Archives: Careers

CVA and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Montana are seeking one dedicated individual to join our Team as a Field Technician for the 2022 field season. This will be a seasonal, joint position between both organizations. The Field Technician will be responsible for participating in and supporting various field and preserve projects that serve the Centennial Valley community, landscape, and partner organizations, including:

• Early Detection, Rapid Response Invasive Weed Management
• Native Plant Revegetation
• Drought and Hydrology Monitoring
• Riparian Health
• Wildlife-Friendly Fencing
• General Preserve Maintenance
• Education and Outreach

This crew of 2 will be responsible for treating noxious weeds in the Kelly Creek drainage of the Great Burn Recommended Wilderness. GBCA uses chemical, biological, and manual treatments to control noxious weeds common along high use trails and meadows. All work will be on the Clearwater National Forest in Idaho. Crew will spend 40-50 days in the backcountry from June-September, with training beginning mid May in Missoula. 

This is a combined GBCA and US Forest Service 4-5 member trail crew, run by the Clearwater NF trail department based out of Pierce, ID. All work is completed in north central Idaho.  This is a physically demanding job that requires care and precision to successfully repair and maintain trails and trail structures that can support ongoing use by the public.

In the realm of community and comprehensive planning, we continually work between policy development and implementation of those policies. The Planner with GIS Focus will perform a variety of planning functions in support of City goals and planning projects that require technical capabilities such as GIS software utilization for data management, mapping, analysis, and reporting. The Planner with GIS Focus will provide technical support and planning guidance on complex and collaborative projects that aid and support the Community Planning, Development and Innovation department’s mission to promote equitable growth and a resilient, sustainable community.

The Planner job titles/levels are differentiated by the amount of professional, directly related work experience; variety and complexity of assigned duties; the degree of independent judgment exercised; ability to resolve complex problems; and oversight/review of work of the other planners.

This position will involve a mix of field and laboratory work including sampling and catching grasshoppers and other insects, sampling vegetation and soils, field site setup, and potential cage study manipulations. Laboratory duties may include sorting and processing insect and plant or soil samples, as well as data entry.  These duties can require extended periods of standing or sitting while performing detailed tasks, as well as long days in the field.  Most of our field work will be conducted in the Little Missouri National Grassland in Eastern North Dakota as well as on field sites associated with ARS labs in Miles City, Montana and Mandan, North Dakota, and across Eastern Montana.  Overnight travel to field sites may be required, with government vehicles provided. 

The USDA, Agriculture Research Service, Northern Plains Agriculture Research Laboratory in Sidney, Montana is seeking an enthusiastic and hard-working individual to serve as a biological science aide on projects examining: 1) how landscape structure and crop diversity influence pest insects and their natural enemies (e.g. ladybeetles, parasitoid wasps); and 2) ecological and population factors influencing the successful biological control of rangeland weeds. The research is focused on developing ecologically-based, sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches to pest management. This position involves a mixture of field work (~70%), and greenhouse and lab work (~30%). Some regional travel (*following USDA COVID guidelines) is required. The successful candidate will gain hands on experience with insect and plant field sampling methods, set up and maintenance of experiments, insect rearing and identification, and the chance to work with the diverse fauna associated with cropping and rangeland systems, and multiple aspects of weed ecology, in a team oriented research environment. 

The Nature Conservancy Sagebrush Restoration Technician will work with private and public land managers in southwest Montana on a variety of on-the-ground land stewardship projects to conserve and improve sagebrush steppe habitat. The Sagebrush Restoration Technician will work closely with the SW Montana Sagebrush Partnership’s Conservation Coordinator and Project Manager, both in the field and in the office, on projects that include wet meadow and stream restoration, conifer removal, cheatgrass treatments, and fence projects to conserve priority habitats and wildlife corridors. This position offers a unique opportunity to be involved in a collaborative, science-based, applied conservation program and to gain experience in a wide variety of land and water issues.

This is a full-time, seasonal position. Approximate dates of employment are May 16, 2022 – October 21, 2022.

The Native Lands Partnerships (NLP) Director will help TWS develop policies and positions that broaden and deepen partnerships with Native and Indigenous communities centering these partners as we strive to achieve equitable and inclusive conservation outcomes across all of our work – in key landscapes and nationally.  The NLP Director is responsible for representing the organization and partnering with TWS Landscape Directors and other field staff to ensure our work is strategic, well integrated, effectively funded, and incorporates an equitable, inclusive approach to federal lands decisions and large landscape conservation.  

The primary responsibilities of this position will be to directly assist the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Aquatic Program Leader with laboratory tasks as well as assisting with fieldwork. Lab work will consist primarily of aging fish hard parts (otoliths, scales, fin rays) and fish sampling along with some data summarization, analysis, data entry, and technical writing.  Field duties will primarily consist of assisting with stream monitoring surveys using electrofishing equipment and conducting bull trout redd counts but may also involve conducting angler surveys, sampling fish using various gear types, and tagging fish.

The primary duties of this position are to assist Idaho Department of Fish and Game biologists with the collection of fisheries data. Secondarily, this position may assist Avista or Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologists with similar work. Fieldwork duties include sampling fish using various gear types and other field duties as assigned. This position is intended to span July 1–October 31. Benefits will NOT be included.