Full job description and application instructions link: https://jobs.colostate.edu/postings/156964 
Apply by full consideration date: 2/11/2025
Salary Range: $45,000-$52,000

Position 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. CNHP 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 40 highly experienced biologists and information managers with expertise in inventory, research, and monitoring of Colorado’s flora, fauna, plant communities, and conservation issues. CNHP serves a wide variety of users including federal, state and local agencies, consultants, environmental groups, non-government organizations, private landowners, and the public. CNHP’s annual revenue is approximately 6 million dollars and is generated from contracts and agreements through CNHP’s partners and clients. CNHP generally works on over 50 conservation projects per year. To learn more about CNHP’s mission, vision, and values, visit http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu/ .

Founded in 1870, Colorado State University is among the nation’s leading research universities and enrolls approximately 32,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Located an hour north of the Denver metro area, Fort Collins is a vibrant community of approximately 157,000 residents that offers the convenience of a small town with all the amenities of a large city. Fort Collins is situated on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains with views of 14,000-foot peaks, and offers access to numerous cultural, recreational, and outdoor opportunities.

The Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) at Colorado State University (CSU) is seeking a Wetland Technician. The Wetland Technician will work within CNHP’s Wetland Ecology Team on all aspects of wetland inventory, assessment, and monitoring projects in Colorado. This includes pre-field season logistics and planning, securing permission to access survey sites on public and private land, preparing field maps in ArcGIS, and preparing field supplies. Work during the summer field season will involve actively collecting field data in wetlands. The field work involves extensive collection of wetland vegetation, soil, and environmental data, and identification of plant species and natural communities. This position requires travel during the summer months and long days in the field.

Post-field season activities include QC’ing field collected data, identifying collected plant specimens, entering field data or working with interns and work studies to enter data, and working with the Wetland Ecology Team Lead or other CNHP staff on data analysis and report writing. The position will also include managing data from pervious wetland data collection projects. The position requires proficiency in scientific report writing and the use of Microsoft Office programs, statistical analysis programs, and ESRI ArcGIS programs. The Wetland Technician will assist with proposal writing, field staff hiring, field training, project reporting, and supporting other wetland related inventory projects as needed. This position is supervised by the CNHP Wetland Ecology Team Lead and is a member of CNHP’s Wetland Ecology Team.

The position will be located on the Colorado State University campus in Fort Collins, CO. The position can be either full-time in-person or part-time in-person/part-time remote. Fully remote work is not an option. The position must be based in Colorado and be able to work from the CNHP offices at CSU two or three times a week throughout the year. CNHP provides a flexible work environment to support work-life balance with excellent benefits and CSU is dedicated to taking care of faculty and staff by providing a wide range of benefits that promote health, financial security, and overall well-being. The University also offers many perks to eligible employees – from educational benefits and work-life programs to discounts and deals.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in ecology, botany, watershed science, natural resources, range management, forestry, or related field.
• At least six months or two field seasons of experience collecting scientific data.
• Experience working with Natural Heritage Methodology to collect data on rare plants, animals, and natural communities.
• Knowledge of wetland ecology and experience working in wetlands and/or riparian areas.
• Experience using dichotomous botanical keys and field guides and familiarity with the major angiosperm plant families.
• Experience collecting data on vegetation, soils, water, and/or other environmental data and experience with various vegetation sampling techniques.
• Experience interpreting aerial photography (e.g., Google Earth), navigating with a topographic map, and use of GPS.
• Experience with ArcGIS and associated mapping applications.
• Willingness to initiate contacts with private landowners, State and Federal Agencies and a demeanor that will facilitate this contact.
• Willingness and ability to work long hours and unusual schedules, travel during the field season, share living quarters in rustic field housing, bunkhouses, and car camping, and potentially backpack and hike long distances (up to 10 miles / day) while carrying a heavy pack (up to 40 lbs).
• Willingness and ability to work with a positive attitude in field conditions that include exposure to inclement weather, rugged terrain, hot or cold weather (30–110° F), mosquitos, and poisonous plants, all while maintaining a strong commitment to team safety.
• Demonstrated organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills; ability to handle complex tasks with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Effective interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, including ability to work with a diverse group of individuals and to maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to work both independently with guidance and effectively in a team.
• Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license by the employment start date.
• The successful candidate must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. by proposed start date; CNHP will not provide visa sponsorship for this position.

Employee Benefits: 
Colorado State University (CSU) is committed to providing employees with a strong and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Visit CSU’s Human Resources website for detailed benefit plan information for permanent full-time and part-time faculty and administrative professional employees in the following University benefit areas: https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/  & https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/. 

Colorado State University conducts background checks on all final candidates.

CSU is an EO/EA/AA employer.