Invasive Plant Technician Lead (NPS, Joshua Tree National Park)

The Research Associate Program at GBI, in cooperation with NPS at Joshua Tree NP, is recruiting one (1) Invasive Plant Technician Lead to participate in leading invasive plant inventory and control efforts. The technician will be responsible for leading an Early Detection, Rapid Response program for invasive plants, for continuing ongoing manual and chemical control treatments of weed infestations, for treating new infestations, and for monitoring treatment effectiveness with the goal of protecting native plant communities in Joshua Tree NP. The technician will be responsible for properly applying herbicides to control invasive plants in accordance with product labels and for maintaining application records in conformance with federal and state law and National Park Service policy. As part of the Vegetation Branch Team, the technician may also assist park staff with vegetation monitoring, native plant restoration projects, and reclaiming damages caused by vehicles traveling off-road. Monitoring tasks may include but are not limited to collecting plant cover, height, frequency, density, and population demography data, including identification to genus-species-variety level. Restoration projects may include but are not limited to digging holes by hand or using augers to plant seeds and container-grown plants, constructing wire cages around plants, and watering plants for an extended period. Off-highway vehicle damage reclamation may include but are not limited to inventory of incursion tracks, construction of barricades, installation of signage, installation of vertical and horizontal mulch and raking out vehicle tracks. Primary Responsibilities: - The technician will be responsible for properly applying herbicides to control invasive plants in accordance with product labels and for maintaining application records in conformance with federal and state law and National Park Service policy; - The technician will assist in maintaining fuel breaks using herbicides; - The technician will be responsible for maintaining and updating a geodatabase of infestation locations, treatments, and treatment effectiveness; - The technician will lead groups of volunteers that assist with monitoring and controlling invasive plants within the park; and - The technician will provide training for park staff, volunteers, and cooperators on invasive plant identification and best management practices for reducing the spread and establishment of invasive plants. Timeline: - July 2026 - July 2027, 52 Project weeks; - Full time (40 hours/week), possibly including some weekends; potential to extend length of employment depending on available funding and positive performance review; and - Schedule: four, ten hour days a week with occasional work on weekends as needed. Location: Joshua Tree National Park encompasses nearly 800,000 acres in southern California, 2- to 3-hour drive from Los Angeles, Phoenix and Las Vegas. Joshua Tree National Park is of special management concern, lying in the transition of the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert. Aside from the outdoor recreation opportunities and natural wonders within the park, Death Valley and Grand Canyon National Parks, the Mojave Preserve, as well as Lake Mead and Spring Mountains National Recreation Areas are nearby and afford a diversity of outdoor activities ranging from hiking, mountain biking and rock hounding to fishing, boating and skiing/snowboarding. Field conditions at Joshua Tree include hot, arid days with high exposure to the sun, as well as cold, winter weather. Terrain varies from sandy desert washes to steep rocky slopes, including navigating through large boulder fields. Resources of the region include threatened and/or endangered species habitat, big game habitats, abandoned mine lands, and historic and prehistoric cultural sites. Compensation and Benefits: Compensation: $26-30 hourly depending on experience; Benefits: - Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental (with option to upgrad…