The Research Associate Program at GBI, in cooperation with NPS at Joshua Tree NP, is recruiting one (1) Invasive Plant Technician Lead to participate in leading invasive plant inventory and control efforts.

The technician will be responsible for leading an Early Detection, Rapid Response program for invasive plants, for continuing ongoing manual and chemical control treatments of weed infestations, for treating new infestations, and for monitoring treatment effectiveness with the goal of protecting native plant communities in Joshua Tree NP. The technician will be responsible for properly applying herbicides to control invasive plants in accordance with product labels and for maintaining application records in conformance with federal and state law and National Park Service policy. As part of the Vegetation Branch Team, the technician may also assist park staff with vegetation monitoring, native plant restoration projects, and reclaiming damages caused by vehicles traveling off-road. Monitoring tasks may include but are not limited to collecting plant cover, height, frequency, density, and population demography data, including identification to genus-species-variety level. Restoration projects may include but are not limited to digging holes by hand or using augers to plant seeds and container-grown plants, constructing wire cages around plants, and watering plants for an extended period. Off-highway vehicle damage reclamation may include but are not limited to inventory of incursion tracks, construction of barricades, installation of signage, installation of vertical and horizontal mulch and raking out vehicle tracks.

Primary Responsibilities:

• The technician will be responsible for properly applying herbicides to control invasive plants in accordance with product labels and for maintaining application records in conformance with federal and state law and National Park Service policy;
• The technician will assist in maintaining fuel breaks using herbicides;
•  The technician will be responsible for maintaining and updating a geodatabase of infestation locations, treatments, and treatment effectiveness;
• The technician will lead groups of volunteers that assist with monitoring and controlling invasive plants within the park; and
• The technician will provide training for park staff, volunteers, and cooperators on invasive plant identification and best management practices for reducing the spread and establishment of invasive plants.

Timeline:

• July 2026 - July 2027, 52 Project weeks;
• Full time (40 hours/week), possibly including some weekends; potential to extend length of employment depending on available funding and positive performance review; and
• Schedule: four, ten hour days a week with occasional work on weekends as needed.

Location:

Joshua Tree National Park encompasses nearly 800,000 acres in southern California, 2- to 3-hour drive from Los Angeles, Phoenix and Las Vegas. Joshua Tree National Park is of special management concern, lying in the transition of the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert. Aside from the outdoor recreation opportunities and natural wonders within the park, Death Valley and Grand Canyon National Parks, the Mojave Preserve, as well as Lake Mead and Spring Mountains National Recreation Areas are nearby and afford a diversity of outdoor activities ranging from hiking, mountain biking and rock hounding to fishing, boating and skiing/snowboarding.

Field conditions at Joshua Tree include hot, arid days with high exposure to the sun, as well as cold, winter weather. Terrain varies from sandy desert washes to steep rocky slopes, including navigating through large boulder fields. Resources of the region include threatened and/or endangered species habitat, big game habitats, abandoned mine lands, and historic and prehistoric cultural sites.

Compensation and Benefits:

Compensation: $26-30 hourly depending on experience; 

Benefits:

• Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental (with option to upgrade in coverage), and vision insurance;
• $25,000 Basic Life & AD&D insurance at no cost;
• Competitive PTO accrual and paid holidays;
• Eligible for 401(k) retirement savings with up to 4% GBI match; and
• Access to Pro Deals.

Housing: Will not be provided and the selected participant will be expected to procure housing on their own.

Per diem: Camping per diem provided per night in the field.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in weed science, plant science, botany, restoration ecology, biology, environmental studies/science or related discipline;
• Experience in the safe application of herbicides to control invasive plants for natural resource management;
• Experience in preparing pesticide use proposals and pesticide application records;
• Hold a current State of California Qualified Applicator Certificate or License, or succeed in obtaining a certificate within three months of starting the position (failure to obtain a certificate will result in termination);
• Knowledge of California desert invasive plants and control techniques;
• Ability to identify plants to genus, species, and, when applicable, variety level using botanical dichotomous keys;
• Experience in performing field work, and applying methodological protocols for collecting field data;
• Experience using tablets or similar devices for data collection and navigation;
• Experience using ArcGIS software, including ArcGIS Pro and Field Maps; 
• Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with a diverse audience;
• Familiarity driving 4WD vehicles on unimproved roads and pulling a trailer;
• Must meet PLC requirements
• Must provide a valid driver’s license and possess a clean driving record; 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.

Physical Demands:

The technician must be capable of navigating in a desert environment, including steep, rocky terrain, to reach some infestations. This includes the ability to work outdoors, hike long distances (up to 15 miles round trip) carrying 25-40 pounds, and lift and use equipment in variable desert conditions.

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.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: 

This project is federally funded through the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority. Participants serving under this authority may be eligible for the PLC non-competitive hiring status and certificate. The PLC Authority requires all applicants meet the age and US Citizen requirements. Additional information regarding the PLC can be found on the GBI website under the Research Associate Programs FAQ.

Notes: 

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the organization's ongoing needs.

All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Disclaimer: 

Although the organization has attempted to accurately and thoroughly describe this position, GBI reserves the right to change the same, including to change, add to or subtract from the duties outlined, within the sole discretion of the organization, at any time, with or without advance notice.