The Grassland Monitoring Technician will be an integral part of a long-term Adaptive Management project aimed at improving the condition of the plant communities on TNC’s native prairie preserves. The Technician will also contribute to a project evaluating ecological indicators of sustainable grazing practices. The position start date is flexible from May 30 to June 13, 2022 and the Technician will work for 15 weeks from start date.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Technician will gain exposure to two science and conservation initiatives within our chapter’s grassland ecosystems. TNC is working with partners to evaluate broad changes in condition of native grasslands in response to grazing and fire. The project is a collaborative effort in which multiple agencies and organizations have overlapping goals (TNC, Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources, USFWS, etc.). Partners in this work are coordinating sampling to compare data and management practices across ownerships throughout the prairie region. With the assistance of the Technician, TNC will revisit sites on which management has been implemented to measure the outcomes. The Technician will fill a critical role in helping our chapter to close the adaptive management loop in our grassland conservation work. The Technician will also participate in the chapter’s sustainable grazing work by supporting efforts to identify simplified metrics that accurately track management practices. For both of these projects, the Technician will have the opportunity to travel to many of TNC’s preserves across Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota experiencing first-hand the beauty of many high-quality native prairie landscapes.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Maintain project records and participate in data collection, data entry and data management.
• Conduct field surveys spending the majority of their time outdoors, experiencing the beauty of the Great Plains prairies.
• May perform administrative work related to project and data management.
• Coordinate closely together with the assistance of TNC staff on vegetation monitoring in grassland systems.
• After a training period, the Technician will often be in the field during the day working independently from their direct supervisor; with staff around in the mornings and afternoons for questions and interaction.
• May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, in hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.