Monitoring Technician Aide (51186)

New Mexico Highlands University; Las Vegas (NM); On-site; USD 20,664 - 22,730; Part time

Job summary

New Mexico Highlands University is seeking a Monitoring Technician Aide for its New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute. This full-time position offers students the chance to engage in ecological monitoring and restoration activities while gaining valuable field experience.

The ideal candidate will work collaboratively, maintain attention to detail, and be committed to quality data collection while out in the field. A passion for conservation and the outdoors is essential, along with flexibility for travel and overnight camping.

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled with a minimum of six credit hours at NMHU.
• Interest in forestry, natural resource management, and ecological restoration is essential.
• Ability to work in challenging environmental conditions is required.

Responsibilities

• Assist crew leads with achieving monitoring goals.
• Perform field measurements and record data.
• Maintain NMFWRI equipment, including basic vehicle maintenance.
• Support education and outreach initiatives.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Time-management

Education

College student at NMHU (sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate)

Tools

GPS units

Microsoft Excel

R scripts

Job description

Job Details: Location: Las Vegas, NM 87701. Position Type: Full Time - Regular. Education Level: High School or GED. Salary Range: $15.00 - $16.50 Hourly. Travel Percentage: Up to 50%. Job Category: Student. Department: New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute (NMFWRI).

Job Type: NMHU Student Worker (Monitoring Technician Aide). The position is open to students only and will be responsible for working on crews carrying out NMFWRI’s ecological monitoring and restoration activities.

Overview

The New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute seeks Monitoring Technician Aides to join its ecological restoration team. The role assists with data collection and field logistics, works with the Ecological Monitoring program manager, and supports other FWRI teams as needed.

Applicants should be able to work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team. This position requires excellent attention to detail, good self‑care, strong time‑management, and engaging communication skills.

Key Experiences Gained

• Backcountry work – navigation, cooking, camp skills, first aid, etc.
• Off‑road/rough‑road driving and familiarity with vehicle mechanics and equipment maintenance.
• Tree, shrub, and other plant identification.
• Process and mechanics of ecological restoration (thinning, prescribed fire, etc.).
• Application of ecological monitoring protocols and use of specialized equipment (e.g., Brown’s transects, GPS units, densiometers).
• Data entry, quality control, reporting.

Ideal Candidate

• Reliable and dependable.
• Able to camp/travel overnight regularly.
• Excellent attention to detail during repetitive tasks.
• Passionate about the outdoors and conservation.
• Committed to high‑quality field data collection for NMFWRI’s conservation mission.

Location and Travel

Based in Las Vegas, NM, the team serves communities from the office and in the field. Regular in‑office attendance at the Las Vegas office and fieldwork in the HPCC burn scar and other locations throughout the state are required. Candidates should reside within a two‑hour drive of the Las Vegas office.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist crew leads, specialists, crew logistics, and program manager to achieve monitoring goals.
• Perform field measurements and assessments of forest resources and ecological indicators, and record data with quality assurance.
• Enter field data using FFI, Microsoft Excel, and other protocols with attention to detail.
• Assist with quality control and assurance of entered field data; conduct analysis using R scripts and other tools.
• Maintain NMFWRI equipment, including basic vehicle maintenance.
• Map project sites using GPS and GIS technologies.
• Support crew preparation, management, and accomplishment of field tasks.
• Take a leadership role in crew safety.
• Support NMFWRI restoration treatments and professional development opportunities.
• Maintain regular attendance and clear communication with supervisors and colleagues in office, field, and online environments.
• Assist with education and outreach initiatives of the Institute.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications – Minimum Requirements

• College student at NMHU classified as a sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student; enrolled with a minimum of six credit hours.
• Successfully completed one semester at NMHU.
• Interest in forestry, natural resource management, and/or ecological restoration.
• Team player with strong work ethic, detail orientation, positive attitude, and good self‑care.
• Willing to hike, camp, and travel four days per week during the summer (including remote areas of New Mexico).
• Effective time‑management skills; employment contingent on grant/contract funding with time‑sensitive deliverables.

Preferred Qualifications & Skills

• Experience measuring riparian, wetland, forest and related ecological indicators; plant ID; outdoor leadership.

Special Conditions for Employment

• Must possess and maintain a valid New Mexico driver’s license within 60 days of employment and maintain a clean motor vehicle record.
• Must be willing to work weekends, evenings, and odd hours as required.
• Must be willing to travel.
• Must be able to engage in field work under challenging environmental conditions (steep slopes, dense vegetation, extreme heat and cold, snow cover).
• Continued employment requires authorization to work in the United States; no visa sponsorship provided.