The Great Basin Institute, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service (Region 5), is recruiting  Forestry Technicians to support timber sale preparation, fuels reduction, and reforestation efforts on the Feather River Ranger District of Plumas National Forest.

This district includes mixed conifer forests, post-fire restoration areas, and active timber management units requiring layout, marking, regeneration monitoring, and seed collection work. The Crew Lead will play a key role in implementing silvicultural prescriptions that support forest resilience, wildfire risk reduction, watershed protection, and habitat conservation.

This position provides valuable exposure to federal forestry operations, timber sale administration, and interdisciplinary resource coordination.

A Temporary Special Assignment (TSA) employee is one who is hired for a specific temporary assignment external from the institute’s administrative operations with one of GBI’s partners for 52 weeks or greater or less than 52 weeks and may work full-time (30 or more hours per week) or part-time (less than 30 hours per week).

Primary ResponsibilitiesTimber, Regeneration & Silviculture

• Conduct timber sale unit layout and boundary delineation using GPS, flagging, and paint
• Read, interpret, and implement silvicultural prescriptions
• Support timber sale preparation activities across assigned units
• Conduct cone surveys and cone collection to support reforestation efforts
• Assist with regeneration monitoring and reforestation data collection
• Support silviculture and vegetation management tasks as needed based on seasonal priorities 

LOCATION

Forestry Crew Lead positions are available with the Feather River Ranger District, Plumas National Forest (Oroville, CA).

WORK SCHEDULE

This position is seasonal, running from mid-May to mid-November, with start and end dates dependent on project and weather conditions. Forestry Crew Leads typically work four 10-hour days per week. TSA employees are eligible for holiday pay, subject to partner approval, and will follow the partner’s holiday schedule unless otherwise specified in the employment offer. TSAs working four 10-hour days per week will receive 10 hours of pay for holidays; those working five 8-hour days per week will receive 8 hours of pay for holidays.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The position offers a competitive wage of $26 per hour, with overtime compensation at 1.5 times the hourly rate. This is a full-time role, averaging 40 hours per week.

In addition to a competitive base salary, the position includes company-paid, comprehensive benefits:

• Medical, dental (with an option for upgraded coverage), and vision insurance
• A $25,000 Life/AD&D policy
• Voluntary short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Optional Life/AD&D coverage for family members
• Mental health support resources
• Generous paid time off (PTO) accrual and paid holidays
• Shared housing accommodations are provided for crew members

TSA employees who serve a term of less than 52 weeks, with a break of 30 days or fewer, and then sign a subsequent term that, when combined, exceeds 52 weeks of employment, will be eligible for benefits typically provided to full-time employees.

This exciting opportunity contributes to GBI's significant positive impacts in the fields of environmental research, education, and conservation

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, employees must be able to satisfactorily carry out each essential duty. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience with timber cruising, marking, and unit layout
• Ability to navigate using GPS, map, and compass
• Valid driver’s license and ability to operate 4WD vehicles
• Ability to work in rugged terrain and variable weather conditions
• Experience leading field crews
• Strong organizational and communication skills

Preferred

• Familiarity with mixed conifer forests of Northern California
• Experience with post-fire restoration and regeneration surveys
• ArcGIS mapping experience
• Knowledge of forest health, fuels, hydrology, or heritage resource considerations

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Forestry (preferred), natural resource management or related field, with coursework AND one year of forestry-related fieldwork; OR

Experience: Three years of professional fieldwork experience

TO APPLY

Please submit an up-to-date resume, a one-page cover letter that details your interest in the position, and any qualifications not fully outlined in your resume, and contact information for three professional references to the unique application link.  Qualified applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview.

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.

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.