Native Plant/ Pollinator Program Assistant

Overview

We are in search of a person for assistance with several pollinator habitat projects within the state of Utah and additional duties for the state native and rare plant program. The applicant should have a basic knowledge of plant taxonomy, Utah native plants, and interest in learning more about conservation efforts involving data entry, data organization and data analysis as well as pollinators and their habitats. Hours are estimated to be an average of 10-15 hours per week from October 2024 through September of 2025, with a potential option to continue beyond that date (funding dependent). GIS skills a plus.

This position is telework eligible within the state of Utah.  

Responsibilities

• General assistance with administration of the Pollinator Habitat Program (communication with Pollinator Habitat Program team, applicants, growers, writing/ editing documents, advertising for the program)
• General habitat restoration/ landscaping tasks at two UDOT rest stops.  Training will be provided for plant identification.  Must be able to work outside in variable weather conditions and lift approximately 20-30 pounds at a time and other manual labor. These gardening efforts may require approximately 8 hours a week and possibly use of own transportation (mileage will be reimbursed).  
• Overseeing a group of citizen volunteers on a regular basis to perform restoration/ landscaping duties until they become an established group and have designated leadership on their own. 
• Preparing plant descriptions for native plants involved in the Utah Pollinator Habitat Program.
• Help with publicity for the Utah Pollinator Habitat Program
• Contacting regional media sources to announce Utah Pollinator Habitat Program application period.
• Assistance in creating and distributing pollinator habitat kits.
• Data entry, QA/QC, and organization of rare plant data for ingestion into the rare plant database and associated office duties.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Familiarity with Utah's native plants
• Good communication skills
• Good writing skills
• Team player

Preferred Qualifications

• GIS skills

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV” 

Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application 

 

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

$18-23 per hour, Commensurate with experience

ADA

The environment and physical requirements may change depending on the specific function of the work performed. Incumbents may be in both indoor and outdoor environments. Indoors, in an office space, event space, or public space are protected from weather conditions, but not necessarily from temperature changes. Incumbents may nearly continuously sit and often use repetitive hand motion (such as typing).  

Outdoors, incumbents may not be protected from weather conditions and may be exposed to extreme heat and extreme cold. Bending, crawling, and crouching may be required. Incumbents may be required to lift, push, and/or pull objects up to 50 pounds and be required to walk and/or stand for long periods of time.  

College/Department Highlights

The S. J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources is nationally and internationally recognized for its research, extension, and teaching on natural and socio-environmental ecosystems. It is a high-impact college at Utah State University with over $15M in research funding annually, 55 tenure-track faculty in three departments, and close partnerships with federal and state natural resource agencies.  

 

The Department of Wildland Resources in QCNR encompasses research in applied terrestrial ecology, including the ecology and management of wildlife, forests, rangelands, conservation biology, and climate change adaptation.  Award-winning faculty teach courses that prepare students for professional careers in many natural resources fields, including programs accredited by the Society of American Foresters and the Society for Range Management and aligned with the Society of Ecological Restoration. 

University Highlights

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion, empowering people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. Utah State provides high-quality education to 27,500-plus students locations throughout the state, including at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countri