Position Announcement –

Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Title:Natural Resource Management Technicians

Work Location:Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Colorado

Duration:Temporary, 4 Months (May 22ndthrough Midto late September)

Pay Rate:$13.85 - $14.91/hour, plus housing

Summary of Position:

The Colorado Natural Heritage Program is seeking field crew technicians to support natural resources management at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (FLFO), Colorado. FLFO lies within the montane life-zone on the eastern slope of the Southern Rocky Mountains. The monument contains montane meadowsinterspersed with open woodlands of ponderosa pine, and forests of Douglas fir, blue spruce, and aspen.

To protect and preserve the native vegetation species throughout the park and enhance visitor experiences,resource management staff at FLFO have implemented a noxious weed management plan as part of their overall vegetation management program.The CNHP technicians will work with Park resource managers to plan and implement the weed management and other vegetation management programs.

Selected applicants will evaluate, monitor, and treat noxious weeds, collect native seed, salvage native plants, and assist in the revegetation of disturbed areas using native plant species. The work will also include the mapping, and monitoring of new populations of weeds, mapping of treated areas, restoration of treated areas, and building data sets for the park’s Pesticide Use Proposal System annual report.

The results of this work will include estimates of noxious weeds status and ecological thresholds and management assessment points. The results are intended to help park staff, scientists and the public understand the dynamics of vegetation, and how noxious plants spread throughout the park.

The selected applicants will begin work May 22and continue through September (total time is 16 weeks). Work location is at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. Housing will be provided at the USFS Manitou Experimental Station in Woodland Park, CO, or similar nearby location.

Duties

  1. Work singly or with a crew to identify and safely treat areas of weed infestations.
  2. Use GPS to locate infestation and treatment areas, safely and efficiently access remote sites, and complete field forms
  3. Enter and effectively manage electronic data (databases, spreadsheets, GPS, GIS).
  4. Thoroughly document all fieldwork using field notebooks, survey forms, maps, GPS, and digital tablets and cameras
  5. Identify and collect seed from areas of native vegetation for purposes of reseeding treatment areas.
  6. Prepare and manage areas for reseeding of native species after treatment,
  7. Other vegetation management activities (such as brush clearing), as needed.

Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree (or significant progress toward degree) in ecosystem sustainability, natural resources, range management, forestry, or related field. Equivalent field experience may be substituted for degree.

  1. Knowledge of natural resources management
  2. Sufficient knowledge of native vegetation and weeds to reliably identify common weed species and desirable native plants of the project area
  3. Desire to work outdoors in various weather conditions during the summer field season
  4. Good physical condition and ability to work long hours in the field, travel by foot off-trail in rough terrain, and work through inclement weather
  5. Careful attention to detail in collecting data
  6. Comfort and familiarity with the use computers and GPS
  7. Experience with weed identification, weed management, or pesticide application
  8. A valid state driver’s license at the start of the project is required.

AdditionalDesired Qualifications

  1. Pesticide applicator’s license
  2. Familiarity with flora of the Colorado Rocky Mountain montane zone
  3. Experience collecting vegetation and environmental data in the field
  4. Understanding of visitor experience management

Availability of positions contingent upon final approval of funding.

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Applications will be accepted until all positions have been filled or through May5th, 2017. Sendresume, cover letter, and three references with phone #’s to Joe Stevens eferences will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates.

Colorado State University is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final candidates being considered for employment. Investigations may include, but are not limited to, criminal history, national sex offender search and motor vehicle history.
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Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnancy. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.