Native Seed Technician (USFWS/BLM/NPS, Lake Mead National Recreation Area)

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: 

This project is under 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. PLC age requirements specify that applicants must be between 16 and 30 years old, or up to 35 years old for veterans. Additional information regarding the PLC can be found on the GBI website.

The Great Basin Institute, in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), is seeking up to three (3) technicians to support native plant materials and climate adaptation initiatives by conducting targeted seed collections of eastern and western Joshua trees (Yucca jaegeriana and Yucca brevifolia) across their range on NPS lands. 

Primary Responsibilities:

Technicians will assist with all aspects of Joshua tree scouting, monitoring, and seed collection, including:

• Scouting for viable populations of eastern and western Joshua trees appropriate for seed collection.
• Mapping Joshua tree populations using ESRI applications such as Survey123, FieldMaps, and ArcGIS Online.
• Photographing populations, sites, and associated habitat conditions.
• Collecting botanical vouchers for herbarium verification and preparing vouchers for submission to regional and national herbaria.
• Monitoring phenology of Joshua tree populations to identify optimal flowering, fruiting, and seed maturation periods.
• Conducting operational and conservation seed collections following SOS protocols and park-specific considerations.
• Recording and managing data electronically using ESRI apps and (when necessary) paper forms.
• Performing quality control (QC) on scouting and collection data using ESRI apps and the SOS Geoplatform Data Management site.
• Conducting rough processing, cleaning preparation, and packaging/shipping seed to designated cleaning facilities.
• Completing SOS annual reporting requirements.

Additional responsibilities:

• Maintaining, tracking, and inventorying field gear.
• Conducting daily and monthly vehicle safety checks.
• Driving project vehicles (trucks, often on 4WD roads) for long distances, up to ten hours per day.
• Traveling between Joshua tree stands across the Mojave Basin and Range, often requiring 8-day overnight hitches.
• Participating in partner trainings hosted by GBI, NPS, and community collaborators.
• Reporting accomplishments and recommending improvements for program operations and future project priorities.
• Assisting with volunteer events focused on seed collection, nursery work, or species monitoring.
• Supporting additional vegetation monitoring, seed collection, and nursery work as needed across NPS units.
• Mapping disturbance areas, habitat characteristics, and other landscape features using ArcGIS Online, ArcPro, and ESRI mobile applications.
• Providing logistical and field support for restoration and climate adaptation projects.

Timeline:

• Mid June 2026, 20 week appointment.
• Full-Time (40 hours/week).
• Schedule: 8 x 10 hour day field hitches, Wed-Wed – exact schedule may vary based on work location and temperature outlooks.

Location:

The crew will be based out of Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Boulder City, NV and will regularly travel on 8‑day camping hitches to other NPS units across the Mojave Desert, including Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve. Technicians work under the guidance of the Regional Seed Coordinator and follow Seeds of Success (SOS) protocols and park‑specific guidance.

Compensation and Benefits:

Compensation: $22.50 hourly.

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.
• Paid leave and holidays.
• Additional benefits:
  • Eligibility for pro deals through GBI, such as Outdoor Prolink and Black Diamond.
  • Training provided; SOS Seeds Collection and Protocol training, Wilderness First Aid, Defensive driver’s training (eligible for discounts on your personal vehicle insurance), report writing, and technical skills trainings.
  • Opportunity to network with GBI and federal partners for career advancement.

Qualifications:

Technical Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, botany, ecology, plant science, taxonomy/systematics, or related discipline.
• experience identifying desert plant species using keys; familiarity with Joshua tree ecology preferred.
• Experience with electronic data entry, QA/QC, and ESRI mobile applications.
• Proficiency using handheld GPS units, reading maps, and navigating with a compass.
• Ability to safely operate 4WD vehicles on rugged terrain.
• Familiarity with ArcGIS Pro and ESRI apps (Field Maps, Survey123), beneficial.

Additional Requirements:

• Willingness to work in variable and extreme conditions, including heat, wind, and remote desert landscapes.
• Ability to camp in undeveloped locations for up to 8 days.
• Experience living and working in backcountry or remote field conditions, including multi‑day camping hitches.
• Capacity to bend, stoop, and stand for extended periods while collecting seed.
• Ability to lift heavy items such as gear bins or water containers.
• Flexibility to begin work early (e.g., 5 a.m.) based on heat, phenology, or team logistics.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Commitment to teamwork and safe field operations.

Physical Demands:

Field work involves driving GBI trucks on both highways and 4WD roads, sometimes up to 100+ miles or 10 hours per day, as well as hiking off designated trails in rugged terrain. Seed collection requires regular and repetitive stooping, kneeling, standing and maneuvering on many different terrains, including uneven ground, steep slopes, and rocky outcrops. Contact with irritating plants may also be required, but in those instances PPE will be provided. Weather conditions will range from cool temperatures at night to 115 degrees during the day with little shade. The use of global positioning systems (handheld GPS units), computers, tablets, digital cameras, and on- and off-road vehicles are an essential part of the job. Camping under primitive conditions at remote locations on data/seed collection trips will regularly be required. Schedules are often determined by plant phenology. Incumbents must also be willing to spend days at a time working at a computer during periods of data entry and analysis.

• Lift up to 50-70 pounds of material or equipment.
• Hike in various terrain and hot conditions (up to 115 degrees) up to 5 miles/day.
• Crouch, stoop, kneel, stand, or bend for long periods of time.
• Drive for many hours a day on highways and 4WD roads.
• Handle plant material for many hours a day.
• Walk and stand for long periods of time on uneven surfaces carrying equipment.
• Be outside in extreme heat or cold (depending upon the season).
• Occasionally work 10+ hour days.
• Travel and camp overnight & up to 8 days at a time for project work.