POSITION OVERVIEW
The Sierra Institute for Community and Environment (Sierra Institute) is hiring Collaborative Forestry Technicians to perform forestry work necessary to advance critical timber management and restoration treatments on public and private lands. This is a temporary position working 40 hours a week. Technicians may work on various projects being advanced by Sierra Institute in collaboration with diverse partners (USFS, NPS, private landowners, etc.). Work will include unit boundary marking, GPSing unit boundaries, marking and cruising timber, and delineating boundaries of hand thinning units. Forestry Technicians will operate under the direction of SI office support staff and with guidance from project partners. Work objectives will be derived from treatment and management goals and will follow prescriptions developed for specific project areas. The Collaborative Forestry Crew will be expected to spend a small portion of their time contributing to empowering the next generation of natural resource stewards through sharing forestry knowledge with Sierra Institute’s high school youth corps members. Collaborative Forestry Technicians may also assist as necessary with other tasks necessary to advancing collaborative restoration priorities. This is a unique opportunity to advance pivotal collaborative forest and watershed restoration projects that aim to protect rural communities from catastrophic wildfire and restore the unique landscapes of the northern Sierra and southern Cascades.

Forestry Technicians will advance their knowledge of Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer forest ecosystems, technical forestry, and collaborative forest management processes as well as standard procedures and practices employed in the federal and private lands projects. Forestry Technicians will help assess progress towards objectives, monitor/mitigate safety concerns in the field, and create a collaborative work environment that encourages professionalism, learning, and efficiency. They will receive project-specific training on tree-species identification, marking methodology, standard cruising methods, and forest pathology/demography. Depending on the availability of US Forest Service staff, the crew may have the opportunity to test for the USFS Region 5 timber cruising certification. Wilderness First Aid and S-212 chainsaw certification training will also be provided.
Forestry Technicians must be organized, open to learning, possess the ability to motivate and support their coworkers and be willing to work hard in a physically demanding role. This position requires hiking while carrying a heavy pack and paint while mitigating known and unforeseen hazards such as smoke, heat, cold, and strong wind. This position will utilize a 4/10 work schedule consisting of four 10-hour days followed by three days off.
We invite all interested parties to apply including those belonging to Tribal communities, women, POC, and LGBTQ+ persons.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
● Implementation of silvicultural prescriptions, cruising guides, and other project-specific instructions
● Collaboration and communication with the forestry crew, SI staff, and project partners
● Maintain a positive attitude and strong pace of work under the leadership of the Lead Collaborative Forestry Technician(s)
● Taking good care of equipment (cruising tools, marking paint, etc.) furnished by SI or USFS

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

Required Qualifications:

● Progress towards a degree or certificate in Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Ecological Restoration or related field(s), OR equivalent work experience in forestry or conservation (e.g. timber marking, logging, wildland firefighting, botany, wildlife, etc.);
● Familiarity with compasses, topographic maps, and handheld GPS units or tablets to navigate and collect data in the field;
● Interest in learning the ecology and natural systems of the Sierra Nevada and utilizing standard forestry field techniques to advance forest restoration projects;
● Good physical conditioning to work and walk in the forest all day carrying day-packs with equipment during all types of weather;
● An ability to bring adaptability and improvisation, critical thinking skills, creativity, and humor to the workplace;
● Ability to be punctual, diligent, and thorough in their work and support a similarly strong work ethic amongst fellow staff members;
● Possess a valid, clean, state-issued driver’s license, with an ability to safely operate a 4WD vehicle;
● Full COVID vaccination status (vaccinated and boosted).

Preferred Qualifications:

● Experience with standard forestry field techniques, timber marking/ cruising;
● Experience working as part of a field crew or team, experience with safety management, and experience collecting and managing field data;
● Familiarity with mixed conifer forests and the ability to identify common tree species in the northern Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades;
● Bachelor’s degree, Associates degree, or professional certificate in Forestry, Natural
Resource Management, Ecological Restoration or related field(s);
● Current first aid or wilderness medical training certification (e.g., WFA, WFR, WEMT).
Skills or experiences that can fill in for qualifications will be considered.

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This is a field-based position that entails hiking and working primarily outdoors. Suitable candidates should be able to hike several miles with a heavy pack, as the forestry crew is often carrying around marking paint and forestry tools in addition to water and food. This position requires the ability to recognize and mitigate safety hazards in the field and adapt to inclement weather conditions (heat, smoke, thunderstorms, etc.). This position involves chainsaw training and operation, and the ability to lift up to 50 lbs is recommended.