0, and follow the link to the above. Application involves cover letter, resume/CV, at least two academic or professional (non-peer) references, and screening questions. Incomplete applications are given less weight.
SCC offers several Ecological Monitoring crew positions across Colorado and New Mexico, mostly performing the terrestrial AIM methodology. If interested in multiple locations, please mention and rank locations of interest. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
We anticipate beginning the interview process in January. Apply now for advance consideration. Feel free to reach out to Ecological Monitoring Manager Cassandra Owen at cowen@conservationlegacy.org with questions.