JOB TITLE: Forestry Division Specialist

CLASSIFICATION: Division Specialist 

WAGE RANGE: $28.75 - $35.75 per hour

EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Seasonal, full time, hourly

About the Watershed Research and Training Center

The Watershed Research and Training Center (WRTC) sustains healthy lands and healthy communities. What started in the early 1990s as a local project to re-train displaced loggers and mill workers in Trinity County, CA is now a vibrant nonprofit organization working locally, statewide and nationally on a host of landscape conservation and community development issues. In addition to putting dozens of our community members back to work in the woods each year, we lead forest and watershed conservation programs, coordinate state wood utilization and fire management partnerships, and have played an influential role in state and federal policy-making and program direction. We are a team of approximately 70 year-round staff with up to 80 seasonal staff dedicated to caring for people and the landscapes we depend upon.

The Forestry Division Specialist will work under the Forestry Division of the Forestry and Fuels (F&F) Program. The Forestry and Fuels Program improves forest health by delivering comprehensive forest management services from planning through implementation. Projects range from large-scale, landscape-level mechanical thinning to hand treatments in neighborhoods improving defensible space, with the team providing a full complement of technical forestry skills. 

The Forestry Division coordinates with public agencies and private landowners to support comprehensive forest management across Trinity County. Their work directly contributes to timber sale preparation, reforestation, fuel break development, and plantation thinning projects. Forestry staff navigate steep terrain daily, collect vital data, and implement essential on-the-ground tasks that strengthen the long-term health of our forests.

Job Summary

The Forestry Division Specialist is responsible for working collaboratively with Division leadership to support successful operations. They are responsible for assisting with crew training and support, contract inspections, and ensuring field work is conducted to specifications and high standards. They are responsible for supporting crew management, dynamics, training, and quality assurance. This position is responsible for tracking and reporting project and crew updates for internal purposes as well as grant and contract reporting uses. Field work includes data collection and management, unit layout, timber marking/cruising, and contract inspection. The specialist may also organize and process data collected in the field. They will communicate directly with agency partners, landowners, crew members and other organization staff.

Position Scope, Responsibilities and Core Duties

• Communicate regularly and effectively with the Forestry Division Assistant Director
• Support crew training and quality assurance. Help coordinate crews and assign daily work. 
• Coordinate with partners on project details
• Assist in implementing layout for timber sales, silviculture projects, and other projects
• Collect accurate and thorough data for timber sales, silviculture projects, and other vegetation management projects
• Review and process data collected in the field
• Interact positively and professionally with WRTC staff, other WRTC divisions, landowners, community members, and agency employees

Minimum Qualifications, Skills and Competencies

• A combination of forestry-related education, training, and field experience equivalent to at least five seasons of forestry work.
• Demonstrated ability to safely and accurately perform forestry fieldwork, such as timber marking, timber cruising, unit layout, vegetation surveys, silvicultural data collection, or similar work.
• Ability to use handheld GPS devices and mobile mapping or data-collection applications to navigate in remote areas and accurately collect and manage project data. Experience with any specific WRTC system is helpful but not required if the applicant can demonstrate the ability to learn new systems.
• Ability to safely and accurately use common forestry instruments, such as a relaskop, laser rangefinder, compass, logger’s tape, clinometer, or comparable tools.
• Ability to review field data for completeness and accuracy and maintain organized project records.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with crew members, coworkers, agency partners, landowners, and community members.
• Ability to organize work, use sound judgment, follow project specifications, and contribute to a safe and efficient field environment.
• Experience training, mentoring, or providing technical direction to coworkers or crew members.
• Experience leading field crews, assigning daily work, supporting crew development, or resolving routine field and team issues.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to safely operate four-wheel-drive vehicles on rural and unpaved roads. 
• Ability, with or without reasonable accommodation, to perform the essential field functions of the position, including working outdoors, traveling over steep and rugged terrain, and occasionally lifting or moving objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to travel to remote project locations and camp overnight.

Desired Qualifications, Skills and Competencies

• Experience conducting contract inspections, monitoring work against project specifications, or documenting quality-control results.
• Experience working with public agencies, private landowners, contractors, or community-based forestry partners.
• Familiarity with the forests, communities, land-management agencies, and or working conditions of Trinity County or rural Northern California.
• Relevant safety or technical training, such as first aid/CPR, defensive driving, chainsaw safety, or other forestry-related certifications.

Work Environment and Additional Requirements

Work occurs outdoors in varying weather and environmental conditions in Trinity County (and surrounding area). While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly (90-95%) required to hike and navigate difficult terrain in inclement weather; sit at a desk (5-10%) to complete tasks; use electronic devices such as computers, tablets, phones, GPS, or data collectors; and will occasionally need to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

The regular spring, summer, and fall schedule is generally four 10-hour days, Monday through Thursday, under WRTC’s alternative workweek schedule. Work outside the regular schedule may be required based on project needs and will be compensated in accordance with applicable law.  

Anticipated employment period: now - December 2026, with the possibility to extend.
Willingness to camp is required. Per diem is available when camping outside of Hayfork, CA (home office). Support in locating housing may be provided in some situations.

Compensation and Benefits

• This position is seasonal and is paid hourly. 
• The pay range for a Division Specialist is between $28.75-$35.75/hour.
• Benefits include: employer contribution toward health insurance, employer paid vision and dental insurance, retirement plan, paid time off, and paid holidays.