Plant Nursery & Field Technician - US Military Veterans Only

Mt. Adams Institute (Federal) | https://mtadamsinstitute.org/vetswork

Details

Posting:

https://mtadamsinstitute.org/vetswork/

Application Deadline:

06/06/2025

Published:

05/05/2025

Starting Date:

after 6/23/2025

Ending Date:

after 5/1/2026

Hours per Week:

Salary:

$2,000 to $2,500 per month

Education Required:

High School Diploma

Experience Required:

none

Location:

6820 Barrack Circle (Tillamook, Oregon)

Description

The VetsWork program is a paid, AmeriCorps internship program (45 weeks) for military veterans who are interested in starting a career in the natural resources, public lands management, and conservation fields.

To view a full position description and application instructions please visit: mtadamsinstitute.org/vetswork

Position Title: Nursey and Field Technician

Partner Organization: Tillamook Estuaries Partnership

Project Location: 6820 Barrack Circle, Tillamook, OR 97141

Service Dates: Open Until Filled (45 week, 1700-hour position)

Position Summary -

In partnership with the Mt. Adams Institute (MAI), Tillamook Estuaries Partnership (TEP) will sponsor a VetsWork AmeriCorps Intern to serve as a Nursery and Field Technician. The Intern will contribute to TEP’s growing Plant Material and Monitoring programs by providing on-the-ground technical support that ensures a high level of reliability and data quality for the Monitoring Program and supports the production of high-quality native plants for the Plant Material Program. The work this Intern will perform will help ensure that a supply of locally adapted, genetically appropriate native plants is available for coastal habitat restoration efforts for the next several years. This person will also contribute meaningfully to the BLM’s Seeds of Success program, which is crucial to preserving and cataloging North America’s native plants.

The Intern will need to navigate steep, brushy, muddy, and slippery terrain in Tillamook’s estuaries and mountains. This position is expected to access remote locations which involves driving steep forest roads and wearing waders and heavy raingear. The Intern must be comfortable working in all weather conditions throughout Tillamook County and its watersheds and be ready to make adaptive plans for adverse weather.

Benefits:

$22,500 living allowance – paid monthly over the 10 ½ -month term of service ($500 weekly, before taxes)
$7,395 education award (can be used towards qualified student loans and/or education expenses)
$1,000/month housing stipend
Student loan forbearance
Health Care
Professional development, training and networking opportunities
Potential GI Bill benefits (up to $2,400 per month)

Essential Functions - to include, but not limited to:

Identify and scout for 50 native plant species. Keep careful records using Survey123 and FieldMaps.
Follow seed collection ethics and protocols, ensuring availability of high-quality native seed for TEP and partners.
Perform select nursery operations alongside a crew of incarcerated youth, including but not limited to thinning, transplanting, and germination monitoring.
Maintain and repair nursery infrastructure including replacing weed mat and fixing broken PVC.
Assist in irrigation calibration when needed.
Deploy, audit, and retrieve temperature loggers from across Tillamook County’s watersheds.
Collect samples for water quality and bacteria monitoring efforts as needed.
Assist with executing monitoring plans at TEP and partner restoration sites.
Learn new field monitoring techniques following written protocols and field training (possible examples include RTK-GPS elevation surveys, water level and salinity loggers, vegetation surveys, seagrass surveys, Aquatic Inventory Surveys for salmonid habitat, drone habitat surveys, and groundwater well installation)

Position Requirements - to include, but not limited:

Must have a valid driver's license, clean driving record and ability to provide documentation.
Represent TEP professionally when working with volunteers in the nursery and the field.
Ability to occasionally walk up to 4 miles.
Occasional evening and weekend work will be required.
Goal oriented with a high attention to detail.
Demonstrates a concern for accuracy (e.g. regularly produces accurate, thorough, professional work)
Proficiency with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google docs, and Adobe or other similar software.
Must be able and willing to travel throughout Tillamook County and region with occasional further travel.
Must be able to pass a child abuse/neglect and criminal record background checks within the first week.
Must have served in the Uniformed Services of the United States, including Guard and Reserves and have a DD214 with an honorable discharge (or general under honorable on a case by case basis).
At least 21 years of age at beginning of service term.
U.S. citizen, national or lawful permanent resident.
Ability to commit to the full 45-week term of service.
Selection, placement, and retention are contingent upon passing the National Sex Offender Public Registry, state of service and state of residence criminal history check, and a national FBI check.
Must follow all health and safety policies and procedures, including any changes that are implemented throughout the course of the program. Accepting a position means accepting the current requirements and any updates to those requirements while enrolled in the program.

Preferred Qualifications:

Associate’s degree in botany, forestry, biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, ecology, engineering, or other related sciences OR at least two years of work experience in a related field.
Academic, part-time, or volunteer experience related to environmental field data collection, forestry, botany, native plants, outdoor education, trail crew, or infrastructure maintenance.
PNW native plant identification skills.
Familiarity with video conferencing systems.

To Apply:
After reading the full position description on our website (linked at the top and below), email the following application materials to erica@mtadamsinstitute.org:

Resume
Cover Letter (include your motivation for applying in the letter)
3 professional references (include name, email, phone number, and relation to you)
DD214 with honorable discharge.
- A General Under Honorable discharge will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Must be long form "Member 4 copy" (has a total of 30 boxes of information)

Visit mtadamsinstitute.org/vetswork for a full position description as well as a detailed program overview, application instructions, and frequently asked questions.

Contact Erica Bingham for further information or if you have questions about the VetsWork program at erica@mtadamsinstitute.org.

Contact

Erica Bingham

erica@mtadamsinstitute.org (preferred contact method)