Plant Ecology Technician

Position Title: Plant Ecology Technician

Department Summary

The Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) is Colorado’s primary biological conservation information center housed within the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University. The Program is a key player in Colorado’s conservation of open lands and maintains the only centralized conservation database in Colorado that includes plants, animals, and natural communities. The staff consists of approximately 30 highly experienced biologists and information managers with expertise in inventory, research, and monitoring of Colorado’s flora, fauna, plant communities, and conservation issues. The Program serves a wide variety of users including federal, state and local agencies, consultants, environmental groups, non-government organizations, private landowners, and the public. The Program’s annual revenue is approximately 4 million dollars and is generated from contracts and agreements through CNHP’s partners and clients. The Program generally works on over 40 conservation projects per year.

Position Summary

The Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) of Colorado State University seeks a temporary Plant Ecology Technician to support Ecological projects for the Botany/Vegetation Ecology Team.

This position will be based in Fort Collins, Colorado. The position requires extensive and frequent travel throughout Colorado and may include travel to surrounding states. The position will work with CNHP staff to survey and document natural plant communities, rare plant species and their habitat, and potential conservation areas. Ecological and botanical data will be collected following standards of the NatureServe-Core Methodology and/or by implementing quantitative methods to collect vegetation plot data.

The position will interact with federal and state agencies and other partners.

The work typically involves week-long to 8-day field hitches, camping in remote settings and full 8-10hr. field days, driving and hiking to field sites, collection of data using tablets, and detailed completion of field forms. The technician will conduct surveys, record data, and provide data to the CO Natural Heritage Program during the term of employment. Work is subject to funding availability and Program needs. Hours are variable, up to 40 hrs./wk.

The Plant Ecology Technician may be required to make decisions on the best way to evaluate and utilize natural history, biological, botanical, and ecological data from various sources. The Plant Ecology Technician will decide when to problem-solve independently and when to see more information from project staff and/or CNHP team lead staff.

The Botany Technician may be required to make decisions on scope, prioritization, and safe execution on field work with no oversight but following a detailed protocol and instruction during field work. The position will independently make complex decisions as part of performing their job, both independently and with the support of their supervisor or more senior staff.

Working with more senior staff, the Plant Ecology Technician may be responsible for checking the quality and completeness of data collected in the field on paper forms or via electronic data capture platforms on tablets. They may work with the Botany/Vegetation Ecology Team project leads to assist in the development of necessary training and resources for technicians and field crews. They will also assist in finalizing protocols and data capture systems for new or emerging projects.

Responsibilities/Duties

Planning and Coordination/Communication (25%): In coordination with CNHP staff and partners, conduct pre-field logistics and planning, identify potential survey sites, and determine natural plant community and species and habitat targets for areas across Colorado and surrounding states. Prepare electronic data collection forms. Request and secure permission/permits to access survey sites on public and private land. Communicate with team staff and project partners/sponsors.

Field Data Collection (60%): Conduct outdoor field surveys over 6 to 8-day long periods that require camping overnight. Use navigation tools and maps to drive and/or walk to and from survey sites via paved and unpaved roads, hiking trails, and traversing across terrain off-trail. Effectively locate targeted natural plant communities, and rare species and their habitats within survey sites. Travel will often be through dense vegetation and over long distances in various temperatures and weather conditions. Collect and record botanical, ecological, and spatial data using Survey123, Field Maps, and/or field notebooks. Identify western flora including common and rare species native to Colorado and surrounding states and recognize and identify exotic invasive species. Recognize and document natural plant communities and rare plant habitats. Follow NatureServe-core methodology and project specific methods/protocols and ensure accurate and complete recording, preparation, and reporting field-collected data. Collect voucher herbarium specimens when appropriate and permitted. Follow safety protocols using proper documentation, consistent communication, and field awareness.

Training (5%): Participate in project-specific training, wilderness first aid training, and cultural competency training.

Data Management and Documentation (10%): Organize and manage field-collected data. Responsible for quality assurance and reporting of field-collected data including preparing data for incorporation into the Programs centralized database (Biotics 5).

Required Qualifications

1. Ability to identify western flora including common and rare species native to Colorado and surrounding states is required. Ability to recognize and identify exotic invasive species is required.

2. Coursework in botany, ecology, natural resources, conservation, environmental science, or related field required.

3. Experience conducting field work to collect botanical and/or ecological data is required.

4. The ability to work in challenging field conditions, walk across uneven terrain, and stand, sit or stoop for extended periods are required. The ability to hike and navigate to field sites is required.

5. Experience with field navigation, GIS use, navigation apps, and topographic maps required.

6. Experience with ArcGIS Desktop or ArcGIS Pro and ability to make maps is required.

7. A valid driver’s license is required.

8. Successful candidates must possess working knowledge of tools, equipment, procedures, and methods necessary to survey for and map natural plant communities and rare plant populations, possess excellent communication skills, excellent attention to detail, reliability, and the ability to work effectively alone and as part of a team.

9. The ability to plan and carry out field surveys, including locating specific habitats and survey sites, is required.

10. Experience driving 4X4 vehicles on rough roads and camping in remote locations.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Experience with natural community classification is preferred.

2. Completed bachelor's degree botany, ecology, natural resources, conservation, environmental science, or related field is preferred.

3. Experience working in habitats like the study areas including the Rocky Mountains and/or Great Plains is preferred.

4. Familiarity or experience with NatureServe-Core Methodology is preferred.

5. Familiarity or experience with the development of ArcGIS FieldMaps projects and/or Survey 123 forms is preferred.

6. Experience collecting data electronically using tablets or other devices is preferred.

Hourly Pay Rate: $18-23/hour depending on experience and/or education

Application Instructions: Applications will not be accepted in Indeed. To apply, email your 1) Cover letter, 2) Resume, and 3) List of References to brenda.wichmann@colostate.edu. Applications will be accepted until this position is filled.

Employee Benefits: Employee Benefit information can be found on HR’s Website at https://hr.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2021/02/benefits-summary-hourly.pdf and https://hr.colostate.edu/current-employees/benefits/.

CSU is an EO/EA/AA employer.

Colorado State University conducts background checks on all final candidates.

Job Type: Temporary

Pay: $18.00 - $23.00 per hour

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Ability to Relocate:

• Fort Collins, CO 80523: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person