Invasive Plant Inventory Field Technician (Elko, NV)

The Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition (ENLC) is hiring one (1) Invasive Plant Inventory Field Technician to work in the Elko, NV District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This project is funded through a cooperative agreement between the Elko District BLM and ENLC. ENLC’s Elko Noxious and Invasive Weed Management Program plays a pivotal role in supporting critical BLM initiatives, including inventorying locations of noxious weeds and other invasive species, using an Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPM) approach to determine the most effective method of invasive species control, stabilization and rehabilitation of disturbed areas, and adaptive management for controlling new invasive species. Through these efforts, this program makes a meaningful impact on the environment, maintaining the health of our native landscapes on public lands. 

FIELD TECHNICIAN DUTIES:

• Inventorying and monitoring noxious weed populations
• Identifying plants to the species level, surveying and mapping infestations with GPS receivers, capturing digital photo points, and managing data
• Monitoring noxious weed populations using standardized protocols to ensure treatment effectiveness
• Coordinating daily logistics with ENLC Crew Lead, Field Coordinator, and key BLM staff
• Driving large 4x4 trucks with loaded trailers on highways and on remote two-track roads
• Hiking long distances over uneven terrain while carrying gear weighing up to 40 lbs
• Obtain a Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) pesticide applicator’s license
• Safe and effective use of provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Safe operation of UTVs
• Safely and effectively applying herbicide via backpack sprayers and trucks/UTVs with boom and handgun sprayers to noxious weeds following standard protocols and laws as needed

The fieldwork is dynamic and much of it will take place in remote locations and in variable weather conditions, requiring camping in the back country for several nights consecutively. The Invasive Plant Management Technicians will encounter a variety of opportunities for professional development, including exposure to a spectrum of noxious and invasive plant management techniques, overcoming day-to-day challenges of working in remote settings, and the ability to effectively support the success of a mission-driven non-profit organization. This exciting role contributes to ENLC’s significant positive impacts within the fields of environmental research, education, and conservation. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Some experience or education in any of the following: invasive plant management, biological sciences, natural resources, botany, GIS, rangeland management, or general plant taxonomy
• Ability to work safely and productively in remote field settings under adverse and rapidly changing conditions, including camping in remote areas for consecutive nights
• Experience operating 4WD vehicles, with a valid state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record for the past three (3) years
• Physically fit to work outdoors, carry up to 40lbs while hiking over uneven terrain, and withstand the rigors of a high-desert environment
• Motivated, detail-oriented self-starter that has the flexibility to handle competing and changing priorities
• Able to pass a Department of Interior Tier 1 background investigation

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:

• Experience using hand-held GPS equipment for navigation and data collection
• Demonstrated skill in towing loaded trailers on highways and remote two-track roads
• Knowledge and/or field experience with the vegetation of the Great Basin region
• Ability to read and navigate using topographic maps and a compass
• Experience using dichotomous keys to identify plants to species
• Experience camping overnight in remote areas for consecutive nights

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

• $18.50/hour
• $40 per diem when camping
• $200 monthly health insurance allowance
• $75 weekly housing allowance
• Wilderness First Aid Certification, valid for 3 years
• Eligibility to Pro Deals, such as Outdoor ProLink

SCHEDULE:

• 20-week term, beginning late April or early May and ending in September or October 2025
• 40-hour work week
  • First 3-4 weeks of training: Monday through Friday, 0700-1500
  • Remainder of field season: Camping-hitch schedule of either 4 days on/3 off, or 8 days on/6 off

Note: Successful candidates are responsible for their own housing while working on this project. Participants must supply their own personal outdoor gear and equipment; required PPE will be provided.

ABOUT ENLC: The Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition (ENLC), based in Ely, NV, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of environmental conservation through projects, research, education, and partnerships throughout the arid and semi-arid West.

ABOUT THE ELKO, NV AREA: The Elko District BLM encompasses 12.5 million acres and has topography typical of the Great Basin with broad valleys separated by mountain ranges. Nestled in the valley of the Ruby Mountains, it is only a 20-minute drive into one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the state. Often described as the Swiss Alps of Nevada, the Ruby Mountains’ steep peaks rise nearly 5,000 feet above the valley below, capped by Ruby Dome at over 10,000 feet. The drive to the top of the infamous Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway is less than an hour from Elko, where the hikes range from half days to multi-day thru-hikes on the Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail, highlighting jagged peaks and stunning alpine lakes. In the wintertime, the Rubies boast 200+ inches of cold smoke snow each year; seducing snowshoers, snowmobilers, yurt hikers, and powder-hungry backcountry and heli-skiers alike. North of Elko, the Jarbidge Wilderness beckons to climbers and canyoneers, and can be found chock-full of wildflowers in the spring and summer months.

The city of Elko (population 21,000) is located along the I-80 corridor and is approximately 230 miles west of Salk Lake City, UT and 290 miles east of Reno, NV. Full of rich Nevada history, local attractions include the annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering and the well-known Basque Festival. The Humboldt River cuts through Elko’s city center, and hot springs are located right outside the city.