New job Lead Temporary Field Technician - NEON Program - D9 - North Dakota in North Dakota

We are currently seeking Lead Temporary Field Technicians. These positions are located in Jamestown, ND.

SAMPLING PERIOD –
Start Date: March-May 2021
End Date: August-October 2021

Lead Temporary Field Technicians perform and supervise seasonal and periodic sampling of physical, chemical and biological data at one (1)-five (5) field sites, while exercising good judgement and decision-making abilities to interpret protocol requirements. Lead Temporary Field Technicians are assigned an area of primary responsibility within the scope of data collection: botany, entomology, mammalogy (except Puerto Rico and Hawaii), or limnology (except Hawaii).

Field observations and collection are conducted using approximately 30 different protocols and multiple Standard Operating Procedures with varying schedule requirements based on local ecosystem and current field conditions.

Daily and weekly work schedules will fluctuate. Workdays can be up to twelve hours long and may be split with both morning and evening work, with work, at times, beginning at dawn and going through to dusk. Workweeks can include weekends and occasionally may be up to 12 consecutive days.

Individuals are responsible for their own housing and transportation to primary work location.

The NEON Project’s Domain 09 encompasses all of North Dakota, and parts of South Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, and Montana. We work in central North Dakota, near Jamestown and in Mandan. The topography is rolling prairie pothole and Missouri River breaks. This area is the breeding ground and migration corridor for many species of waterfowl, as well as shorebirds and grassland nesting birds. White tailed deer are common, and it is possible to see moose, badger, beaver, fox and coyote.

The climate is continental, meaning the summers are often quite warm with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, and winters are very cold and windy. Mosquitoes and ticks are numerous and omnipresent.

Employees will spend the majority of the time in the field, with sometime in the domain office for lab work and data entry.

The domain office is located in Jamestown, North Dakota. Jamestown is a small town with access to fishing, hiking and biking trails and terrific birding opportunities. Fargo and Bismarck are larger cities both an hour and a half drive.

• Performs and supervises field assignments in a variety of conditions (e.g., weather, terrain, diverse assigned biomes, etc.).
• Provides training to seasonal and temporary field personnel.
• Follows established, standardized field procedures for sample collection; records data from sample collection; and processes samples.
• Records activities and completed work according to Field Operations protocol.
• Follows safety and Field Operations policy and procedures.
• Reports issues with implementation of procedures and coordinates resolution with manager and technicians.
• Assists with routine administrative duties, special projects and other duties as assigned.
• Carries, moves and lifts field supplies (pack weighing up to 40 lbs.) to assigned field site (which involves diverse and uneven terrain).

• High School Diploma. May require an Associate's degree or experience as a fully qualified Temporary Field Technician with one (1) – two (2) years of related experience
• Knowledge of best practices for accurate and repeatable field and laboratory measurements across multiple scientific disciplines. Complex and variable systems require judgment and independent decision-making abilities
• Technical skills using best practices in field and ability to identify aquatic or terrestrial flora and fauna to genus and species.
• Due to the limited number of positions in each domain, technicians must be willing and able to learn and perform procedures and methods outside of the primary responsibility.
• Willingness to perform maintenance and field sampling outdoors in sparsely populated, remote locations, with distances ranging from 1/2 hour to 6 hours from the domain office. Overnight travel, hiking off trail, and wading in water are typical in most locations.
• Ability and willingness to work varied field operations schedules (up to 12+ hours per day), including split-shift, part-time, pre-dawn early mornings, evenings and weekends.
• Ability to hike off trail, long distances, on uneven terrain, at remote locations, in all types of weather, carrying packs weighing up to 40lbs.
• Ability to work on instrument towers ranging in height from 26 feet to 240 feet and at altitudes of up to 11,000 feet (depending on assigned Domain), involving the ability to ascend and descend multiple flights of stairs.
• Ability to withstand exposure to fumes, dust, and noise. Field work may require frequent exposure to toxicodendrons (e.g. poison ivy and poison oak), ticks, biting insects and other natural hazards.
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite (e.g., Excel, Word).
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
• High level of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong work ethic and enthusiasm.

Previous NEON Project field experience will be highly considered

Applicants must have authorization to work in the United States.

Employment is contingent on background screen, drug screen, motor vehicle records check and physical.

Must possess a current and valid State issued driver’s license with insurable Department of Motor vehicle record (parking violations, minor driving offenses excluded) as determined by Battelle’s insurance provider.