Posting DetailsPosition Information
Classification Title Temporary Hourly
Employment Category Temporary
Is this an Hourly position? Yes
Work Hours/Week 0-40
Overtime Eligible? Yes
Position Location Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming
Does this position qualify for hybrid or remote work? No
Description of Work Unit The Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) is Colorado's primary biological conservation information center housed within the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University. CNHP is a key player in Colorado's conservation of open lands and maintains the only centralized conservation database in Colorado that includes plants, animals, and natural communities. The staff consists of approximately 40 highly experienced biologists and information managers with expertise in inventory, research, and monitoring of Colorado's flora, fauna, plant communities, and conservation issues. Recent conservation success stories include partnering with various organizations to provide site-specific data and biological expertise to keep large working landscapes intact by placing conservation easements on the land or purchasing the land for public open space. CNHP has participated in protecting over 100,000 acres of biologically significant lands over the past two years and received several national awards for their conservation work in Colorado. CNHP serves a wide variety of users including federal, state and local agencies, consultants, environmental groups, non-government organizations, private landowners, and the public. CNHP's annual revenue is approximately 2 million dollars and is generated from contracts and agreements through CNHP's partners and clients. CNHP generally works on over 40 conservation projects per year.
Search Contact Email joanna.lemly@colostate.edu
Position Summary Up to 45 Wetland/Aquatic Field Technicians will support CNHP's Wetland Ecology Team with several wetland and aquatic ecology field projects funded by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other agencies. The projects will be carried out in several states across the West, including but not limited to Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. Standard duties will involve planning logistics for 4-8 day field hitches; driving and hiking to field sites; extensive data collection on vegetation, aquatic biota (invertebrates and amphibians), hydrology, geomorphology, soil, land use, and grazing impacts; detailed completion of field forms; and communication with project partners. The position involves extensive travel throughout multiple states, camping in remote settings, and long 10+ hour field days. The position requires experience with fieldwork, preferably in stream or wetland environments. Experience working with the BLM AIM program, Ecological Integrity Assessment, or other wetland/riparian assessment methods is preferred. Experience working in the Rocky Mountain, Intermountain West, and/or Great Plains is preferred. A valid driver's license for travel between sites is required, as is the ability to hike and navigate to field sites. These positions are supervised by permanent staff on the CNHP Wetland Ecology Team.
For more information about these projects, please visit https://cnhp.colostate.edu/aboutus/careers/employment/.
Position Minimum Qualifications 1. Coursework in botany, ecology, natural resources, range management, or related field.
2. Experience collecting field data.
3. Willingness and ability to work long hours and unusual schedules, travel extensively during the field season, share living quarters in rustic field housing, bunkhouses, and car camping, and potentially backpack and hike long distances (up to 10 miles / day) while carrying a heavy pack (up to 40 lbs).
4. Willingness and ability to work with a positive attitude in field conditions that include exposure to inclement weather, rugged terrain, hot or cold weather (30-110° F), biting insects, and poisonous plants, all while maintaining a strong commitment to team safety.
5. Demonstrated organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills; ability to handle complex tasks with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
6. Effective interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, including ability to work with a diverse group of individuals and to maintain effective working relationships.
7. Ability to work both independently with guidance and effectively in a team.
8. Experience with using dichotomous keys for plant ID (specific positions only).
Preferred Qualifications 1. B.S. or B.A. degree in ecology, botany, watershed science, natural resources, range management, forestry, or related field.
2. Knowledge of wetland and/or stream ecology and experience working in these environments.
3. Specific field experience in one or more of the following areas: vegetation sampling, soil profile descriptions, water quality sampling, geomorphology, amphibians and their habitat, and/or macroinvertebrates.
4. Experience interpreting aerial photography (e.g., Google Earth), navigating with a topographic map, and use of GPS.
5. Familiarity with the major plant families, and knowledge of western flora and/or groundwater-dependent wetland species.
6. Experience with various vegetation sampling techniques.
7. Experience collecting data electronically using tablets or other devices.
8. Experience working in the Rocky Mountain, Intermountain West, or Plains Ecosystems.
CNHP is interested in finding the best candidates for these positions. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't think you meet every one of our preferred qualifications - use your application to let us know what excites you about this role and what transferable skills or other qualities you would bring.
Posting Details
Working Title Wetland/Aquatic Field Technicians - Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming
Posting Number 202400828T
Department Colorado Natural Heritage Program
Salary Range $19-24/hr. ~$60.00/day per diem & gear reimbursement when traveling beyond base location. Total reimbursement = $395-455/two-week hitch.
Employee Benefits Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it's a thriving community that's transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, commitment to
diversity, equity and inclusion, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.
- Review our detailed benefits information here.
- Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.
- For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator.
- Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in!
Close Date 05/03/2025
Special Instructions to Applicants Email a resume, cover letter, and contact information for 3 references to joanna.lemly@colostate.edu. In your cover letter, please indicate which state(s) you are interested working in: Colorado, Utah, and/or Wyoming. Applications will be considered until all positions are filled. References will not be contacted without prior notification to applicant.
Application review close date: May 3, 2025
CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.
References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
Background Check Policy Statement Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.
EEO Statement Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The
Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.
The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715,
titleix@colostate.edu.
The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836,
oeo@colostate.edu.
The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University's Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836,
oeo@colostate.edu.
Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the
Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education.
Diversity Statement Reflecting departmental and institutional values, candidates are expected to have the ability to advance the Department's commitment to diversity and inclusion
Essential Job Duties
Job Duty Category Field Data Collection
Duty/Responsibility Using GPS and provided maps, driving to and from sites and navigating to plot locations via paved roads, dirt roads, hiking trails, and off-trail travel through dense vegetation and across long distances. Collecting data on stream geomorphology, wetland vegetation, wetland soils, hydrology, water quality, and/or the condition of buffers efficiently, with attention to detail, and following set protocols.
Percentage Of Time 85
Job Duty Category Training
Duty/Responsibility Attend field trainings, read field manuals, learn to follow detailed field protocols to identify wetlands and assess their condition
Percentage Of Time 5
Job Duty Category Communication
Duty/Responsibility Communicate with public and private land managers when performing field surveys.
Percentage Of Time 5
Job Duty Category Administrative
Duty/Responsibility Data entry and other duties as needed.
Percentage Of Time 5
References
Minimum References Required 3
Maximum References Required 3
