-----Original Message-----
From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Daniel Slakey
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 3:47 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Job: Desert Rare Plant Botanist / Volunteer Coordinator
(California Native Plant Society)
FROM: CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY
DATE: 01/30/2012
CLOSING DATE: 02/17/2012
The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) is seeking a Coordinator/botanist
for the desert portion of the CNPS Rare Plant Treasure Hunt, a full-time
temporary position for approximately six months 2012 (up to 1-3 years or
more, depending on funding). The successful candidate will coordinate and
lead teams of botanists and amateurs to collect rare plant data, in areas of
historical rare plant occurrences within California’s deserts and arid
transition zones. The coordinator will work in an office 2-3 days a week
(more at onset), conducting outreach and coordinating survey events. The
coordinator will spend the remainder of the time in the field, participating
in 1-3 day sampling missions often with volunteers, collecting rare plant
occurrence information, and camping overnight when necessary. There will be
considerable travel involved in this position to conduct outreach and
surveys, and most of the field work will be on Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) lands in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts and some later season arid
transition Forest Service lands. This project is part of the statewide CNPS
Rare Plant Treasure Hunt. This portion is funded by grants from the National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the BLM. Please note that housing is
not provided. You may read more about the Rare Plant Treasure Hunt on our
webpage at http://cnps.org/cnps/rareplants/treasurehunt/. This will be the
third year of the project.
Office Location The office is located in Claremont, CA.
Field Locations BLM land throughout Mojave and Sonoran Deserts and arid
transitional lands.
The principal focus of this work will consist of outreach to and
coordination of volunteers, and to lead trips with volunteers to search for
new and historical occurrences of rare plants on BLM lands in the Mojave and
Sonoran Deserts and some arid transitional lands. The coordinator’s time
will be a mix of volunteer outreach, coordination, and field work, leading
trips conducting rare plant searches, collecting rare plant data, and
collecting and making plant vouchers. This is a great opportunity for people
interested in rare plant biology, botany, and citizen science education in
California’s arid lands.
Physical job requirements include sitting, driving, carrying, lifting,
standing, hiking, and camping. The position requires the ability to work
long field days under rigorous conditions (including inclement conditions),
to hike in rugged terrain, to camp in primitive conditions, and to
lift/carry equipment that is up to 1/3 of your body weight. The coordinator
will need to work many weekends with volunteers.
Qualifications for the successful applicant include the following:
• Experience with volunteer coordination and outreach.
• Strong background in California’s desert plant identification to the
subspecies and variety level.
• Experience in herbarium botany, plant collecting protocols, and
plant
pressing techniques
• Excellent people and organizational skills, enthusiasm, and a
positive
attitude.
• Willingness and ability work independently in the field and in a
remote
office.
• Graduate or undergraduate degree in biology, botany, or a related
field.
• Ability to give and take direction.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Experience with conducting rare plant surveys.
• Working knowledge of GIS to produce maps for volunteers.
• Proven ability to conduct fieldwork in varied environmental
conditions,
including hot and otherwise inclement weather.
• Ability to drive 4X4 vehicles over variable terrain.
• A valid California driver’s license, proof of current car insurance,
and a
safe driving record.
• Ability to lead/train people and ensure safe environment in the
desert.
Experience leading field crews to perform botanical, ecological, or
conservation work would be ideal.
• Experienced at coordinating daily field tasks for people with
varying
levels of knowledge.
• Ability to manage data for volunteer field teams, ensuring data are
recorded and entered accurately, consistently, and efficiently.
• Experience using GPS (Global Positioning System) units and other
plant
survey equipment (e.g., tape measure, compass, topo maps).
• Certificates in First aid, CPR, and or Wilderness first responder
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
• Conduct outreach to volunteers and botanists in CNPS and to groups
outside
of CNPS, through letters, presentations, press releases, email, and other
outreach methods.
• Assist with production of educational materials for participants.
• Coordinate and schedule teams of experienced botanists with amateurs
for
rare plant searches.
• Lead trips with volunteers to conduct Rare Plant Treasure Hunts.
• Work with BLM managers, other partners and agency staff, and
botanists to
identify rare plant survey priorities and arrange necessary
permits/permission to conduct searches and collect voucher specimens.
• Prepare and submit herbarium vouchers with labels to university
herbaria.
• Attend trainings and train team leaders when necessary.
• Strive to meet project goals as stated in grants and with
supervisor.
• Manage data collected, sending data forms to California Natural
Diversity
Database (CNDDB).
• Follow up with volunteers, and conduct project evaluations with
volunteers
and partners.
• Assist with grant reports and grant applications as necessary.
• Interact directly with the CNPS project supervisors for project
planning
and transfer of field data.
The salary is offered at $17-20 per hour, commensurate with experience.
This is a full-time, temporary at-will, field and office position.
Start time and duration of job beginning in February 2012, through August or
January 2013, depending on funding. Extended employment may be possible
through future grants/contracts.
Background: The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) is a statewide
non-profit conservation organization, founded in 1965, with more than 9,000
members in 33 chapters. The mission of CNPS is to conserve California native
plants and their natural habitats, and to increase the understanding,
appreciation, and horticultural use of native plants.
To apply, submit the following materials: cover letter of interest with
résumé or curriculum vitae, and three references (including reference name,
address, phone number, and email). The primary contact is Josie Crawford,
Education Program Director. Please do not call regarding this position, and
send your application materials via post mail, fax, or email to:
California Native Plant Society
2707 K Street, Suite 1
Sacramento, CA 95816
Attn: Rare Plant Treasure Hunt position
Fax: (916) 447-2727
Email: [log in to unmask]
Application deadline and interview: All applications must be received in our
office by February 17, 2012. Review of applications will occur upon receipt
(before closing deadline), and hiring will occur by March 1, 2012. Please
see the CNPS website descriptions of the CNPS organization and the various
programs at www.cnps.org.
The California Native Plant Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F
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