Groveland Ranger District; Stanislaus National Forest (USFS), California

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the USFS, is recruiting a Botany Crew Lead to conduct vegetation surveys and invasive species treatments within the Sierra Nevada. This role supports the Basin & Range Forestry program’s mission to improve forest resilience amid climate change and increasing wildfire risk.

The position contributes directly to forest health by supporting vegetation management, fuels reduction, and conservation of sensitive plant species. Work conducted under USFS protocols informs land management planning and long-term ecosystem sustainability.

Crew members gain hands-on experience with USFS processes, compliance standards, and field methodologies, with opportunities for interdisciplinary exposure (e.g., wildlife, archaeology, hydrology, recreation).

Essential Job Functions may include the following:

Specific duties include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting botanical surveys to determine species identity, population characteristics, environmental conditions, and factors affecting vigor and habitat extent.
• Performing and leading invasive treatments through chemical and manual methods.
• Managing and assisting the crew with laying out monitoring plots, conducting vegetation surveys, and performing mitigation activities.
• Leading the collection, recording, entry, and summarization of botanical data in accordance with USFS protocols.
• Photographing and collecting specimens as necessary for documentation or identification.
• Producing maps and summaries of surveyed areas using GPS data and GIS tools.
• Utilizing botanical keys for accurate plant identification and training crew members in this skill.
• Overseeing daily crew logistics, including the delegation of tasks, ensuring adherence to safety protocols, and maintaining efficiency in fieldwork.
• Providing support for project-related reporting tasks in coordination with USFS staff.
• Training new crew members on survey protocols, plant identification, invasive treatment methods/procedures, and field equipment use.
• Communicating regularly with USFS agency staff to coordinate project planning, review progress, and resolve any challenges.
• Monitoring and addressing crew needs, including safety concerns, field equipment functionality, and morale.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Ensure all crew members follow established safety procedures and practices.
• Coordinate schedules, field activities, and transportation for efficient project implementation.
• Foster a positive work environment by providing guidance, mentorship, and feedback to crew members.
• Facilitate clear communication between the crew, agency partners, and Great Basin Institute staff.

This role is instrumental in building a robust dataset to enhance forest management strategies while supporting the professional development of field crew members and advancing the shared mission of the USFS and the Basin & Range Forestry program.

Location

Stanislaus National Forest – Groveland Ranger District

This position is based along the Highway 120 corridor near the Stanislaus River canyon on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada.

The Groveland Ranger District features:

• Lower- to mid-elevation mixed conifer forests
• Oak woodland habitats
• Steep terrain and high recreational use areas

Fieldwork occurs in rugged landscapes with diverse vegetation communities and frequent public interaction zones.

Nearby communities include Groveland, Pinecrest, and Twain Harte, with the San Francisco Bay Area approximately three hours west. The area offers hiking, fishing, camping, and other outdoor recreation.

WORK SCHEDULE

Projects begin as May and end as late as October. 

The Botany Crew follow 10-hour days, four days per week schedule

Temporary Special Assignment employees are eligible to receive holiday pay, if approved by the partner. TSAs holiday schedule will comply with the project partner holiday schedule., unless otherwise specified in their employment offer. TSAs working five (5) eight (8) hour days per workweek will be paid eight (8) hours for all holidays. TSAs working four (4) ten (10) hour days per workweek will be paid ten (10) hours for all holidays.  Same with other approved/allowable workweek configurations; these can be accommodated accordingly with Banked Holidays.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Tech Wage: $26/hour with overtime at 1.5× hourly rate. Full-time, average 40 hours per week.

Housing: Free shared housing provided for the crew members.

In addition to a competitive base salary, this full-time, on-site position includes company-paid premium comprehensive medical, dental (with option to upgrade in coverage), and vision insurance, as well as $25,000 Life/AD&D policy. Voluntary short-term and long-term disability policies are available, along with voluntary Life/AD&D policies for family members. Mental health support resources are employer provided, competitive PTO accrual, and paid holidays. This role contributes to GBI’s significant positive impacts within the fields of environmental research, education, and conservation.

TSA employees who serve a term under 52 weeks in duration, and have a thirty (30) day or less break between terms, and then sign a second term that (cumulatively) becomes greater than 52 weeks of employment, will be eligible for the >1-year TSA benefits (equivalent to Regular full-time employees). Employees serving a term under 90 days are not eligible for paid holidays or sick leave time. 

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, employees must be able to satisfactorily carry out each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Lead - Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Experience conducting botanical field surveys, including rare plant surveys
• Strong understanding of and experience conducting standard botanical survey methods, vegetation assessments, and habitat characterization, with the ability to ensure consistent application across field crews
• Ability to identify plants using technical keys to the species or subspecies level and support others in accurate identification
• Experience implementing, overseeing, and ensuring compliance with established data collection, inventory, assessment, and monitoring protocols
• Proficiency in GPS navigation, map reading, and supporting map production for survey and monitoring efforts
• Physical ability for fieldwork in remote areas, including overnight camping if necessary
• Ability to coordinate daily field operations, manage crew safety, and adapt work plans in response to field conditions and project needs
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to coordinate with multidisciplinary teams and project partners
• Physical ability to  carry a 30 pound backpack sprayer through varied, rugged terrain.
• Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license with the ability to safely operate and maintain a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads
• Experience leading crews in the field preferred

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, Botany, or a related field with fieldwork experience OR three seasons of botany fieldwork experience.

TO APPLY

Please submit an up-to-date resume, a one-page cover letter that details your interest in the position, and any qualifications not fully outlined in your resume, and contact information for three professional references.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands, stand, walk, bend, and have specific vision abilities to include close and distance vision, and ability to adjust focus working with job/industry specific equipment. The noise level in the work environment is usually low.

NOTE:  This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the organization's ongoing needs.
Disclaimer: Although the organization has attempted to accurately and thoroughly describe this position, GBI reserves the right to change the same, including to change, add to or subtract from the duties outlined, within the sole discretion of the organization, at any time, with or without advance notice.