Ecological Assistant (4 positions open)

             National Park Service – Mojave Desert Network

Length: Term of each position is 20 weeks; full-time 40 hrs/wk

Location: Boulder City, NV

Living Allowance: $665 / week

Additional Housing Allowance: $185 / week

Boot Allowance: $150

AmeriCorps Education Award: Position is eligible for an AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of the program. Value of education award is $2,817 (pre-tax).

Start Date: 3/3/2025

Application Due Date:  Preference given to applicants that submit application by 11/1/2024

Title of Position: Ecological Assistant (4 positions open)

Position Details:

Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards) provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits building institutional capacity, developing community relationships, and supporting ecosystem health. Stewards in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS) and Mojave Desert Network are seeking four participants who will assist with collecting long-term monitoring data on vegetation communities and target invasive species for the following protocols: Integrated Upland, Spring Vegetation, and Five-Needle Pine. The Mojave Desert Network is one of 32 Monitoring Networks across the NPS, using information gathered for planning, research, education, and to help guide decisions related to park management. For more information see their website:

https://www.nps.gov/im/mojn/index.htm

The field work is dynamic and may be carried out across the MOJN parks (Castle Mountains National Monument, Death Valley National Park, Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, Great Basin National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Manzanar National Historic Site, and Mojave National Preserve). This position will require regular travel and camping during the field season in order to ensure that all monitoring is successfully completed during the field season, and may require long hours including nights, early mornings, and weekends.

Position Responsibilities will include:

•  Assisting with vegetation monitoring protocols designed to address MOJN I&M’s vital signs (training provided).


• Hiking long distances (10+ mi), on and off trail, over uneven terrain.


• Hiking with backpacks weighing 30+ pounds.


• Establishing permanent monitoring sites.


• Collecting vegetation data using established procedures. 


• Collecting GPS points and photos at work sites.


• Conducting quality assurance/control for all data collected, either in the field or in the office. 


• Collaborating with MOJN staff in field safety, logistics, data QA/QC, and equipment organization/maintenance.

Minimum Requirements:

• Willingness to camp for multiple days in front and backcountry settings.


• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.


• Excellent oral and written communication skills


• Applicants must pass a criminal background check which requires fingerprinting by park law enforcement or your local police department prior to start date.


• Willingness and ability to temporarily live and work in remote locations


• Willingness and ability to work safely and productively in harsh and variable desert conditions, including extreme heat.


• Willingness and ability to hike long distances (10+ mi), on and off trail, carrying up to 30-40 pounds of field gear.


• Must be 18 years or older


• Must be a US Citizen or legal permanent resident


• Must be able to pass federal background checks at approved locations for both Conservation Legacy and the NPS

 Preferred Qualifications:

• Valid, state-issued driver’s license


• Bachelor’s degree in biology or in one of the major natural sciences; applicants with a background in vegetation monitoring preferred


• Experience hiking in desert environments.


• Experience identifying plants of the Mojave and Great Basin Deserts, including upland and riparian species


• Experience with data entry and quality assurance using database programs such as MS Access


• Experience using hand-held GPS equipment for data collection and navigation, including Survery123 and Field Maps

Benefits:

• Position is eligible for an AmeriCorps education award upon successful completion of the program. Value of education award is $2,817 (pre-tax).


• Living Allowance: $665 / week (pre-tax)


• Additional Housing Allowance: $185 / week (pre-tax)


• Boot Allowance: $150


• Wilderness First Aid Training

How to Apply
Please visit the program website on-line at: https://stewardslegacy.org/open-positions and click the green "APPLY" button at the top or bottom of the webpage. In addition to your resume, please submit a one-page cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position.

If you have questions about this position please contact Jeff Galvin (jeff_galvin@nps.gov) OR Gillian Watson, gwatson@conservationlegacy.org, Stewards Program Coordinator.

Stewards Individual Placements Program does not and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.