The SW Oregon Field Technician will be a part of The Nature Conservancy’s Ashland team, engaging in stewardship and monitoring of high priority conservation lands in southwestern Oregon. The work will be highly collaborative, working with partners on forest and grassland/vernal pool restoration projects. This is a term position ending 28 June 2019.
The SW Oregon Field Technician will coordinate with partners to implement the multi-party monitoring programs of the Ashland Forest All-Lands Restoration and Applegate Fuel Demonstration forest restoration projects and provide field support for developing projects under the Rogue Basin Cohesive Forest Restoration Strategy. The Technician will also support wetland mitigation performance monitoring and vernal pool habitat restoration at the Conservancy’s Whetstone Savanna Preserve and adjacent Oregon Department of Transportation properties. Monitoring activities will be across disciplines focused on vegetation, water quality, air quality, wildlife, and the effects of thinning and prescribed fire. Data collection and management will be core responsibilities, including collection on a hand-held computer, incorporation into geodatases, quality assurance, data summaries, and documentation of methods.
RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE
- Maintains project records and collects data
- Purchases equipment and supplies as provided for in budget.
- Works in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, in hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances, including exposure to poison oak.
- Works alone and in crews and consults supervisor on unspecified or unusual issues.
- Navigates through mountain forest landscapes using a GPS or compass and maps.
- Makes day to day decisions as delegated by supervisor.
- Communicates work instructions and basic information to agency staff, contractors, volunteers, the public and other crews.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience managing and prioritizing tasks from multiple sources.
- Experience with common software applications (Word, Excel, Web browsers)
- Experience with GPS and GIS (ArcMap) for interpreting and managing spatial information.
- Experience recognizing plant and animal species.
- Experience working in a team environment.
- Must have a valid driver’s license
- Must be able to obtain related licenses or certifications as required. (e.g. First Aid, CPR).
PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
- Experience working with or knowledge of natural systems, including fire ecology.
- Familiarity identifying plant species in Oregon/N. California.
- Cross cultural and multilingual skills appreciated
- Ability to work cooperatively with a number of staff, volunteers and external parties, sometimes under pressure, in order to complete project goals in a timely manner.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience working with wildland fire.
- Ability to draft map products for effective communication of spatial information.
- Proven organizational skills and strong attention to detail.
- Experience with prescribed burning with red card preferred
- This is a full-time, 35-hour per week, term position ending June 28,2019
- Preferred hiring range: $18.37-$19.52