Data Analyst

New Mexico State University; Las Cruces (NM); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

New Mexico State University in Las Cruces seeks a Data Analyst (Rangeland Ecology) to support a vegetation assessment and mapping project that prioritizes landscapes for restoration and guides adaptive management.

Field work involves remote sites in southwestern NM with extensive travel; lab tasks include data entry, metadata creation, analysis, and data management using ArcGIS, MS Excel, MS Access (DIMA), Survey123, R and GPS.

Qualifications

• Required Education: Associate's Degree + 2 years of relevant experience or Bachelor's degree.
• Preferred: degree in ecology, environmental science, range science, soil science, natural resources or related field.
• Ability to work outdoors in hot/cold windy conditions.
• Strong communication and collaboration with researchers, land managers, and agency personnel.

Responsibilities

• Field work collecting landscape-scale vegetation inventory and monitoring data at remote locations.
• Lab and office work includes data entry, metadata creation, data analysis, project and data management.
• Position will involve use of ArcGIS, MS Excel, MS Access (DIMA), Survey123, R and GPS units.
• Extensive travel and overnight stays are required.
• Support restoration prioritization and adaptive management.

Skills

Field data collection

GIS mapping

Data analysis

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Associate's Degree + 2 years of relevant experience

Bachelor's degree

Tools

ArcGIS

MS Excel

MS Access (DIMA)

Survey123

R

GPS units

Job description

• 504059
• Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States
• Staff
• Staff Full-time
• Closing at: Oct 2 2026 - 23:55 MDT

Department Contact: Samantha Lish, 575-646-1726, [e-mail]

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Advertising Summary: ***THIS IS INITIALLY A ONE YEAR APPOINTMENT WHICH MAY BE EXTENDED; CONTINGENT UPON EXTERNAL FUNDING***

The Jornada Experimental Range is seeking applicants for a Data Analyst (Rangeland Ecology) to join our collaborative research team to support a rangeland vegetation assessment and mapping project to prioritize landscapes for restoration and to guide adaptive management.

Position Details

Position Title: Data Analyst

College/Division: Agricultural Experiment Station

Department: 317250-JORNADA EXPER RANGE HEADQUARTERS

Location: Las Cruces

Target Hourly/Salary Rate: Commensurate with qualifications.

Appointment Full-time Equivalency: 1.0

FLSA Status: Exempt

Bargaining Unit Announcement: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Contingent Upon Funding: Contingent upon external funding

Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule: May work evenings and weekends

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Field work includes working as a member of a two- to four- person team at remote locations in southwestern NM (possibly the southwest) collecting landscape-scale vegetation inventory and monitoring field data (e.g., plant cover estimates, standardized monitoring methods, digging soil pits and characterizing soils, and determining ecological sites and states). Field work will include extensive travel and overnight stays. Lab and office work includes data entry, error-checking, creating metadata, data analysis, project and data management and self-directed work. Position will involve the use of ArcGIS, MS Excel, MS Access (DIMA), Survey 123, R and GPS units.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience: Associate's Degree + 2 years of relevant experience or a Bachelor's degree.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in ecology, environmental science, range science, soil science, natural resources or related field.
• Experience identifying plants to species.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work collaboratively with multiple researchers, private land managers, and agency personnel.
• Strong time management skills.
• Attention to details.
• Experience performing self-directed, independent work.
• Experience with vegetation monitoring (e.g., the BLM AIM protocol), describing ecosystem function (e.g., Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health), using ecological site descriptions, and characterizing soil profiles preferred but not required.
• Ability to identify the relationships among landforms, soil/site potential, and plant communities at the landscape scale preferred.

Special Certification/Licensure

Ability to work outdoors during hot or cold, windy weather.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work involves moderate exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises.

Physical Effort: Moderate physical activity.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 25 pounds or standing and/or walking for more than four (4) hours per day.

Risk: Work environment involves some exposure to hazards or physical risks, which require following basic safety precautions.

Recruitment Summary

We are New Mexico’s land-grant institution and a comprehensive research university dedicated to teaching, research public service and outreach at all levels. NMSU is a welcoming community of talented faculty, staff and students who are working together to make a difference. We are a NASA Space Grant College, a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), a minority-serving institution (MSI) and home to the first Honors College in New Mexico. We offer an accessible education that shapes bright futures.

NMSU provides learning opportunities to a diverse population of students and community members at four campuses, Cooperative Extension offices located in each of New Mexico’s 33 counties, 12 research and science centers, and through distance education.

NMSU Global Campus

Since 1888, NMSU has proudly embodied this tradition, building relationships that last a lifetime while serving students who want to earn their degree and grow in their field. Today, NMSU Global Campus provides flexible, career-focused online education that helps our students transform their lives – and the lives of the people they love – through over 70 degree and certificate programs, skill-building microlearning courses, and career and talent development.

NMSU Main Campus

Located in Las Cruces, NM, New Mexico State University's 900-acre main campus is located at the crossroads of I-10 and I-25 in the Southwestern United States. As a thriving center of higher education, deeply rooted in the regional tradition, its role as a comprehensive university is recognized throughout the state.

Doña Ana Community College

Founded in 1973 in collaboration with local school districts to support occupational education, DACC is now a leading community college that provides transformative educational opportunities that meet the workforce needs of Doña Ana County. With a focus on access, innovation and excellence, DACC offers over ninety degrees and certificates, adult education, specialized workforce training, and small business assistance.

Alamogordo Campus

Established in 1958 to serve the needs of the airmen and families stationed at Holloman Air Force Base located only 10 miles west of Alamogordo, NMSUA is a community college with a long history of excellence that is supported by a caring community of hard-working students and dedicated faculty and staff. The campus is situated “on the hill” above Alamogordo and provides inspiring views of the city and the Tularosa Basin, offering the perfect venue for creative and motivated learning.

Grants Campus

NMSU Grants was established as a branch of New Mexico State University in 1968 through the cooperative efforts of New Mexico State University and Grants Municipal Schools. As a two-year branch community college, NMSU Grants serves the local communities in Cibola and McKinley counties, including the Pueblos of Acoma, Laguna, and Zuni, as well as Tohajiilee, San Mateo, San Rafael, Cubero, the City of Grants, and the Village of Milan.

EEO Statement

New Mexico State University does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, military service, or other non-merit factor.

Requesting an Accommodation

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and New Mexico State University policy, if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply, interview, or complete onboarding for a position with New Mexico State University, or if you cannot use the online application system, please visit our Accessibility & Accommodations page to initiate an accommodation request