Ecological Monitoring Crew Lead; Las Vegas, NV

Overview

Ecological Monitoring Crew Lead (Las Vegas, NV)

Position Title:

Ecological Monitoring Crew Lead (Las Vegas, NV)

Position Type:
Temporary Position

Application Review Begins:
Thursday, January 22, 2026

Final date to receive applications:
Sunday, February 08, 2026

Department/Division:
Bureau of Land Management

Field (e.g., systematics):
Vegetation Research and Monitoring

The Great Basin Institute (GBI) is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and service through the west. The Institute’s mission is to advance applied science and ecological literacy through community engagement and agency partnerships, supporting national parks, forest, open spaces and public lands. The Ecological Monitoring Program at GBI serves as a professional development opportunity for natural resource professionals for experience in botanical, soil, and rangeland surveys.

This program focuses on collecting reliable and consistent quantitative data on the status, condition, and trend of natural resources on public lands. GBI partners with the Bureau of Land Management to implement the AIM (Assessment Inventory and Monitoring) Strategy, a national program that sets standards for data collection across jurisdictions and agencies. Data collected informs decision making at the landscape scale.

GBI’s Ecological Monitoring Program provides college graduates and emerging professionals with hands-on survey, inventory, monitoring, and reporting experience in natural resource management, with extensive training and field skills development to support employment success.

Description video:

• Lead and coordinate a field crew (one Lead supervising two Technicians) to characterize vegetation using terrestrial AIM core methods.
• Provide training as needed for Habitat Assessment Framework (HAF) or other supplemental protocols.
• Work on projects where core AIM sampling and any supplemental protocols are implemented; protocols may vary by project.
• Maintain safety awareness and practices during field operations.
• Perform extensive 4x4 driving on unmaintained roads and navigate off-trail to sampling sites.
• Establish sampling plots and transects; identify soils horizons to verify ecological site descriptions (ESDs).
• Collect vegetation data (species inventory, diversity, abundance, foliar cover, canopy gap, heights) and take photo-points.
• Enter data into Field Maps and Survey 123; manage ArcGIS Online databases; perform QA/QC checks.
• Coordinate field logistics and scheduling; participate in trainings; report writing and administrative tasks.
• Lead and mentor crew members; support and manage field operations and communications with GBI and agency staff.

• Leadership experience, including supervising field crews and managing projects.
• Experience, education, or a combination in botany, range management, soils to meet one or both of the following:
• Bachelor’s degree in botany, biology, ecology, or rangeland ecology or other natural resources with relevant coursework or at least 1 year of field data collection identifying plants; AND/OR
• Bachelor’s degree in plant or soil science or similar with soils coursework or at least 1 year of field data collection describing soils. Any of the 4 certifications from the Soil Science Society of America may substitute for education or experience.

• Technical requirements:
• Experience identifying plants in the field and using a dichotomous key;
• Experience conducting plant surveys using standard monitoring protocols, photo plots, and site observations;
• Data entry and management; technical writing and/or project reports;
• Ability to read and navigate using topographic maps;
• Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on paved/unpaved roads in remote areas;
• GPS data collection with hand-held units;
• Basic GIS skills (Arc Map) and ArcGIS Online;
  Microsoft Office suite;
  Field Maps, Survey 123.

• Additional requirements:
• Willingness to work in fast-paced environments and uphold high performance standards and teamwork;
• Mentor and foster professional development for crew members;
• Valid state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record;
• Familiarity with…