Special Information
- This position is an on-site position which requires the incumbent to complete their work primarily at an NAU site, campus, or facility with or without accommodation. Opportunities for remote work are rare.
- This position is subject to the availability of funding. The incumbent is not eligible for Service Professional non-renewal notice, or Classified Staff layoff or recall status.
About the Department/College
NAU’s School of Forestry offers unmatched access to one of the most ecologically diverse regions in the country. With nearly 47,000 acres of research forest just outside Flagstaff and a strong faculty-to-student ratio, you’ll learn by doing: collecting data, managing ecosystems, and exploring solutions to the environmental challenges of today and tomorrow. Join forestry-focused student organizations, connect with peers and mentors, and apply for one of 50+ dedicated scholarships that support your academic journey.
About the Position
The School of Forestry is seeking a laboratory technician to support ongoing soils research at Northern Arizona University in partnership with the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station. The technician will process soil and water samples, maintain laboratory instruments, and review data to address questions related to forest productivity, soil health, and post-fire ecosystem restoration. The successful applicant will work collaboratively as part of a team of researchers to produce datasets for use by the larger research team, the public, other scientists, and managers. This position is based in Flagstaff, AZ.
Responsibilities Include
70% – Laboratory Operations & Data Management
- Process soil, sediment, or water samples following established protocols.
- Enter data into manual forms or digital spreadsheets, or databases.
- Compile electronic data to create long-term records.
- Maintain laboratory equipment, facilities, and training to safely conduct laboratory operations.
15% – Data Review, Analysis & Reporting Support
- Review soils data for use in studies or reports.
- Follow established protocols to append and plot data to identify and document regular and unusual events and correct errors where causes can be identified.
- Furnish data to various internal or external research entities.
5% – Coordination & Work Planning
- Coordinate work with supervisor and Forest Service partners.
- Prioritize work assignments based on resource availability and partner needs.
5% – Research Support & Collaboration
- Assist other researchers and partners in planning and implementing current and new research experiments, establishing priorities across research objectives, and recommending methods, schedules, timelines, and staffing levels.
- Work with NAU and partner staff, graduate assistants, and student employees.
5% – Other
- Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in hydrology, forestry, geology, environmental science, watershed science, soil science, engineering, chemistry, ecology, or related field that is conferred upon hire.
*A combination of related education, experience, and training may be used as an equivalent to the above Minimum Qualifications.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in the use, servicing, calibrating, and repairing of laboratory equipment for the analysis of water, soil, and sediment samples.
- Skill in applying and developing standardized rules, procedures, or methods in analytical sample analysis and data processing.
- Experience operating Elementar Vario MAX cube to measure soil C and N concentrations.
- Experience operating Thermo Scientific iCAP PRO X ICP-OES to measure trace minerals, metals, and cations in water and soil extracts.
- Experience operating Dionex Aquion IC to measure anions in water using ion chromatography.
- Experience operating FIAlabs FLEX Flow Injection Analysis to measure nutrients in water and soil extracts.
- Experience operating Mantech MT-30 for automated measurements of pH and EC.
- Experience operating Malvern Mastersizer 3000 for soil particle size analysis.
- Demonstrated experience working in a collaborative setting.
- Experience developing and practicing laboratory safety measures.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
Knowledge
- Knowledge of the principles and techniques of soil science, hydrology, and experimental design.
- Experience working with soils data.
Skills
- Laboratory soil, water, or sediment processing.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
- Maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing laboratory instruments used for soil and water measurements.
- Laboratory data collection, processing, review, and analysis.
Abilities
- Consistently follow established protocols and detailed procedures.
- Highly motivated to perform research in a collaborative environment.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
- Communicate effectively.
- Problem solving, organization, and data analysis.
Compensation
Salary range begins at $48,000. Annual salary commensurate with candidate’s qualifications and related experience.
Pre-Employment Check
Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, an employment history verification and a degree verification (in some cases) prior to employment. You may also be required to complete a fingerprint background check. Also, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees’ right to work in the United States.
This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting. If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements.
Notice of Availability of the Annual Fire and Security Report
Each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.
Immigration Support/Sponsorship
Northern Arizona University will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.
Submit your Application
To apply for this position, please click on the “Apply” button on this page. You must submit your application by midnight of the application deadline.
If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.
