AmeriCorps Burned Area Restoration, Exotic Vegetation Control & Habitat
Restoration Technician
Great Basin Institute/Death Valley National Park, CA
Description: Looking for a unique experience exploring Death Valley National Park? This position offers
the rare opportunity to venture off the beaten path and see areas of the park that remain largely
unvisited by the public. Boasting the lowest elevation in the U.S. (282 ft. below sea level) and holding
the record for the hottest recorded temperature on Earth, Death Valley covers a vast and varied
expanse from salt-flat basins with sweeping sand dunes to snow-capped mountains extending more
than 11,000 ft. into the sky. Opportunities for exploration and recreation are as diverse as the
landscapes themselves. In cooperation with Death Valley National Park, the Great Basin Institute is
recruiting two Nevada Conservation Corps AmeriCorps Interns to assist with cyclic maintenance of exotic
vegetation at Scotty's Castle burned area. These members will survey, monitor, remove, and control
exotics on a consistent basis within the burned area in order to help promote the reestablishment and
growth of native vegetation, restore wildlife habitat(s), and restore the natural ecosystem of the burned
area. Control of exotics and the restoration of the burned area will provide a revitalized wildlife habitat
and enhance public enjoyment of the area. There will be additional opportunities to survey, monitor,
remove, and control exotic vegetation at other riparian areas in the park. These areas include developed
areas, roadsides, and/or remote backcountry and wilderness sites. Critical weeds to be controlled are
salt cedar, non-native palms, annual mustards, Russian thistle, and a variety of other exotics and nonnative plants.
The primary goals of this project are (1) To improve the condition of highly visible and ecologically
important park resources by controlling exotic plants and restoring wetland hydrologic functions, and (2)
Expose youth volunteers to multiple aspects of resource management in a national park setting.
Essential Duties:
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Travel in GBI 4x4 vehicle, often on unmaintained road surfaces;
Hiking/Backpacking multiple miles, daily, while carrying field equipment;
Potential for camping in remote backcountry settings for multiple nights;
Recording field data with hand held GPs or in written form;
Removal and treatment of exotic vegetation by hand, hand-tool, or herbicide application; and
Completion of reporting documentation as required by agency staff
Timeline & Schedule: 900-hour (26-week contract) starting in mid to late September. This is a full-time
position.
Location & Travel: Death Valley National Park, Dorm-style housing (individual rooms) will be provided
on-site. Company vehicle provided for travel within the park. Personal vehicle highly recommended for
travel within and to and from the park during off-time.
Compensation:
This is an AmeriCorps position; candidates will receive a living stipend of $7,000 for the six-month
position. This is a fixed amount, not an hourly wage or a salary. This stipend paid to members in biweekly installments throughout their term of service. Upon completion of AmeriCorps service members
shall receive an additional education award in the amount of $2,822 that can be used for paying off
student loans or paying tuition for a Title IV accredited college.
On-site park housing will be provided (dorm style with individual rooms, shared bathroom, and
shared community space).
Training:
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4x4 off-road driver training
Herbicide application training
First Aid/CPR
Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics
Qualifications:
Required:
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Experience hiking and backpacking in remote locations, travelling by foot over rough and varied
terrain in all weather conditions;
Valid driver's license with a clean driving record;
Personal vehicle highly recommended for travel within and to and from park during off time;
Ability to pass a federal criminal history check and national sex offender public registry name check;
and
Meet AmeriCorps eligibility requirements: (1) U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status, (2) must
be at least 17 years of age and a have received a high school diploma or GED (or be willing to
achieve this before using education award), (3) eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award
(limit of four in a lifetime, or equivalent of two full-time terms of service), and (4) pass National Sex
Offender Public Registry (NSOPR) and federal criminal background checks.
Desired:
 Experience using hand-held GPS unit for in-field data collection; and
 Familiarity with exotic vegetation control including herbicide application
To Apply: Qualified and interested applicants should forward a cover letter, their résumé, and a list of
three professional references to Jason Behrens, HR and Compliance Assistant, at
jbehrens@thegreatbasininstitute.org. Please include how you heard about this position. Upon
receipt, a representative from the NCC program will contact you for the next steps in the application
process. All questions related to the interview and selection process may be sent to Jason.
The Great Basin Institute conforms to all the laws, statutes, and regulations concerning equal employment
opportunities and affirmative action. We strongly encourage women, minorities, individuals with
disabilities and veterans to apply to all of our job openings. We are an equal opportunity employer and all
qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion,
gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, age, disability status, Genetic Information
& Testing, Family & Medical Leave, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We prohibit retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the
employer or the government, or against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of
any complaint or otherwise oppose discrimination.
These AmeriCorps positions are made possible by a generous grant from the Nevada Commission for
National and Community Service.
*For more details see: http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps
These positions do not duplicate work of previous or existing employees or volunteers, supplant the
hiring of workers, or include service or duties that have been performed or were performed by a current
employee, an employee who recently resigned or was discharged, an employee subject to a reduction in
work force, or an employee who is on leave.