Pollinator Monitoring Technician (USFWS, Multiple Locations)

The Research Associate Program at GBI, in cooperation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service is recruiting up to six (6) AmeriCorps members to serve as Pollinator Monitoring Technicians to serve at one of the following National Wildlife Refuges: Little Pend Oreille, Sheldon-Hart Mountain, Bear Lake, Minidoka, Camas, or Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge. 

Wet, mesic, and upland meadows within sagebrush steppe and forested ecoregions increase structural diversity and complexity of habitats and support a diversity of at-risk wildlife (e.g., greater sage-grouse, monarch butterfly, western bumble bee). Meadow and shrub-steppe habitats in the Rocky Mountain and Inter-Mountain Basin eco-regions are threatened by invasive species and altered ecological processes that can reduce native forbs and floral resources available to pollinators. Because pollinators within these habitats respond to patchy distributions of environmental conditions at relatively small spatial scales, monitoring for at-risk species including butterflies and bumble bees, is essential to better understand the habitat needs of these important pollinator species. This project continues and expands on wet meadow restoration and pollinator monitoring initiated at Southeast Idaho NWRC to encompass larger geographic and temporal scales, as well as upland meadows and shrub-steppe habitats. This project will enable regional comparisons of pollinators, floral resources, habitat management actions, and abiotic conditions (e.g., elevation, climate, etc).

Primary Responsibilities:

• Assess pollinators and floral resources in meadows and shrub-steppe in relation to habitat management (e.g., invasive species control, prescribed fire, out-planting, etc.) and hydrologic and climatic conditions (e.g., surface water flooding, precipitation, etc.).
• Examine pollinator community composition, diversity, and pollinator/floral resource interaction matrices at multiple geographic and temporal scales.
• Evaluate efficacy of herbaceous meadows and shrub-steppe habitat restoration actions during the short term (1-2 years) and long-term (5+ years).
• Contribute bumble bee data to the Pacific Northwest Bumble Bee Atlas to inform regional bumble bee distribution, health, and habitat needs.

The hired technicians will focus on the following:

• Survey bumble bees, butterflies, and floral resources within herbaceous meadows and shrub-steppe using a standardized protocol across all refuges.
• Survey habitat condition to evaluate efficacy of habitat management and restoration actions.
• Conduct management actions to enhance or restore native meadow and shrub/steppe habitats.
• Assist with data management and preliminary analyses as time permits.
• Contribute to a regional-scale monitoring protocol for bumble bees and butterflies.
• Assist with other biological surveys on the refuges as time permits.

* Members are required to take a mandatory 30-minute lunch break each service day. This break does not count toward their service hours for the education award.

Timeline:

• Start in mid-May 2026, (2 Technicians) – 12 to 14 weeks in length.
  • Location: Little Pend Oreille NWR & Sheldon-Hart Mountain NWRC.
• Start in April 2026, (4 Technicians) – 22 weeks in length.
  • Location: Camas, Bear Lake, Minidoka, & Grays Lake NWRs.
• Full time (40 hours/week).
  • Schedule: Monday-Friday 8 hrs/day; or Monday-Thurs 9 hrs/day, 1st Friday 8 hours, 2nd Friday off.

Location:

Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge is in northeastern Washington, approximately 70 miles north of Spokane and 13 miles southeast of Colville, Washington. Hidden between the foothills of the Cascades and the Rocky Mountains, this unique, forested, mountainous Refuge provides habitat for large mammals like bear, cougar, deer, elk, and moose as well as over 200 species of birds. With elevations ranging from 1,800 feet to 5,600 feet, Little Pend Oreille is the only mountainous, mixed-conifer forest refuge in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Six different forest zones are present, including Douglas fir, grand fir, ponderosa pine, western red cedar, western hemlock, and subalpine fir. In addition to diverse rolling pine and fir forests, refuge habitats include scattered lakes, shallow marshes, ponds and springs, plus more than 80 miles of streams. Water rushes from narrow, steep canyons with fast, rocky flows and meanders slowly through broad valleys. Field work will be completed at the Kaniksu Unit of Little Pend Oreille NWR. 

Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex is a vast, remote area in the high desert of northwest Nevada and southeast Oregon, managing over 900,000 acres of primarily sagebrush steppe habitat. The refuges were established in the 1930s for the protection of pronghorn antelope and now serve to protect a variety of sagebrush-dependent wildlife in addition to pronghorn, including Greater sage-grouse, scattered bands of bighorn sheep, pygmy rabbits, and a rich assortment of other wildlife. The Refuge Complex is one of the few intact sagebrush steppe ecosystems remaining in the Great Basin. The landscape is vast, rugged, and punctuated with waterfalls, narrow gorges, and lush springs among rolling hills and expansive tablelands of sagebrush and mountain mahogany. Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge is located near Denio, NV and Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge is located near Plush, OR, with an administrative headquarters for the complex located in Lakeview, OR. Both the Hart Mountain and Sheldon refuges are very remote, with groceries, medical care, and other services located 2 hours away in Lakeview, OR. Field work will be completed on both refuges, with equal time spent on Hart Mountain NAR and Sheldon NWR.

Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1968 to protect and manage habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds. Located seven miles south of Montpelier, ID, the refuge encompasses 18,200 acres of bulrush marsh, open water, and flooded meadows that are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge provides valuable habitat for waterfowl and colonial nesting water birds. Portions of the refuge include scattered grasslands and brush-covered mountain slopes.  Primary management species of focus are redhead ducks, sandhill crane, Bonneville cutthroat trout, and Canada goose. With close proximity to the highly utilized recreational area of Bear Lake and its beaches, U.S. Forest Service lands, and several National Parks that are within reasonable driving distances, there are many outdoor recreational opportunities in close proximity to the duty station.   

Camas National Wildlife Refuge was established for the protection of migratory waterbirds and is a mosaic of wetland, grassland, and sage-steppe habitat.  It is located approximately 40 miles north of Idaho Falls, Idaho near the small rural community of Hamer, Idaho.  The area is fairly remote, with the nearest gas station existing 20 miles away (to the north in Dubois or to the south in Roberts).  Groceries, medical care, and other services are available ~40 miles away (to the south in Idaho Falls or to the east in Rexburg). The refuge is set within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem which provides ample world-class outdoor recreation activities.  Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks are approximately a 2 to 3 hour drive east.  Craters of the Moon National Monument, the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, and the Salmon-Challis National Forest are a 1 to 3-hour drive to the west. The Caribou-Targhee National Forest is a 45 minute to an hour drive to the north and east. The refuge is set within the Snake River Plains, at an elevation of about 4500 feet. Summers are typically warm and dry with cool nights. Daily highs are in the 80s and low 90s. Afternoon thunderstorms are common.   

Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Snake River Plain in south-central Idaho, 12 miles northeast of Rupert. It includes 80 miles of shoreline around Lake Walcott, from Minidoka Dam upstream about 25 miles. The refuge headquarters is located in Lake Walcott State Park. About half of the refuge’s ~24,000 acres is open water and wetlands. In this arid landscape, these resources serve as an oasis drawing numerous wildlife species from miles around. Many species use the bulrush and cattail habitat that lines the lake’s small bays. Others use the willows, cottonwoods and other trees growing near shorelines. The rest of the refuge is low, rolling uplands covered by sagebrush, grasses and isolated juniper patches amongst scattered outcrops of basalt. The USFWS manages the refuge. The US Bureau of Reclamation operates the dam and power plant and controls the water levels in the reservoir. The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation manages Lake Walcott State Park, a 30-acre park near the dam that offers campgrounds, picnic areas, a disc golf course, cabins, and a boat ramp.

Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1965 for the purpose of protecting parts of the historic Grays Lake wetland which provide habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, and wading birds, including sandhill cranes. This unique refuge consists of 22,000 acres of predominantly wetland habitat and is North America’s largest contiguous montane bulrush marsh. Other focal habitat types include wet meadow, sagebrush steppe, and aspen/conifer forest. Grays Lake is bordered on the east side by the Caribou-Targhee National Forest and is overlooked by Caribou Mountain, the tallest peak in the Caribou range. Wildlife is diverse with about 200 species of birds having been observed at Grays Lake. Native wildflowers are also abundant here, with gorgeous and diverse blooms dotting the landscape from May to July. At approximately 6,500 feet elevation, the growing season is short and cool temperatures at night are common. Weather can be unpredictable, with hailstorms occurring in mid-July, and the first frost occurring as early as late August. The refuge headquarters and lodging are located in the Grays Lake valley, Wayan ID, in northern Caribou and southern Bonneville counties. Grays Lake is the most remote refuge in the Southeast Idaho complex. The nearest amenities (groceries, gas, medical care, etc.) are ~45 minutes away in Soda Springs, ID (40 miles) or Thayne, WY (32 miles). Cell phone service is sparse to non-existent at Grays Lake depending on the provider. It is a 1.5-hour drive to Jackson Hole, WY, which is a gateway to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. It is also approximately a 1.5-hour drive to Pocatello and Idaho Falls, ID, larger cities in southeast Idaho. These cities offer more grocery and dining options as well as local, popular events including farmers markets, rodeos, and festivals.

Compensation and Benefits:

Living Allowance: $650.00 biweekly (before taxes).

Segal AmeriCorps Education Award (450 hour or 675 hour): $1,956.35 for a 450 hour term & $2,817.14 for a 675 hour term upon successful completion.

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.
• Access to Pro Deals.
• Eligibility for SNAP benefits, Loan Forbearance, and Loan Interest Accrual Repayment.

Housing: Housing at Camas, Grays Lake, Minidoka, Little Pend Oreille, and Sheldon-Hart Mountain Refuges will be provided to the selected participant at no additional cost.

• Housing for field work at the Kaniksu Unit of Little Pend Orielle NWR will be provided at either Little Pend Orielle NWR, 13 miles southeast of Colville, WA or Turnbull NWR, near Cheney, WA.
• Housing consists of shared dormitory-style rooms in a Refuge bunkhouse with shared kitchen, bathrooms, and common areas.
• Housing at Bear Lake NWR will be either a camp trailer with hook-ups at the Refuge OR if on-site housing is not available a housing stipend of $400 biweekly will be provided to the selected participant.

Segal Education Award:

After successfully completing an AmeriCorps term of service members are eligible to receive the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. Award varies based on term of service. You can use the award to repay qualified student loans and to pay current educational expenses at eligible institutions of higher education and training programs.

Student Loan Forbearance:

If you are currently paying on any federal student loans you have the option to put those loans into forbearance during your time as an AmeriCorps volunteer, that will allow you to cease payments while serving.

Interest Accrual Repayment:

As an AmeriCorps alum, you are eligible to have the National Service Trust pay all or a portion of the interest that accumulated on your qualified student loan(s) during your term of service. These payments are made in addition to the Education Award, and are not deducted from your Education Award balance. To be eligible to have accrued interest paid: The loan must have been placed in forbearance for the service period, and you must have successfully completed a term of service and received an Education Award.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Eligibility:

AmeriCorps Volunteers become eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Qualifications:

Required:

(This AmeriCorps position is open to US Citizens, Nationals, or Permanent Residents age 17 or older.)

• Knowledge and interest in habitat and wildlife management.
• Prior experience with biological (e.g., wildlife, vegetation) and hydrological survey techniques.
• Experience with MS Word, MS Excel, and other basic computer skills.
• Experience with ArcPro and ArcGIS On-Line, and associated ESRI apps (e.g., FieldMaps, Survey123, etc.) preferred.
• Experience utilizing hand-held GPS units and/or PDRs for navigation and/or data collection.
• Experience downloading data from handheld GPS units and/or PDRs.
• Experience with R and R-studio, preferred, but not required.
• Willingness to travel to other refuges as necessary.
• Experience operating 4WD trucks on and off-road, including mountain forest roads.
• Knowledge and experience in operating off highway vehicles, which includes Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTV), and All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV), desirable.
• Experience with towing and backing-up a trailer, desirable.
• Must provide a valid driver’s license and possess a clean driving record.
• Tolerant of working in variable weather conditions, willing and able to work outdoors in adverse weather conditions and areas with ticks, mosquitoes, or other biting insects, and able to hike 2-5+ miles daily on uneven terrain.
• Successful applicants may be required to complete a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) or submit paperwork to USFWS 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.
• AmeriCorps eligibility requirements: (1) U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status, (2) eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award (limited to earning equivalent of two full-time education awards), (3) pass National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) name search and federal criminal background check, (4) adhere to the rules, regulations and code of conduct as specified in the Member Service Agreement; and (5) not engage in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement.

Preferred:

• Ability to self-direct and self-motivate.
• Possess good organization skills.
• Have good attention to detail for entering data electronically and quality assurance/quality control of data.
• Ability to perform physical labor for extended periods of time (e.g., bending over, hauling material, hiking).
• Ability to work productively as part of a team and independently.
• Good communication skills.
• Good scientific writing skills.