Job Description:

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service recruiting 1 Invasive Species Management Support Specialist based out of the USFWS Pacific Southwest Regional Office in Sacramento, CA. 

The Refuge Invasive Species Management Support Specialist assists the Invasive Species (IS) Coordinator/ Strike Team Coordinator for Pacific Southwest Region National Wildlife Refuges. The Specialist promotes and supports a strategic and adaptive approach to invasive species management (based on the established National Wildlife Refuge System model) on refuge lands, working collaboratively with other Pacific Southwest Region programs, including the Inventory and Monitoring Program, Integrated Pest Management Coordinator, the Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator, and Refuge Planning, as well as with refuges across the Region.

The Invasive Species Management Support Specialist advances priorities of the Pacific Southwest Region invasive species program through performance of the following duties:

• Assisting with the implementation of the regional invasive species grant program including developing and distributing requests for proposals; assisting with regional review of proposals; communicating with refuges to resolve proposal issues; maintaining information on proposal projects; organizing and storing proposal project data and products; and coordinating reporting for selected proposals.
• Providing assistance in holding invasive species prioritization/management plan development workshops with refuges. Conducts and documents steps needed to prepare and conduct workshops including coordinating with Refuge staff; reviewing relevant refuge documents; and data mining, entry, management, and analysis.
• Participates in workshop and drafts workshop report. Recommends and implements enhancements to the process.
• Assisting in the development of a regional SharePoint site to provide easily accessible invasive species guidance and resources for refuges.
• Assisting Refuges in the region with assessing need for invasive species SOPs, protocols, and plans and creating draft documents of these products from provided templates.
• Supporting refuges in implementing baseline inventories for invasive species, documenting management actions, and developing monitoring protocols and invasive species management plans.
• Assisting in the implementation of the Five-Year Strategic Plan.

Career development: GBI’s Research Associate Program presents emerging professionals with career-enhancing opportunities in natural/cultural/recreation resource management, ecological conservation, environmental stewardship, and related fields. This position provides opportunities to interact with regional U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)invasive species experts, planners, data managers, and Refuge staff, support science-based approaches to conserving natural resources, and gain exposure to policies and initiatives for managing public lands.

Contract Timeline:

• 25 week appointment beginning in April/May 2024. Start date is pending successful completion of DOI Background Investigation (possible opportunity for an extension up to 52 weeks, pending available funding)
• Full-time (40 hrs./wk)

Location:

This work is based at the USFWS Pacific Southwest Regional Office at 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA. A hybrid, in-person/remote work model is allowed. Occasional travel to Pacific Southwest Region National Wildlife Refuges may take place following any state and agency pandemic restrictions.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Wage: $32/hr.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance available at no cost
• This position may be eligible for Public Land Corps Specialist Hiring Status. More details will be provided during interviews

Job Qualifications:

GBI seeks an individual who fulfills the following qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree (minimum) in natural resource management or related discipline, plus demonstrated experience in the technical skills below. Those with an advanced degree are encouraged to apply;
• Strong understanding of invasion ecology;
• Experience in strategic planning for invasive species management projects and programs. We particularly seek an individual with experience in supporting adaptive management of invasive plants and/or animals;
• Ability to assist inorganizing invasive species workshops for refuges, including gathering data, creating maps and presentations, setting up a common virtual workspace, and utilizing decision making tools provided;
• Ability to support refuges by providing information, technical assistance, and training regarding invasive species management and tracking;
• Experience in data collection, management, analysis, and interpretation;
• Facility with use of the MS Office suite of software;
• Experience with mobile mapping and data collection tools such as ArcGIS Collector/Field Maps;
• Experience with ArcGIS, including ArcMap, ArcGIS Online, and related software, technologies and products;
• Strong organizational skills, and experience organizing and tracking data records and project status;
• Experience in summarizing and documenting program outcomes;
• Ability to communicate with a diverse audience, both in writing and verbally;
• Ability to work virtually and remotely with limited supervision using novel tools and software to accomplish tasks in a virtual work environment;
• Ability to follow Department of Interior, USFWS, and Regional COVID-19 guidelines and requirements when traveling for work, working in-person, in the field, or at FWS facilities.
• Strong skills in technical writing to clearly convey refuge-specific and regional project findings and statuses;
• Familiarity with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mission, goals and operations, and National Wildlife Refuges of the Pacific Southwest Region and associated resource features and issues, preferred;
• Willingness to travel as needed to gather data and other information from refuges and attend meetings with refuge staff;
• Valid, clean, state-issued driver’s license and familiarity driving 4WD vehicles on pavement and on unimproved roads; and
• Willingness and ability to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the mission of GBI and the goals of the USFWS.

The successful applicant must complete a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) or submit paperwork indicating an active and fully adjudicated BI has already been completed. If you already have a fully adjudicated BI, please let us know in your application.