Title: Conservation and Land Management (CLM) Intern-RMRS Rapid City
Exemption Status: Non-Exempt
Department: Plant Science and Conservation
Reports to: Manager, Conservation Training Programs
Seasonal Full-time
Position Overview: The Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS), in cooperation with the Chicago Botanic Garden, is recruiting one (1) CLM Intern, Grassland Plant Ecology. This intern will be based at the Rapid City, South Dakota, office of RMRS and will work on Buffalo Gap National Grassland, which is administered by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). This position is funded for 18 weeks with an ideal start date of May 13, 2024.
This position will assist RMRS staff with conducting field measurements for a drought and climate change study in the Northern Great Plains. The research study is designed to give land managers and scientists a better understanding of northern mixed-grass prairie plant response to seasonal and extreme drought in the context of grazing. In support of this mission, this intern will collect plant species composition, demography, and biomass data, as well as maintain mowing treatments and rainout shelter infrastructure. As this project is a collaboration among RMRS, the U.S. Geological Survey, and Colorado State University, this intern will interact with scientists specializing in a variety of plant ecology topics.
This position will work as part of the Maintaining Resilient Dryland Ecosystems program and thus may occasionally work in sagebrush and sagebrush-associated habitats. In addition to the drought project, this position may assist with additional projects as opportunities arise, such as fieldwork helping assess invasive annual brome germination rates. A typical work week will consist of four 10-hour days. Initially, this intern will work together with the assistance of the lead scientist or an experienced technician, but may work more independently as the season progresses.
Responsibilities:
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Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have the following:
Physical Demands:
Fieldwork entails long periods of driving in remote locations coupled with cross-country hiking and standing, sitting, or kneeling on uneven terrain for most of the day. Weather extremes will vary from cold winds or rain in the spring to temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, with little to no shade.
The use of computers, digital cameras, and four-wheel drive vehicles are essential parts of the job. There will be limited overnight travel but most overnight accommodations while in the field will be a combination of primitive camping, established campgrounds, and hotel stays, depending on travel logistics and availability. Incumbents must also be willing to spend days at a time working at a computer during periods of data entry and analysis.
Incumbents should also be able to do the following activities:
To Apply:
Complete an application online. Your application should include a Chicago Botanic Garden application along with a cover letter, resume, and the names of three (3) professional references. Application materials should be addressed to Monica Depies, CLM program coordinator, Chicago Botanic Garden. Questions about the position should be directed to Monica Depies at mdepies@chicagobotanic.org.
In your cover letter, be sure to address your interest in the position and how you meet the qualifications outlined in the position description.
Why Apply?
Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.
Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.
In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.