SUMMER FIELD OPPORTUNITY
The University of Montana Wilderness Institute is hiring field staff for summer of 2021.
Forest and Fire Ecology: These positions will assist a team of researchers and graduate students with fieldwork in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness (SBW), Yosemite National Park (yfdp.org), and western Montana. These positions will involve field measurements to quantify forest development and fuel dynamics following single and repeat wildfires. Work includes measurements of forest structure, tree demography, fuels, causes of tree mortality, mapping woody debris and tree locations, fuels transects, and tree seedling surveys. This work is remote and will require multi-week front-country camping and wilderness backpacking trips.
Duration: Mid-May through mid-August. The work schedule is four, ten-hour days per week, with flexible sequencing and scheduling to accommodate travel to and work in remote locations. Field technicians must be flexible and willing to follow our COVID-19 policies and plan. We cannot accommodate pets in the field.
Pay: $12.50-$14.00 per hour depending on experience.
Required qualifications: Demonstrated experience taking vegetation data, working safely in challenging environments, and following complex protocols. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to solve problems, as well as work independently and in teams. Work will include moving through rough terrain, at times while heavy carrying packs as well as delicate and expensive equipment. Comfort with outdoor living in remote settings with no cell phone or internet service for extended periods of time is essential. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license and Wilderness First Aid certification (or higher) valid for the season.
Desired qualifications: Knowledge of flora, tree pathogens, and forest insects in western conifer forests. Experience with forest measurement tools, especially off-trail navigation using map and compass.
Apply: We are committed to creating an environment that safe, respectful, and inclusive to all. Send a single pdf-file containing a 1) cover letter detailing your qualifications and why you would like to join our team, and which must include a statement of your availability and any planned mid-summer absences; 2) resume (≤2 pages); 3) unofficial transcripts, and 4) e-mail address and phone number for three references to melissa.jaffe@umconnect.umt.edu.
Application deadline: February 5, 2020. We review applications as received and aspire to make hiring decisions by the end of February.
