Lead Crew Manager, Aquatic Surveys, O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West

The University of Montana invites applications for a Lead Crew Manager for the Ecological Mapping, Monitoring and Analysis (EMMA) group at the O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West. The Lead Crew Manager carries out tasks essential to successful field data collection in streams and rivers across the mountain West. Specific duties include assisting in the hiring and training of new staff, communication and coordination with agency project partners, reviewing research sites for suitability and access, equipment and inventory management, transportation, logistics, approval/submission of employee timesheets/travel forms, and crew safety. The Lead Crew Manager possesses the ability to make decisions regarding pay and schedules for technicians and crew managers, but will be expected to operate within parameters established by the Project Manager or PI.

During field season (March to September), the Lead Crew Manager has primary responsibility for data quality assurance/quality control on data collected by two “roving” crews while overseeing the work of crew managers assigned to state-based crews. The Lead Crew Manager works closely with crew managers and project managers/leads to respond to and resolve problems encountered during data collection, including equipment or vehicles breakdowns, private land access, data quality issues, and within-crew conflict. The Lead Crew Manager will assist or lead preparation of end-of-season project deliverables, and create data summaries. During the late fall and early winter months, the Lead Crew Manager will work on other tasks as assigned, including but not limited to data analysis, development of geospatial datasets, preparation of training materials, research assistance for EMMA scientists, and website updates. The Lead Crew Manager is supervised by an EMMA Projects Manager, and collaborates with staff ecologists. . The Lead Crew Manager will supervise technicians, crew managers, interns, student employees or volunteers as appropriate. A successful Lead Crew Manager may be promoted to a Project Lead role after two successful field seasons.

The position is funded by contracts and grants. The Lead Crew Manager may assist with writing proposals and responding to RFQs, but fundraising is not a requirement of the job.

The University of Montana is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its essential values of innovation and creativity, impact, openness, and partnership.

Position Details

• Position is full-time, 1.0 FTE, Letter of Appointment and includes a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including Insurance package, mandatory retirement plan, partial tuition waiver, and wellness program.
• The position is funded by contracts and grants.
• Salary for this position is $44,000 - $48,000 per year commensurate with qualifications.
• Position is based on the University of Montana campus in Missoula, MT.

Required Skills

• Ability to collect field data in freshwater environments under challenging conditions.
• Knowledge of concepts of stream geomorphology in stream habitat assessment, monitoring and/or restoration contexts.
• Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely in oral, written, and graphic form.

• Ability to collect and organize scientific data, conduct analyses, and prepare reports of findings.
• Proficiency in statistical analysis and ArcGIS (preferably ArcPro).
• Ability to manage multiple field crews across large areas and troubleshoot logistics, personnel and equipment issues.
• Strong aptitude for interacting with technology, including data collection devices, web maps, and data sharing platforms.
• Willingness to travel by vehicle or on foot to remote locations, to camp in inclement weather when necessary, and to step in as a field crew member if needed.
• Willingness and ability to stay available during daylight hours by phone, email, text, and satellite device when crews are in the field (8 days per two-week pay period).
• Clean driving record and ability to pass criminal background check.

Required Experience

• Master’s degree in aquatic ecology, fisheries, hydrology, limnology or related field and two (2) or more years’ relevant professional experience or equivalent combination, including demonstrated proficiency in field inventory, monitoring and sampling methods.
• Exceptionally well qualified candidates with a Bachelor’s degree and more than four (4) years directly relevant experience may be considered for this position.
• Supervisory experience, including ability to hire, onboard, motivate, lead, set objectives, and manage performance of technicians, students, and/or interns.
• Successful experience in directing and managing large and/or complex projects involving remote field crews .

Preferred Qualifications

• Track record of successful interactions with federal land managers either in a direct work capacity or through a collaborative effort.
• Knowledge of the unique challenges facing streams and rivers on public lands in the West, including threats to aquatic species.
• Familiarity with riparian vegetation.

About UM and the Ecological Mapping, Monitoring and Analysis group

The University of Montana is flagship, research institution with approximately 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It is located in Missoula, a culturally vibrant community of about 75,000, surrounded by mountains and three rivers converge. Abundant recreational opportunities in surrounding state and national forests and nearby Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park complement a thriving intellectual atmosphere. The University of Montana offers eligible employees a generous benefits package that positively separates UM from other local employers and offers many programs and policies to support work-life balance for its employees.

The Ecological Mapping, Monitoring and Analysis group (EMMA) is part of the O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West, a regional studies and public education program. EMMA staff are engaged in mapping wetlands across the western US, including Alaska; and in carrying out inventory and monitoring projects for federal state and tribal agencies. Our aquatic staff collaborate with the Bureau of Land Management’s Aquatic Inventory and Monitoring program to collect data on the condition and trend of BLM-managed aquatic systems across the region.

To learn more about the University of Montana and Missoula, please visit the links below.

• University of Montana
• City of Missoula

Criminal Background Investigation is required prior to Offer of Employment.
In accordance with University policy, finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations.
ADA/EOE/AA/Veteran's Preference.
Reasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available in alternative format upon request. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans, and women. Qualified candidates may request veterans’ or disabilities preference in accordance with state law.
References *References not listed on the application materials may be contacted; notice may be provided to the applicant.
Testing Individual hiring departments at UM may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions.

E mployment Eligibility. All New Employees must be eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form I-9).

How to Apply

Priority Application Date: December 15, 2021

Applications received by this date will be guaranteed consideration. Application review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Please submit the following application materials via "New Resume/CV" button below.

*Please note: only five (5) attachments are allowed per application. Please combine documents accordingly.

• Letter of Interest – addressing the stated required skills for the position
• Detailed resume listing education and describing work experience
• Names and contact information for three (3) professional references
• Answers to Supplemental Questions
• Please describe the largest and/or most complex project(s) you have been involved with, and your role and responsibility.
• Knowledge of stream geomorphology is essential to this position. Please describe how you have acquired this knowledge, and have you have applied it in monitoring, assessment, or restoration contexts.
• Please describe your experience managing field data collection in remote settings, with particular attention to data quality management.

Job Location Missoula, Montana, United States
Position Type Full-Time/Regular