Invasive Plant Management Technician (Yosemite NP)

Great Basin Institute, United States

Updated: 4 months ago
Job Type: Temporary
Deadline: 22 May 2023

Agency
Great Basin Institute
Location
Wawona, CA
Job Category
Temporary/Seasonal Positions
Salary
$18.06/hr
Start Date
05/22/2023
Last Date to Apply
05/22/2023
Website
https://www.vscyberhosting.com/greatbasin/Careers.aspx?rf=TAM&req=2023-RAP-036
Description
Description: Great Basin Institute, in partnership with NPS Yosemite National Park, is recruiting two Invasive Plant Management Technicians to support vegetation management throughout the Park. In addition to using mechanical and chemical methods for invasive plant treatment, responsibilities of these positions also include volunteer management, seed collection and processing, and rare plant survey and protection. The work is a mix of front-country and off-trail work in a wildland setting, and may include travel outside the park to neighboring public lands and other National Parks. The primary projects these positions will support include: Yosemite Valley restoration projects, Washburn Fire and Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias post-fire rehabilitation. Managing invasive plants protects ecosystem processes and supports biodiversity. To achieve these outcomes, Invasive Plant Management Technicians will perform the following: • The majority of the work will revolve around invasive plant survey and treatment in a wildland setting. Controlling invasive plants with the use of chemical herbicides will be a regular part of the job. • Survey and sight identify target species for treatment. • Handle and mix chemical herbicide following direction from the crew lead. • Conduct inventories and safety checks for equipment and supplies. • Implement mechanical methods to control invasive plants including hand pulling, shovel shearing, weed whacking, and tarping. • Utilize handheld GPS enabled mobile devices to collect data on plant populations and treatments. • Lead and educate volunteers to accomplish invasive plant control and native plant restoration. • Field work begins at lower elevations in May and continues to move throughout the park. Field work occurs in El Portal, Yosemite Valley, Hetch Hetchy, Glacier Point Rd., Wawona, Tuolumne Meadows, and all points in between. • Secondary duties include: • Implement native plant restoration. Duties related to native plant restoration will include native seed collection, preparing restoration sites, maintenance of previously planted sites, and potentially planting nursery grown plugs. • Survey, document, collect data on, and protect rare plants. Some project work will revolve around surveying and documenting rare plants concurrent with invasive plant survey and treatment led by the early detection and rare plant specialist. Rare plant mitigations may be implemented including flagging for avoidance, seed collection, and/or plant salvage. This work, involving use of a backpack sprayer in a wildland setting, is physically demanding. Considerable time will be spent off trail and in steep rocky terrain with loose footing. Field work in these settings includes exposure to environmental hazards such as: sun, temperature extremes (hot and cold), rain, snow, poison oak, rattlesnakes, biting and stinging insects, working in recently burned areas, and working outdoors during wildfire season where air quality may be affected by nearby wildfires. Work is also performed near the public and along roadsides. Everyone who takes part in this work will undergo extensive training to ensure safety, learn the flora, and build a good team dynamic. This work will take technicians to many places throughout this spectacular National Park. The foothills are lovely in the spring with amazing flower displays carpeting the hills. Higher in elevation, work will be conducted in montane meadows including in Yosemite Valley under Half Dome and El Capitan. Project work will also take place in old growth giant sequoia groves, montane forests, and subalpine ecosystems under snow-covered peaks in Tuolumne Meadows. Contract Timeline: • Duration: 6-month appointment starting on 5/22/2023. • Schedule: Typically Monday-Thursday, 10-hour days. During late spring – summer, the schedule will be 6:00-4:30, and will shift to 7:00-5:30 in late summer-fall. Location: Duty Station: Wawona , CA is a small, relatively isolated community in Yosemite National Park with limited services. Wawona is located on the west side of the park along Wawona Rd. (continuation of Highway 41 in the Park) near the South Entrance and Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. It is home to many park and park partner employees. It has a gas station, small market, and nearby hotel and restaurant, but no other services. Oakhurst, about 35 minutes away, has additional services including grocery and hardware stores, and restaurants. Some front country camping and overnight stays in bunkhouses will be required. Compensation and Benefits: • Wage: $18.06/hour • Paid personal leave and federal holidays • Health insurance coverage (premium paid at no cost to the employee)
Qualifications
• B.S. in natural resource management, plant ecology, conservation biology, or allied field; • Familiarity with ecological processes and flora of the Central Sierra; • Experience in volunteer coordination and at least one year/field season of experience in leadership of field personnel • Experience managing invasive plants • Experience in seed collection and management, and familiarity with use of native plant material in restoration; • Experience in performing field work and an ability to follow directions for data collection; • Experience in data entry and management, utilizing Excel, Access, and/or ArcGIS; • Ability to contribute to safe work and living cultures; • Experience with using handheld GPS and data collection devices and apps such as Collector, Field Maps, Survey123, etc.; and • Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, to a diverse audience. Additional requirements: • Possess a valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record; • Possess a commitment to personal and team member safety, and communicate perceived safety threats immediately; and • Must be motivated, self-directed, organized, and detail oriented. The successful applicant must complete a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) or submit paperwork to NPS human resources indicating an active and fully adjudicated BI has already been completed prior to beginning position. If you already have a fully adjudicated BI, please let us know in your application.
Contact Person
Lynn

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