Part-Time Field Technician

Part-Time Field Technician

Working Lands Conservation is a small, research-based non-profit located in Logan, UT. Our goal is to bring science to collaborative partnerships working to improve land management, while supporting communities and livelihoods. Through our work, we facilitate the creation of a resilient future for the communities that work, recreate, and value working lands of the western U.S. We are a team of field ecologists and communicators. We draw on our extensive experience designing ecological studies, collecting data, and analyzing information to understand how land management contributes to landscape health and stakeholder stewardship objectives. As importantly, we realize that trust, learning, and change happen when science is shared in conversation and as stories. We thus spend as much time building relationships as we do collecting data. We are a partner-oriented organization. We strongly believe that partnerships of diverse stakeholders lead to innovative management ideas, and that producers are the foundational stewards of working landscapes. We work closely with producers, state agencies, federal agencies, non-profit organizations, and university researchers to fulfill our mission, share ideas, and inspire innovative management.

We're excited to welcome a Part-Time Field Technician to join the team this summer and fall. The role will include spending up to 2 weeks each month from June - September at Utah-based field sites collecting plant, water, and soil data with WLC's scientists. We expect the Part-Time Field Technician to bring knowledge and experience specifically regarding collecting data on plants, water quality, and soils in sagebrush ecosystems from past work roles to the job. There is potential to extend the position based on interest, fit, and funding availability.

Primary Responsibilities

• Work under supervision of WLC staff scientists to accomplish seasonal field work focused on plants, water, soils, and wildlife in rangeland uplands and riparian areas
• Travel for fieldwork
• Plant identification and monitoring
• Soil sampling
• Other duties that are reasonable and consistent with this position.

The Ideal Candidate

You are a scientist at any point in your career who loves field-based research and has experience working as a technician on research projects. You are interested in western rangeland ecosystems and value diverse points of view regarding their management. You believe that coupling relationship-building with smart ecological data collection is the magic sauce that can inspire innovative stewardship of Western landscapes. You are looking for a position where you can use your gained experience as a field technician, and expect to spend a majority of time in the field collecting data. You are detail oriented and organized, with the ability to juggle multiple tasks and take each to completion. You are excited about joining a small, dynamic team of scientists and communicators who are mission-driven and outcome-focused. You believe that blending academic-grade experimental design with kitchen-table relationship building roots projects in community, and leads to adaptive management with lasting impacts. You know that to thrive in a small non-profit requires nimbleness. You are flexible, are not deterred when plans change, and can draw on your problem-solving skills to move projects forward. You have superb interpersonal and communication skills through which to share your excitement with all those you work with. You are dedicated to contributing and fostering a workplace centered on teamwork, a commitment to excellence, and mutual respect. The ideal candidate will be a person of integrity, humor, enthusiasm, and optimism.

We recognize that each applicant for this role will bring unique skills, knowledge, experiences, and background to this position, lending their flair to the trajectory of the Research Assistant role. We welcome diverse experiences and perspectives in our applicant pool, and will be looking for candidates who possess many, but not necessarily all, of the following qualifications and experience:

• Experience as a field-based research technician collecting rangeland vegetation, water, and soil data;
• Strong interpersonal skills;
• Experience living / working in a remote location;
• Ability to (happily) spend long days in extreme conditions including cold, hot, and buggy environments;
• Ability to carry 20 pounds over uneven terrain;
• Valid driver's license;
• Enthusiastic and hard-working;
• Detail oriented, able to work in pairs, and able to problem solve.

Work Schedule & Compensation

Working Lands Conservation has a dedicated office and laboratory in Logan, UT, which serves as a hub for team members. This position requires overnight travel to undertake field research in Utah and will require overnight travel 2 weeks per month.

This position is Temporary (June 23 – September 28th), part-time, hourly ($20.00/hour). There is potential to extend this appointment pending interest, fit, and additional funding.