Glacier Peak Institute (GPI) is a unique community-based outdoor leadership organization that offers immersive outdoor STEM and excursion programs that allow youth to tap their potential. Rural communities like Darrington are teeming with potential, while also facing compounding challenges—from natural disasters to historical underinvestment and lack of resources for youth education, recreation, and community health. 

This role is on-site at our Darrington, Washington office and is seasonal starting May 2024 to September 2024

Are you Interested in forestry and rural communities? GPI is hiring a Forestry Crew Lead for our high school forestry crew.  As part of leading the team, you will be responsible for successfully planning and completing projects, building a collaborative working group amongst a youth crew, overseeing their health and safety, and teaching both life and job skills.This position will be composed mostly of field work. 

You will gain skills in:

• Natural resource, forest management, and conservation methods such as native plant restoration and trail construction/maintenance
• Project planning and management skills
• Leadership skills in natural resource management and youth mentoring
• Additional on-the-job training for technical and interpersonal skills

What you will do:

• Manage a work crew of about five high school students and one intern
• Supervise and collaborate with a high school crew on projects focused largely on trail and campground maintenance and ecological restoration
• Develop and coordinate projects with Glacier Peak staff, volunteers, government agencies, and local specialists. Partners include US Forest Service and the National Forest Foundation.
• Assist intern in professional development and leadership opportunities
• Recruit local high school youth to apply for the forestry crew position
• Maintain a healthy work environment and ensure the safety of the crew at all times
• Organize/maintain equipment and gear
• Safely drive the crew to and from work location each day, usually on gravel roads
• Learn forestry principles and keep track of work completed on forms, spreadsheets, and/or maps
• Provide a positive and diligent work ethic to high school age kids, help teach job expectations and responsibility

Basic Qualifications

• Experience or educational background in forestry, natural resource management and/or related fields
• Adept at working in varying field settings (will include both office work and outdoor work, including some overnight camping)
• Prior leadership experience and ability to foster strong work and environmental ethics, youth leadership, and team collaboration
• Valid Driver’s license and safe driving record
• Pass a background check

Preferred Experience:

• First aid, especially outdoor medicine certifications (WFR, WFA, etc.)
• Prior service/community work experience

Compensation for this role is $18/hour. Shared housing will be available.

*As a Bonus, you will have access to:

• Recreation gear (such as boots, rain gear, fishing equipment, climbing gear, etc)
• Summer/Community events: Darrington Bluegrass Festival, Gem and Rock Show, Darrington Days Street Fair
• Abundant recreation opportunities: Darrington is within an hour drive of North Cascades National Park, close to several hikes off of Mountain Loop Highway, and is a short drive from the North Mountain bike trails.

At the Glacier Peak Institute we consider a wide range of factors when determining compensation, which may lead individual compensation to vary depending on job related qualifications, skills, and experience.  All full time employees are eligible for benefits which include:  Medical, vision, dental, retirement 401(k) match, and a flexible schedule with an unlimited PTO plan

Glacier Peak Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment opportunities at Glacier Peak Institute are based upon one's qualifications and capabilities to perform the essential functions of a particular job. All employment opportunities are provided without regard to race, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and transgender status), pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

This Equal Employment Opportunity policy governs all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, selection, job assignment, promotions, transfers, compensation, discipline, termination, layoff, access to benefits and training, and all other conditions and privileges of employment. 

The Organization will provide reasonable accommodations as necessary and where required by law so long as the accommodation does not pose an undue hardship on the business. The Organization will also accommodate sincerely held religious beliefs of its employees to the extent the accommodation does not pose an undue hardship on the business. If you would like to request an accommodation, or have any questions about your rights and responsibilities, contact your Director of Special Initiatives. This policy is not intended to afford employees with any greater protections than those which exist under federal, state or local law. 

Glacier Peak Institute strongly urges the reporting of all instances of discrimination and harassment, and prohibits retaliation against any individual who reports discrimination, harassment, or participates in an investigation of such a report. Glacier Peak Institute will take appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including immediate termination, against any employee who violates this policy.