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Form of workApplication instructions are located at the bottom of the page. Please apply directly through the University of Montana's career portal UM Jobs at https://umjobs.silkroad.com/ for positions at the University of Montana – Missoula, University of Montana Western (Dillon), and Helena College. Do not apply through Indeed.com or use easy apply through Indeed.com*.
Temporary Staff Vacancy Announcement
The Montana Climate Office (MCO) within the W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation and at the University of Montana is seeking applications for multiple Temporary Mesonet Assistant positions. These positions are 6-month, full-time hourly starting April 2024. These positions will be under the supervision of the Montana Mesonet Field Manager (MFM) and based in Missoula, Montana. The Mesonet Assistants will provide support and labor to construct weather monitoring stations (Montana Mesonet) across Montana. The Montana Mesonet is being developed through a US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) award to the MCO to aid flood and drought predictions across the state. See https://www.drought.gov/drought-research/usace-upper-missouri-river-basin-soil-moisture-and-plains-snow-monitoring-build for more details of the USACE project.
The Mesonet Assistants fulfill the following roles and responsibilities to assist with the effective development of the MT Mesonet:
- Assist field technicians as directed with all aspects of station construction and installation.
- Test electronic equipment prior to field deployment.
- Test, organize, and prepare materials and equipment for field deployment.
- Maintain materials and supplies inventories required for station construction.
- Complete construction and installation tasks as directed by MFM in the field and office to complete the on-time buildout of weather monitoring stations.
- Assist with preparing and packing materials, vehicles, and trailers for extended field deployments.
- Complete office, warehouse, and maintenance tasks as assigned.
- Meet all paperwork and reporting requirements of the University of Montana necessary to fulfill roles and responsibilities for this position.
- Serve as public representative of the Montana Mesonet within the broader mission of the MCO.
Required Skills
- Knowledge of and ability to work with safe construction practices while fostering a safe working environment.
- Lab or similar experience working with technical equipment.
- Ability and willingness to complete overnight travel throughout Montana for durations up to 2 weeks per trip.
- Capacity and willingness to perform field work under extreme environmental conditions.
- Demonstrated ability to follow instructions and complete tasks competently and on-time.
- Ability to perform manual field work at Mesonet sites (e.g., working on uneven terrain in remote areas, lifting heavy objects, and digging cable trenches and soils pits).
- Valid driver license and ability to operate a pickup truck pulling a trailer.
- Ability to work collaboratively within MCO’s team-oriented environment and foster a positive, supportive, and enjoyable work environment with all team members.
Minimum Required Experience
- High School diploma and one (1) year of experience with general construction practices.
Preferred Qualifications
- Proven ability to operate small construction machinery, i.e., skid steer with hydraulic attachments.
- Three (3) years of experience with general construction practices.
- One (1) year of experience with environmental monitoring electronics or similar technology.
- Ability to safely drive trucks and trailers with loaded equipment.
About the Montana Climate Office and UM
In 2006 Governor Schweitzer approved the Montana Climate Office as the official steward of climate information for Montana, with anticipated service to the Governor’s Drought and Water Supply Committee. Across the US, state Climate Offices and the American Association of State Climatologists provide climate services at the state and local level in partnership with NOAA and other federal agencies, including the Regional Climate Centers (RCC), Regionally Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) program, the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), the National Weather Service (NWS), and the USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). State Climate Offices (SCO) provide a vital and nationally recognized connection between federal climate partners, University scientists and state and local entities. SCOs serve on a variety of federal, state, or local boards, commissions, task forces, and other groups, providing a direct conduit of information and expertise into planning and operations within the state.
Montana Climate Office Mission
- Assimilate, organize, and disseminate climate information from recognized federal, state, and local sources for the benefit of a large and diverse stakeholder community in Montana.
- Be a credible and expert source of information for decision makers that rely on the most current information on climate to make important management and policy decisions.
- Assist stakeholders in interpreting climate information or adapting climate products to their needs for incorporation into the planning process.
The University of Montana is a flagship research institution with approximately 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It is located in Missoula, a culturally vibrant community of about 75,000, surrounded by mountains and the convergence of three rivers. Abundant recreational opportunities in surrounding state and national forests and nearby Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park complement a thriving intellectual atmosphere. The University of Montana offers eligible employees a generous benefits package that positively separates UM from other local employers and offers many programs and policies to support work-life balance for its employees.
The University of Montana is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its five priorities for action: Place student success at the center of all we do; drive excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and research; embody the principle of “mission first, people always"; partner with place; and proudly tell the UM story.
To learn more about the University of Montana, Missoula, and the State of Montana, please visit the links below.
- University of Montana
- Video: Mission First, People Always
- UM on YouTube
- City of Missoula
- Video: There's This Place
- Destination Missoula
- Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce
- The State of Montana
- Visit Montana
Position Details
Position Title: TemporaryMesonet Assistant (Mapping Technician)
Department: Montana Climate Office
Work Schedule: Full-time, 1.0 FTE (40 Hours a week), Position requires an alternative work schedule, 6 month temporary appointment.
Salary: $17.088-$21.36/hr
Union Affiliation: FOCUS-MFPE
Benefits Include: Insurance package included if appointment is six (6) months or more.
Criminal Background Investigation is required prior to the Offer of Employment In accordance with University regulations, finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations. ADA/EOE/AA/Veteran's Preference Reasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available in alternative format upon request. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans, and women. Qualified candidates may request veterans’ or disabilities preference in accordance with state law. References: References not listed on the application materials may be contacted; notice may be provided to the applicant. Testing: Individual hiring departments at UM may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions. Employment Eligibility: All New Employees must be eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form I-9).
Must be eligible to work in the United State upon hire. Sponsorship is not available for this position.
How to Apply
Position will remain open until positions are filled.
To receive full consideration, candidates are required to submit all of the following materials.
Please submit the following application materials** via the UM Jobs portal and by clicking "New Resume/CV" button. Please do not apply through Indeed.com*.
A complete application Includes:
- Letter of Interest – addressing your qualifications and experience related to the stated required skills for the position. A general letter salutation such as “Dear Search Committee” or “Dear Hiring Manager” is acceptable.
- Detailed Resume – listing education and describing work experience.
- Professional References – names and contact information for three (3) professional references.
*Applying through Indeed.com or easy apply through Indeed.com may result in submission of an incomplete application. Applications may be removed from full consideration if they are not complete with materials listed above under the "How to Apply" section. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure complete application materials are submitted and received by the date listed above.
**Please note: only five (5) attachments are allowed per application. Please combine documents accordingly.
Required Skills
Required Experience
