Grazing Monitoring & Ecological Restoration Technician

The Utah National Guard is looking for a seasonal employee to conduct plant surveys and work on restoration projects on Camp Williams. Several employees will work together as part of the Natural Resources Management team to improve natural resources.

Camp Williams is located approximately 15 miles south of Salt Lake City in the town of Bluffdale.

The primary focus of the grazing monitoring work will be measuring plant community response to grazing. There will also be opportunities to measure flora species diversity and density on several ecotypes at Camp Williams.

The primary focus of the restoration work will be to installation of low-tech process-based restoration structures in ephemeral streams. This work will involve manual labor such as digging and lifting heavy materials in uneven terrain. There may also be opportunities for other vegetation monitoring and management activities.

This position is temporary (approximately mid-April to August). Schedule is 40 hours/week, generally four 10-hour days, Monday through Thursday.

As a Grazing Monitoring & Ecological Restoration Technician, you will work as part of the Natural Resources Management team to perform the following:

• Grazing Monitoring:
  Conduct forage clippings before and after grazing to determine carrying capacity and use; provide guidance to leadership regarding paddock grazing intensity.
• Plant Surveys:
  Conduct surveys to measure species diversity, density, and shrub canopy cover across several ecotypes.
• Ecological Restoration:
  Install low-tech, process-based restoration structures (such as beaver dam analogs and Zeedyk structures) using rock and wood materials.
• Vegetation Management:
  Assist with native plant installation, seed collection, invasive plant removal by hand, and pinyon-juniper propagation.
• Data Management:
  Record gathered field data onto standard forms, incorporate findings into a GIS database system, and prepare a written summer report.
• Site Stewardship:
  Survey and document erosion issues and provide guidance for rehabilitation projects, such as post-wildfire recovery.
• Safety & Teamwork:
  Safely operate ATV/UTV machines in an active military training environment and collaborate with other technicians to meet natural resource goals.
• May be required to use heavy equipment and power tools to irrigate tree seedlings; must be able to use sharp tools to fix irrigation lines if needed.

The ideal candidate is a self-motivated individual with a passion for the outdoors and a strong foundation in rangeland or botanical sciences. They will possess:

• Educational Background: A degree (or current pursuit of one) in botany, rangeland management, or a related natural resource field.
• Technical Expertise:
  The ability to identify native and non-native Utah flora and use technical keys to identify unknown species.
• Ecological Knowledge:
  An understanding of plant communities based on landscape position, elevation, soil type, and response to disturbances like fire or grazing.
• Physical Proficiency:
  The ability to hike long distances in steep, rugged terrain and withstand extreme outdoor weather (heat, wind, rain, and snow) while carrying up to 40 lbs of equipment.
• Technical
  
  Skills:
  
  Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word/Excel) and experience with field navigation tools (GPS, map, and compass). Experience with GIS software for mapping and processing spatial data is highly preferred.
• Operational Readiness: A valid state driver’s license and the comfort level to operate ATVs/UTVs on unmaintained dirt roads.
• Professionalism: A pleasant personality with the ability to communicate information clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

You will get the chance to work in an outdoor environment on a property that very few get a chance to see. This position works four 10-hour days, allowing you to have 3 days off/week. This position pays well for a seasonal/summer position. There will be plenty of opportunities to get outdoors and breathe fresh air. You will be trained to safely operate ATV and UTV machines.

You will become part of a small but close-knit team striving to make a positive difference for the environment. You will get to see how a productive ecosystem is important to the military’s readiness and training program.

The National Guard is more than just a job. For more information about the Utah National Guard, please visit the Utah National Guard website.