The Research Associate Program at GBI, in cooperation with NPS at the Sierra Nevada Network (SIEN), is recruiting one (1) Forest Ecologist to support long-term monitoring of high-elevation whitebark and foxtail pine forests in Sierra Nevada national parks. The Forest Research Associate will serve as the project lead for annual field operations, overseeing logistics, safety planning, crew coordination, and data management for the backcountry monitoring effort. The position ensures that field protocols are implemented accurately and consistently, that crews are well trained and supported, and that data meet SIEN’s scientific and quality standards.

Working closely with SIEN and park staff, the Forest Ecologist will plan field schedules, prepare equipment and navigation resources, provide on-the-ground training, and accompany crews into the backcountry to verify proper data collection. The incumbent will also manage data entry, QA/QC, and reporting, and act as the primary point of contact for questions related to fieldwork, logistics, and protocol interpretation.

Overview of project

The SIEN High Elevation Forest Monitoring project is a long-term effort to assess the condition and trends of whitebark and foxtail pine ecosystems across Sierra Nevada national parks. These high-elevation, five-needle white pines are foundational species that are increasingly threatened by blister rust, mountain pine beetle outbreaks, climate change, and other ecological stressors. The project collects detailed data on tree health, mortality, regeneration, pathogen presence, and other indicators to fill critical information gaps about the status of these sensitive timberline forests. By producing consistent, repeatable monitoring data, the project provides park managers and partners with the scientific foundation needed to understand ecosystem change, support conservation planning, and protect the resilience of high-elevation forests in the Sierra Nevada.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Lead annual field operations for SIEN’s High Elevation Forest Monitoring program, including planning, logistics, scheduling, and day-to-day coordination of backcountry work.
• Train, mentor, and support seasonal field crews to ensure safe practices and accurate implementation of monitoring protocols, species identification, navigation, and data entry.
• Conduct in-field oversight by accompanying crews on backcountry trips to verify protocol adherence, troubleshoot challenges, and ensure high-quality data collection.
• Manage and QA/QC all collected data, including spatial, photographic, and species identification data, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and proper archiving.
• Prepare maps, field materials, equipment, and navigation resources; maintain communication with SIEN and park contacts regarding progress, issues, and operational needs.
• Contribute to reporting and project deliverables by summarizing field results, supporting data interpretation, and coordinating with interdisciplinary staff to meet project objectives.

Timeline:

• February 2026 – November 2026, 41 weeks with possibility of extension.
• Full time (40 hours/week).
• Schedule: Office days will normally be Monday through Friday, 8 hours/day. During summer field season, schedule will be variable. Trips with field crew could be 10-hour days/8 days on and 6 days off.

Location:

This position will be based out of the NPS Sierra Nevada Inventory & Monitoring office located near Ash Mt District in the foothills of Sequoia NP. The closest town to Ash Mt. is Three Rivers (pop. 2,500) which is a 15-minute drive from the office/housing.  Three Rivers has two small food markets, a few convenience stores, several gift and specialty shops, many motels, a doctor’s office, post office, a bank with an ATM machine, a credit union, 2 coffee shops, about 7 restaurants, a bar, and a microbrewery.  The closest sizeable town is Visalia (about 60 minutes from Ash Mt.).  Visalia has many large grocery stores and department stores, movie theaters, auto mechanics, etc.  Fresno and Bakersfield are the closest cities with airports. 

Three Rivers is extremely hot and dry in summer, with daytime temperatures often exceeding 110°F. However, backcountry field locations often occur at high elevation locations where freezing temperatures or summer snowstorms are even possible.

Compensation and Benefits:

Compensation: $29 hourly.

Benefits:

• Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental (with option to upgrade in coverage), and vision insurance premiums.
• $25,000 Basic Life & AD&D insurance at no cost.
• Personal leave and holidays.
• Access to Pro Deals.
• Wilderness First Aid Training.

Housing: Park housing may be available.

Per diem: Not to exceed $1,280.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in ecology, forestry, environmental science, natural resources, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• Valid driver’s license and a clean driving record (if applicable to the hiring agency’s vehicle use rules).
• Ability to complete a Department of the Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) or provide documentation of an active, fully adjudicated BI prior to appointment.
• Applicant must be a US citizen or Permanent Resident.
• Applicant must meet PLC age requirements.

Preferred:

• Strong organizational, communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience working in remote field settings, including backcountry travel, navigation, and safety procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to follow detailed scientific protocols and manage high-quality ecological data.
• Familiarity with forest ecology, tree identification, and monitoring methods for forest health, mortality, or pathogens.
• Proficiency with GIS applications, data management tools, and field equipment relevant to ecological monitoring.

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 computer business equipment and other job/industry specific equipment. The noise level in the work environment is usually low. The overall nature of the (Indoors/Office) position is sedentary, requiring little physical effort and occasional light exertion. There is occasional exposure to environmental conditions such as heat, cold, and temperature changes.

The field work involves large amounts of time outside under a variety of conditions. Field season work involves backpacking and camping in remote locations in wilderness. Field work will involve hiking long distances over large elevation gains (up to 8-12 miles per day, over 6,000ft of gain) over rough terrain, often off trail, carrying backpacks and sampling equipment weighing up to 50lbs.