Research Technician III (Temporary)

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 25,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA is seeking a Research Technician III (Temporary) to support restoration projects in the Altar Valley and on Tucson Campus. The role involves extensive fieldwork, planting saguaros, erecting nest boxes, seeding, erosion-control work, and coordinating with managers and crews.

Per diem applies for overnight work; visa sponsorship is not available. Responsibilities include mapping plantings, transporting materials, maintaining equipment, and performing data collection for pre-

Qualifications

• This position requires high school diploma or equivalency.
• Minimum five years of relevant field experience or equivalent.
• Valid driver's license and ability to drive per university policy.

Responsibilities

• Transport, salvage, re-plant, and measure saguaro cacti at field locations.
• Map locations of plantings and measure cacti.
• Drive to field sites to plant saguaros; occasional camping overnight.
• Prepare field equipment and protect plants during transport.
• Erect nest boxes on trees and tripods; move materials into the field.
• Use hand tools and power tools to prepare sites for installations.
• Deploy native seeds within restoration plots and erosion control areas.
• Complete pre- and post-seeding vegetation monitoring and data collection.
• Coordinate logistics; communicate with staff, managers, and contractors.
• Work as a team; adhere to safety policies during field work.

Skills

Fieldwork experience

Equipment handling

Safety & teamwork

Plant identification

Navigation & map-reading

Job description

Research Technician III (Temporary) (Multiple Positions)

Research Technician III (Temporary) (Multiple Positions)

Posting Number req26795

Department Sch of Nat Resource&Enviro-Res

Department Website Link https://snre.arizona.edu/

Location Tucson Campus

Address 1064 East Lowell Street, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA

Position Highlights

This position will focus on implementing a diverse range of ecological restoration techniques and monitoring to support a broad landscape restoration project in the Altar Valley and requires a range of skills and knowledge. Work activities will involve extensive fieldwork often in remote areas and focus on: 1) Planting saguaro cacti to create habitat for wildlife, and measuring saguaros and local habitat; 2) Erecting nest boxes on trees and tripods with ladders and hand tools, and cleaning, maintaining, and making small repairs to existing nest boxes; 3) Deploying native seeds at restoration plots and pre- and post-seeding vegetation monitoring and data collection, 4) Assisting hand crews building erosion control structures of rock and brush; 5) Cleaning and purchasing field equipment, planning logistics, and communicating effectively with managers and contractors to foster efficient and safe implementation of field work; 6) Traveling and navigating overland with equipment needed and supplies to map structures to implement work.

Technicians should be prepared to spend long days hiking and navigating in field settings in rugged terrain, begin work early, work 10 hr shifts, camp at times for 1-2 nights, and work well as a team. Work schedule will often be 10 hours, 4 days a week with some camping for 1-2 nights. Per diem at allowable State of AZ rates (max of $70/day) will be authorized for overnight work.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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Duties & Responsibilities

• Transport, salvage, re-plant, and measure saguaro cacti at field locations. This will include uprooting and transplanting of wild plants, and some re-planting nursery-grown cacti.
• Map locations of plantings and measure cacti.
• Drive to field sites to plant saguaros and occasionally camp overnight.
• Prepare field equipment including slings, netting, wire cages, water and other materials to protect and transport plants.
• Erect nestboxes on trees and tripods and transport boxes and other materials and tools into the field to foster box setup at selected locations.
• Use ladders and hand tools including saws and chainsaws to prepare sites for mounting boxes, clean, maintain, and make small repairs to nest boxes.
• Deploy native seeds within restoration plots and areas near and away from erosion control structures and occasionally help build erosion structures of rock and brush.
• Complete pre-and post-seeding vegetation monitoring and data collection to document baseline conditions.
• Prepare, clean and sometimes purchase field equipment, travel to job sites, work with and communicate effectively with staff, managers, contractors and supervisor to foster efficient and safe implementation of field work for field team.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to traverse rugged often off-trail terrain and carry or wheel saguaros and other equipment and supplies with hand trucks, wagons, and AT vehicles to plant sites.
• Knowledge of native plants, landscaping, horticulture, erosion control, seeding, and experience planting and transplanting native plants.
• Ability to use hand and power tools such as hammer drills, drills, saws, chainsaws.
• Skill and ability to climb a ladder and work at heights >10 feet off the ground.
• Ability to interact with agency personnel, land managers, and contractors to facilitate safety in the field and plan work.
• Knowledge and past experience with ecological restoration, desert plants and plant identification, basic woodworking skills, overland navigation, and working on a field crew focused on ecological restoration.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or high school diploma equivalency is required.
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and ability to drive according to the University Fleet Safety Policy.

Preferred Qualifications

FLSA Non-Exempt

Full Time/Part Time Full Time

Number of Hours Worked per Week 40

Job FTE 1.0

Work Calendar Fiscal

Job Category Research

Benefits Eligible Yes - Full Benefits

Rate of Pay $18.15 - $22.69

Compensation Type hourly rate

Grade 4

Compensation Guidance The Rate of Pay Field represents the University of Arizona’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. The University considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity.

The Grade Range represent a full range of career compensation growth over time. The university offers compensation growth opportunities within its career architecture. To learn more about compensation, please review our Applicant Compensation Guide and our Total Rewards Calculator.

Career Stream and Level OC3

Job Family Research & Lab

Job Function Research

Type of criminal background check required: Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)

Number of Vacancies 2

Target Hire Date 10/26/2026

Expected End Date 4/26/2027

Contact Information for Candidates Aaron Flesch, Research Scientist
[e-mail]

Open Date 8/13/2026

Open Until Filled Yes

Documents Needed to Apply Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Cover Letter

Special Instructions to Applicant

Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an Annual Security Report (ASR) for each of the University’s campuses. These reports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims. As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures.
Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office at [e-mail].