POSITION OVERVIEW

The Sierra Institute for Community and Environment (Sierra Institute) is hiring one Lead Collaborative Forestry Technician to serve as a crew lead for a Collaborative Forestry Crew. This is a temporary full time position working 40 hours a week.. The Lead Forestry Technician will lead the crew in performing forestry work necessary to advance critical timber management and restoration treatment on public and private lands. 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. The Lead Forestry Technician 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 needed 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.

The Lead Technician 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 federal and private lands projects. The Lead Forestry Technician will lead the Collaborative Forestry Crew in assessing progress towards objectives, monitoring/mitigating safety concerns in the field, and creating a collaborative work environment that encourages professionalism, learning, and efficiency. The Collaborative Forestry Crew will receive project-specific training on tree-species identification, marking methodology, standard cruising methods, and forest
pathology/demography. The Lead Forestry Technician will provide on-the-job training and guidance to the members of the Collaborative Forestry Crew. 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.

The Lead Technician must be organized, open to learning, and possess the ability to motivate and support their fellow Crew Members, and be willing to work hard in a physically demanding role. This position requires hiking while carrying a heavy pack and paint and mitigating known and unforeseen hazards such as smoke, heat, and strong wind. This crew 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

● Ensuring that silvicultural prescriptions, cruising guides, and other instructions are accurately and effectively implemented by the Collaborative Forestry Crew
● Crew field safety and hazard mitigation - leading tailgate safety meetings, tracking stock of PPE, preventative maintenance checks on crew vehicles
● Managing organization of the Collaborative Forestry Crew - preparedness, punctuality, performance, pace of work, keeping track of equipment furnished by SI or USFS
● Communication with the supervisor about any issues with crew personnel, safety, etc.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

Required Qualifications:

● Minimum of 12-months combined field experience in forest or other natural resource management, this may include but is not limited to corps work, wildland fire, research and survey work within the environmental field, land conservation, etc.;
● Minimum of 6-months leading others in carrying out the above;
● Experience 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.);
● Experience with standard forestry field techniques, timber marking/cruising, and ecology and natural systems of the Sierra Nevada;
● Ability to use compasses, topographic maps, and handheld GPS units or tablets to navigate and collect data in the field;
● Ability to track and report project accomplishments;
● 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 crew 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 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;
● USFS Qualified Cruiser certification;
● 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, or 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.