The Great Basin Institute (GBI), in cooperation with the USFS, is recruiting Botany Crew Leads to supervise and conduct vegetation surveys within the Feather River Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest. These projects advance the Basin & Range Forestry program’s mission of supporting the USFS in improving forest resilience in the face of worsening climate conditions and increased wildfire threats.

The Botany Crew Lead will oversee a small field crew while performing technical botanical surveys, ensuring accurate data collection, safety, and adherence to established protocols. This leadership position provides an opportunity to apply advanced field and organizational skills in support of resource management objectives across diverse habitats.

Crew Leads will gain exposure to USFS processes, compliance measures, and interdisciplinary collaboration, while directly contributing to forest health and ecosystem sustainability.

Essential Job Functions

The Botany Crew Lead will manage day-to-day field operations and ensure all botanical data collection meets agency standards. Duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Leading and mentoring a crew of 2–4 Botany Technicians during field surveys.
• Coordinating daily logistics, including field assignments, transportation, and safety check-ins.
• Conducting botanical surveys to determine species identity, population characteristics, habitat conditions, and environmental factors affecting plant vigor.
• Ensuring data quality and completeness, reviewing crew data for accuracy, and submitting timely reports.
• Navigating with GPS, maps, and compass to locate survey areas and project sites.
• Using botanical keys to identify plant species, including sensitive, rare, and invasive taxa.
• Producing maps of survey areas and summarizing survey findings.
• Photographing or collecting specimens as directed.
• Communicating regularly with GBI supervisors and USFS partners to coordinate project priorities and ensure alignment with management goals.
• Supporting and reinforcing safety protocols and ensuring adherence to GBI and USFS field standards.
• Assisting with reporting and data management tasks as needed.

Location

This position is based out of the Feather River Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest, located in the northern Sierra Nevada of California. The district features diverse coniferous forests, montane meadows, and riparian ecosystems. Elevations range from approximately 2,000 to over 7,000 feet.

Nearby communities such as Quincy and Oroville provide access to lodging, supplies, and recreation. Outdoor opportunities abound in and around the forest, including hiking, fishing, and camping.

Work Schedule

This position will begin in March 2026 and end in October 2026. Season start and end dates are project- and weather-dependent.

Botany Crew lead positions typically follow four 10-hour days per week (Monday–Thursday), though schedules may vary.

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).

Compensation and Benefits

Wage: $26/hour with overtime at 1.5x hourly rate (full-time, average 40 hours per week).

In addition to a competitive base salary, this full-time, onsite position includes:

• Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance (with options to upgrade coverage).
• $25,000 Life/AD&D policy (company-paid).
• Optional short-term and long-term disability coverage.
• Employer-provided mental health support resources.
• Competitive PTO accrual and paid holidays.

TSA employees who serve terms greater than 52 weeks (with ≤30-day break between terms) become eligible for full Regular full-time employee benefits

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in botany, plant ecology, or closely related field (with coursework in plant taxonomy and/or systematics); OR
• Equivalent combination of education and experience conducting botanical fieldwork, including rare plant surveys; AND
• At least one full season (6+ months) of field leadership experience supervising or mentoring field crews.

Other Required Qualifications

• Proven experience using dichotomous keys to identify plants to species or subspecies level.
• Proficiency with GPS units, maps, and compasses for navigation and data collection.
• Demonstrated ability to organize, review, and maintain field data.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and team coordination skills.
• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.
• Ability to work and camp in remote, rugged field conditions.
• Physical fitness to hike long distances, carry up to 50 lbs of equipment, and work in all weather conditions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of the flora of the Northern Sierra Nevada / Plumas region.
• Experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Familiarity with noxious weed identification and control.
• Experience leading crews in remote field environments.
• Ability to interpret, implement, and train others on data collection and monitoring protocols.
• Skill in operating and maintaining 4WD vehicles on rough roads. 

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.