ECOLOGICAL MONITORING TECHNICIAN (multiple positions)
Salmon Valley Stewardship (SVS) is seeking responsible individuals with experience in plan identification and remote fieldwork to be part of a small seasonal crew performing a diverse array of vegetation and ecological monitoring assignments in partnership with several federal agencies in the rugged and beautiful mountains and valleys of East-Central Idaho.

Location: Salmon, Idaho
Classification: Seasonal, full time (40 hr/wk)
Pay and benefits: $16-20 hourly, DOE; paid federal holidays, not eligible for paid leave or health care benefits
Position duration: mid-April – mid October, 2026; start date slightly flexible; possible extension into late fall or winter dependent on project needs and funding.

About us:
Since 2004, Salmon Valley Stewardship (SVS) has promoted a sustainable economy and productive working lands in the Salmon River Region of Central Idaho. Our vision is that of a community where stewardship of our natural resources is at the core of the social, economic, and ecological vitality of the region. Since 2007, SVS has partnered with the USFS, BLM, state agencies, local entities, and non-profit organizations to work collaboratively on vegetation
stewardship, monitoring, and restoration. Our seasonal crews are a critical and productive  component of this collaborative work, professionally collecting data that managers need to adaptively promote higher biodiversity, protect wildlife habitat, and increase ecosystem resilience.

Position Summary:
Ecological Technicians will work as part of a 2-4 person crew, led by the Ecological Monitoring Crew Lead, to conduct fieldwork using a variety of established monitoring protocols. Sometimes working directly with SVS or agency partner staff, – such as Terrestrial Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) and Multiple Indicator Monitoring (MIM) – as directed by partner agencies. Additionally, SVS utilizes the skills and flexibility of the Technicians to
complete other vegetation and pollinator-related work across its programs, including plant population and phenology monitoring, collecting and cleaning seed, hand-seeding restoration projects, entering and checking data, organizing and maintaining project supplies and occasionally participating in conservation-focused community events.
Work is performed primarily in sagebrush-steppe ecosystems, with field conditions ranging from cold and wet to very hot and dry. The Technician crew typically works four, 10-hour days each week. Depending on locations, overnight camping may be occasionally required up to 3 nights a week. Work is expected to be 70% outdoor field work, 20% workshop, and 10% office.

Expected projects and timelines include:
• Terrestrial AIM for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM); May – June
• Upland MIM and other range monitoring for the Forest Service; July and September
• Milkweed and monarch monitoring; July - August
• Cheatgrass inventory surveys for the Forest Service; August – October
• Seed collection, seed cleaning, and reseeding for SVS Native Plants Program; July – Oct

Primary Responsibilities:
• Work professionally on a small team to conduct detail-oriented, outdoor work
• Collect ecological data requiring plant identification in sagebrush steppe, grasslands, montane and high desert ecosystems.
• Map and monitor plant populations, collect and clean seed by hand.
• Perform hand seeding and other restoration activities.
• Enter, edit, and quality control check collected data.
• Safely travel by 4x4 vehicle and on foot (up to 10 miles/day) to plots using digital mapping apps and GPS in steep and variable terrain while carrying field equipment.

Minimum Qualifications
• 1+ years of experience or 1+ years higher education in natural resource management,
environmental science, ecology, biology, botany, agriculture or similar field
• Demonstrated ability to perform detail-oriented work in challenging outdoor conditions

Preferred Qualifications:
We encourage interested individuals to apply even if only a few of the below qualifications are met
• Bachelor's degree (or progress toward) in ecology, environmental science, natural
resource management, or similar field.
• Experience conducting field monitoring resulting in plant identification skills or prior
knowledge of Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM), Multiple Indicator
Monitoring (MIM), and other established field protocols.
• Experience using field technology (GPS devices, tablets) and related applications (Field
Maps, Survey123, MS Office Suite, etc) to record, organize, and quality-check data.
• Possession of physical fitness needed to hike up to 10 miles a day with a light pack in
often inclement conditions.
• Willingness to occasionally perform multi-day camping assignments and long days.
• Current certification in CPR and Wilderness First Aid/Responder.
• Possession of a valid driver’s license, safe driving record, and experience operating a 4-
wheel-drive vehicle on rough roads.
• Ability to have a positive attitude and flexibility if unforeseen changes arise
• Demonstrated ability to be accountable working independently or with a small team.

Housing Information: No housing or housing stipend is provided. Temporary summer
housing options can be difficult to find in Salmon. SVS staff strive to help new employees find
housing options by sharing any known leads and contact information on current vacancies.