Careers in the Plant Sciences

New Mexico Native Seed Collection Crew Lead

Institute for Applied Ecology - Santa Fe or Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA

Position Title: New Mexico Native Seed Collection Crew Lead
Position Type: Technician
Application Review Begins: Tuesday, December 24, 2024
Application Deadline: Friday, January 31, 2025
Institution: Institute for Applied Ecology
Department/Division: Southwest
Field (e.g., systematics):
City: Santa Fe or Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA
General Information: Our Southwest Office is hiring two crews consisting of one Crew Lead and two Crew Technicians each for the 2025 seed collection season in Santa Fe, New Mexico and southeastern, New Mexico (May-November). The work schedule will typically consist of either four 10-hour days, Monday through Thursday–or, rarely, eight 10-hour days Wednesday through the following Wednesday. Field work involves overnight camping for 4-8 day periods. There will be one crew based out of Santa Fe, NM and one crew based out of Carlsbad, NM. The crew will travel to field sites in a provided 4x4 vehicle. Field sites are located throughout Northern and Southeastern New Mexico, primarily on National Park Service (NPS), US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) -administered lands. This is an exciting opportunity to participate in a large collaborative effort supporting the first critical step of acquiring wild plant materials for use in restoration and revegetation projects.
Qualifications/Requirements: Minimum Qualifications
A positive attitude with an interest in ecology and botany
Excellent communication skills and experience working on a team
Organized and detail-oriented
Data management experience; experience with ESRI products and data QA/QC
Able to conduct frequent bending, kneeling, and standing
Able to work in a variety of adverse weather conditions, such as strong winds, extreme heat and sun exposure, monsoonal rains, flash flooding, lightning, and hazardous wildlife (i.e. rattlesnakes, scorpions, bears)
Able to navigate off trail on uneven terrain
Must have a valid driver's license (in good standing) and ability to drive a 4WD vehicle on rugged, off-highway gravel or dirt roads
Ability to lift at least 20 lbs. and hike up to 3 miles per day
Experience navigating to remote field sites using GPS
Plant identification skills and experience using technical keys and collecting plant vouchers
One or more seasons of field work experience, with preference given to those with skills in seed collection and identifying plants of New Mexico, or the Southwest
Able to conduct creative problem solving independently

Preferred Qualifications
Previous leadership experience leading a group of two or more people
1+ field seasons performing plant identification with a dichotomous key and vegetation sampling
First Aid certification
Experience using ArcGIS software and GPS mapping applications
Coursework/training in botany and/or degree in botany or related field
Responsibilities: Specific Responsibilities
Conduct fieldwork: monitor phenology of target species, collect botanical voucher specimens, assess seed quality and collect native seeds, record site data, document activities, and prepare seed for shipping
Collaborate closely with IAE Southwest and agency partners to meet collection targets
Use ESRI products, such as Survey123 and Field Maps to collect data in the field
Prioritize safety; adhere to check-in/check-out procedures and communications via cell phone or GPS device to ensure crew safety
Supervise, support and work alongside 2 technicians
Communicate with land managers or partners to facilitate access to collection sites; represent IAE in a professional manner
Manage data collection and entry, and oversee data QA/QC
Plan overnight camping and field work schedule
Application Instructions (submission methods, etc.): Please apply via IAE website
Compensation Range: $22.25/hr.
Contact Name: humanresources@appliedeco.org, humanresources@appliedeco.org