The Research Associate Program at GBI, in cooperation with NPS at Lava Beds National Monument (LABE), is recruiting two (2) Ecological Restoration Technicians to participate in Burned Area Restoration activities to improve the health of the native sagebrush steppe ecosystem in Lava Beds National Monument, including invasive species monitoring and management, vegetation/ecological monitoring, native plant propagation & nursery maintenance, and native plant seed collection.

This field-based position will assist with ongoing Burned Area Restoration efforts to promote Lava Beds’ native sagebrush steppe plant communities and suppress invasive species following the Caldwell & Antelope wildfires which occurred in 2020 & 2021 respectively. These high-severity fires burned over 95% of Lava Beds NM, denuding large portions of the landscape and resulting in drastic decreases in native plant populations such as Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) shrubs and a large increase in the presence of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), a highly invasive annual grass.

Work for this project contributes to a multi-year restoration plan which includes: invasive plant monitoring and targeted treatment; establishment and monitoring of post-fire revegetation plots; restoration of LABE’s native plant nursery facilities to support staging and salvage operations for native plants; planting and seeding native bunchgrasses, shrubs, annual grasses, and forbs to enhance ecological resiliency; and related field-based vegetation restoration tasks including basic data processing and organization. Work will take place under the supervision of the park’s Ecological Restoration Lead, who will work closely with the selected candidates to advance the monument’s restoration goals.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Assist with invasive plant management in burned areas, including manual removal and targeted chemical treatments under the direction of the Restoration Lead;
• Plant and/or seed native annual and perennial plant species to restore burned areas;
• Collect post-fire revegetation survey plot data including species diversity, percent cover, and other indicators of ecological health following established SOP, using mobile devices and/or paper datasheets;
• Assist with native plant seed collection and processing for use in revegetation efforts;
• Contribute to the renovation, maintenance, and operation of the park’s native plant nursery; and
• Collect, enter, and validate spatial and tabular data related to native plant restoration efforts using platforms including ArcGIS Pro, Survey123, Field Maps, and Microsoft Office suite.

Timeline:

• April 2026 – October 2026, 24 weeks; Mid-April start preferred, but start date is flexible;
• Full time (40 hours/week); and
• Schedule: Monday-Thursday 7am-5:30pm; 10 hours/day.

Location:

Lava Beds is a national monument situated in far northeastern California encompassing about 45,000 acres on the northern flank of the Medicine Lake shield volcano. The monument is home to over 800 lava tube caves, in addition to being the site of the 1872-1873 Modoc War. The park ranges from about 4,000ft elevation on the north end to 5,500 in the south, and ecologically is located at the nexus of the southern Cascades, northern Sierra Nevada, and western Great Basin. Native vegetation consists of a mix of sagebrush and bunchgrass steppe, juniper woodlands, and ponderosa forests. Lava Beds experienced 2 wildfires in 2020 and 2021 that burned 97% of the park and consequently the landscape is now dominated by invasive cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and tumble mustard (Sisymbrium altissimum) across much of the park. Winter weather typically sees highs in the 30s and lows in the 10s, while summers are hot with max temps around 90 degrees. The park’s desert environment means snow and rain are infrequent, though not uncommon from October-May. 

The nearest established community is Klamath Falls, OR, which is a 1 hour drive each way from park headquarters. Klamath Falls has a population of 45,000 and is home to grocery stores, restaurants, medical facilities, etc. There are also 2 small towns of about 1,000 (Merrill, OR and Tulelake, CA) within a 30-minute drive of park headquarters, each of which has a small grocery store and gas station. Recreation opportunities within 2 hours of the park include hiking, kayaking, winter sports, and more.

Compensation and Benefits:

Compensation: $19.25 hourly;

Benefits:

• Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental (with option to upgrade in coverage), and vision insurance premiums;
• $25,000 Basic Life & AD&D insurance at no cost;
• Personal leave and holidays; and
• Access to Pro Deals.

Housing: Furnished housing is provided within the park and is about a 5-minute walk from the office. Housing will consist of either a room in a 3-bedroom house or a 1-bedroom apartment, and trailer pads are also available.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Enthusiasm for native western ecosystems and/or desire to learn about ecological restoration of semi-arid landscapes;
• Ability to operate independently and as part of a team while maintaining a positive, safety-conscious attitude;
• Ability and willingness to work in a backcountry setting, including carrying equipment up to 40lb up to several miles on rugged lava rock terrain and working in inclement weather (heat, smoke, etc.);
• 0-1 years' experience conducting biological field work;
• 0-1 years' experience in ecological restoration work;
• 0-1 years' native plant identification experience;
• Ability and willingness to utilize chemical herbicides for invasive species management under the supervision of a certified applicator;
• Ability to live & work in a remote setting as a part of a small 2-3 person crew;
• Must provide a valid driver’s license and possess a clean driving record;
• Must meet PLC age requirements and U.S. citizenship requirements; and
• Successful applicants must complete a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) or submit paperwork to NPS human resources indicating an active and fully adjudicated BI has already been completed prior to beginning position. If you already have a fully adjudicated BI, please let us know in your application.

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree in a field related to Natural Resources such as Biology, Ecological Studies, Environmental Science, Public Lands Management, etc;
• 1-2 years' experience in biological field work in a backcountry setting;
• Familiarity/experience working in sagebrush steppe environments in the western US;
• Working knowledge of plant anatomy, phenology, and common botanical terms;
• Knowledge of invasive plant treatments, native seed collection techniques, use of a dichotomous key to identify plants and animals to species level, and common botanical survey techniques; and
• Familiarity with ESRI GIS suite & Microsoft Office suite for data collection & management, report writing, and professional communication.

Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands, stand, walk, bend, and have specific vision abilities to include close and distance vision, and ability to adjust focus working with computer business equipment and other job/industry specific equipment. The noise level in the work environment is usually low.

The work of this position will be divided between backcountry field work (70%) and office work (30%); the employee must be able to perform work in both indoor and outdoor environments.

This position requires regular hiking across rugged lava rock terrain up to 4 miles carrying up to 40lbs of equipment in hot and dry weather typically not exceeding 90-95℉. The work of this position will often require exposure to hazardous elements typical of backcountry field work including biting insects, inclement weather, and rocky & uneven terrain. Other responsibilities may require the use of hand and power tools both in the field and nursery including rakes, picks, shovels, etc. This position will also be required to have the ability to work on computers and tablets in an office setting for several hours at a time.