Campus Pride Jobs

Position Dates: May - Sept 2024 (app. 5 months). Position start and end dates are somewhat flexible to accommodate university student schedules and may be extended pending additional funding. Benefits: none, optional free housing in some locations may available Work Location: Statewide/regional. Base office location of Project Manager is Pierre, SD (SDSU Extension Pierre Regional Center).

[Nutritional Assessment of Native Vegetation Project]{#_Hlk160007278}

Overall Duties: The Lead Technician will coordinate with the Project Manager to manage the basics of the overall project that includes vegetation and soil collection, sample handling and preservation, data recording and transfer, assisting with technician training and mentoring, and coordinating with landowners. The Lead Technician will serve as the primary liaison between the project manager and the other technicians and will have additional responsibilities for schedule coordination, reporting, and recording. Specifically, under the direction of the Project Manager, the Lead Technician will perform and assist in coordination of collection of broadleaf plants throughout South Dakota for nutritional and mineral analysis to be utilized in landowner education and outreach for grazing and conservation programs. This is a multi-partner project that requires excellent organizational and communication skills. This position may require operating vehicles and working alone in remote/isolated areas on public, private, or tribal land throughout South Dakota. The successful candidate must be self-motivated, self-aware, responsible, and willing to work a flexible schedule that may be dictated by landowner availability, weather, and other circumstances typical of field sampling. The Lead Technician will be responsible for assisting in data analysis and compilation, and will communicate with the Project Manager on a pre-determined basis for project status, coordination, and other duties as assigned.

Specifics: The Lead Technician will work with the Project Manager to coordinate the project and will be partially responsible for:

• Collection of vegetation and soil samples. Including collection/consolidation of samples from other project staff and volunteers and delivery to the Project Manager. These duties may include handling, storage, packaging, and shipping of samples to the lab.
• Assisting the Project Manager in all aspects of project coordination including: Verbal and written communication with various federal, state, NGO, and Tribal personnel for land access; coordination of technicians, landowners, and volunteers; scheduling; coordination of housing for technicians; and other such duties as necessary.
• Assisting in the development and delivery of training protocols for project staff and volunteers related to vegetation and soil collection, identification, preservation, storage, and recording.
• Ensuring the safety of project volunteers and technicians.
• Data organization, recording, and reporting as necessary. This may include an opportunity for communication to partner organization through presentations or other means.
• Assisting with review/analysis of the products produced to ensure quality and consistency.

The most critical duties are good data organization, adherence to protocols, and communication with the Project Manager.

Required Skills

• Strong or demonstrable rangeland plant identification skills.
• Ability to operate four wheel drive vehicles in off-highway circumstances.
• Ability to operate UTVs or off-highway vehicles.
• Knowledge/understanding of rural culture and expectations of landowners when accessing public, private, or tribal land.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Knowledge of basic computer programs for documents, spreadsheets, data management, and presentations.
• Ability to think critically with excellent self-preservation skills and ability to avoid circu stances with would negatively compromise personal safety, equipment, or the land. Keen sense of awareness and remaining attentive to minute details.
• Flexibility and ingenuity when scheduling and accomplishing tasks.
• Excellent skills in orienteering and utilizing maps and common location mapping programs or phone-based mapping apps (Google Earth, On X, Google Maps, or similar).
• Basic understanding of GPS/GIS tools and field application/use.
• Basic understanding of soil and vegetation sampling protocols common to the region.
• Demonstrable written and verbal communication skills.