Assists the Director of Conservation Programs and Seed Conservation Program Manager in coordination and execution of field research for the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Seeds of Success Program (SOS). SOS is a program coordinated by the BLM to support seed collections from native plant populations to conserve and develop native plant materials for stabilizing, rehabilitating and restoring lands in the United States. Duties include leading teams in the field to collect seeds, conducting surveys, collecting and processing plant specimens, identifying plants, collecting data, preparing of field forms and reports, entering data, labeling field collections, training and supervising interns, graduate student Research Assistants, and volunteers, and tracking contract deliverables. Also assists with special curatorial projects and routine collection management of the California Seed Bank as needed.

The Nursery Technician works closely with the Restoration Manager and Nursery Coordinator on the daily activities associated with the propagation and production of plants to be used for the living collection at the garden and for sale through Grow Native Nursery. Technicians are responsible for daily plant maintenance and care (e.g., watering, transplanting, pruning, weeding, fertilizing, etc.), implementing Best Management Practices for nursery sanitation, keeping good propagation and production records, maintaining plants grown by the Research Department, monitoring plants, overseeing volunteers and implementing Integrated Pest Management as needed.