Location: Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona
Dates: September 29, 2025 – April 13, 2026
Compensation: $720/week + housing, travel, and training support
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is seeking a Botany & Restoration Field Assistant to support vegetation monitoring, invasive species management, and restoration efforts at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (ORPI).
This is a great opportunity for early-career conservationists, ecologists, or botanists interested in hands-on experience in the Sonoran Desert. You’ll spend your time conducting fieldwork in remote areas, including along the U.S.-Mexico border, contributing to projects like:
Primary Duties:
- Mapping and removing invasive plants (hand-pulling & herbicide application)
- Maintaining and propagating native plants in a nursery
- Restoring illegal off-road vehicle routes with native vegetation
- Surveying for rare and endangered plants
- Supporting vegetation work at Quitobaquito Springs
- Recording and entering field data
Qualifications:
- Field navigation with GPS, maps, and compass
- Physically able to work in hot, remote, rugged terrain
- Comfortable performing manual labor for up to 10 hours/day
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident aged 18–30 (or veterans up to age 35)
- Valid driver’s license and personal vehicle required
Preferred Experience:
- Familiarity with Sonoran Desert plants and plant ID keys
- GIS experience (ArcGIS Pro, AGOL, Field Maps, etc.)
- Coursework in botany, ecology, or related fields
Housing & Benefits:
- Free furnished housing (private room, shared kitchen and bath)
- $1,100 travel allowance
- $1,500 training/work travel reimbursement
- Off-Road Vehicle Safety Training provided
Apply now through SCA — Position #PO-00801519-MEM
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain field experience in one of the most unique desert ecosystems in North America!