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Native Seed Program Technician

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and National Park Service (NPS), are recruiting 14 Native Seed Technicians to conduct seed collecting and ecological restoration activities throughout the Great Basin on Department of Interior (DOI) lands.

 

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Scouting and identifying populations of target native plant species suitable for collection;
  • Mapping of populations of plants, disturbance areas, and other features using tablets, handheld devices, ArcGIS Online, ArcPro, and ESRI apps such as FieldMaps and Survey 123;
  • Monitoring the phenology of plant populations to identify optimal seed collection times;
  • Collecting seed from plant populations for both operational and conservation collections in accordance with the Seeds of Success (SOS) Technical Protocol;
  • Processing and shipping seed following standard industry procedure; 
  • Collecting herbarium vouchers, and processing and shipping in accordance to the SOS Technical Protocol;
  • Collecting tissue samples for genetic analysis and processing and shipping, as necessary; 
  • Certifying seed collections following state agency protocols; 
  • Recording data electronically and via paper data forms, entering and editing data related to restoration activities;
  • Photographing collection sites and plants;
  • Maintaining and regularly conducting inventory of field gear;
  • Daily and monthly vehicle checks;
  • Driving a truck up to five hours a day;
  • Traveling in a truck up to ten hours a day;
  • Assisting with the coordination of conservation crew work;
  • Assisting with the coordination of volunteer seed collection and restoration events;
  • Assisting with species survey work, as needed; 
  • Providing support for arid land restoration projects;
  • Reporting accomplishments and providing recommendations for program improvements, priorities, and future projects; and
  • Participating in trainings provided by GBI, DOI agencies, and community partners.

Physical Demands:

Field work involves driving GBI trucks on both highways and 4WD roads, often for 100+ miles per day as well as hiking off designated trails or routes, across rugged terrain, up to 5 miles per day, but more typically 0-1 mile per day. Seed collection requires regular stooping, standing and maneuvering on uneven terrain for many hours a day. Weather conditions will vary from cold winds and precipitation in the early spring to temperatures over 100F in the summer. The use of global positioning systems (handheld GPS units), computers, tablets, digital cameras, and on- and off-road vehicles are an essential part of the job. Camping under primitive conditions in remote locations for a week at a time will regularly be required. Schedules are often determined by plant phenology.  

  • Lift up to 50-70 pounds of material or equipment.
  • Bend, lift, pull, and push.
  • Crouch, stoop, kneel, stand, or bend for long periods of time. 
  • Drive for many hours a day on highways and 4WD roads.
  • Handle plant material for many hours a day. 
  • Walk and stand for long periods of time on uneven surfaces carrying equipment.
  • Be outside in extreme heat or cold (depending upon the season).
  • Occasionally work 10+ hour days.
  • Travel and camp overnight & up to 8 days at a time for project work.

 

Incumbents must also be willing to spend days at a time working at a computer during periods of data entry and analysis.

 

Timeline: 

  • 26-week appointment beginning April 2025