Botany-Timber Technician (Eldorado National Forest)

The Great Basin Institute (GBI), in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), is recruiting Vegetation Technicians to assist with invasive plant management, botanical surveys and timber sale preparation in the Sierra Nevada region. The technicians will work alongside USFS staff to manage rare plants, control invasive plant species, support the recovery of native vegetation in forested areas, and assist in the preparation of future timber sale projects.

This is a field-based position that will involve working outdoors in diverse and potentially challenging environmental conditions, including heat, cold, and insect exposure. The field season runs from April through Fall and focuses on the restoration of ecosystems impacted by wildfire and the preparation of planned timber sales as part of a multi-year effort to improve forest resilience and enhance biodiversity.

Botany/timber crews will assist with vegetation monitoring, data collection, botanical surveys, invasive plant control methods and timber sale preparation, contributing to post-fire recovery and the broader goal of increasing forest health. These efforts are vital to protecting forest resources and reducing the threat of future wildfires.

As needed, up to half of the technician’s time may be scheduled to assist in the timber program area (Timber/Forestry crew), to accomplish high priority project needs and provide cross-training opportunities. Experience in other program areas is not required but a willingness to work across programs and learn about other resource areas is essential.

Technician – Essential Job Functions may include the following:

Botany:

• Conducting botanical surveys to determine species identity, population characteristics, environmental conditions, factors affecting vigor, and the extent of species and their habitats.
• Photographing or collecting specimens as directed.
• Producing maps of survey areas.
• Recording, entering, and summarizing data.
• Using botanical keys to identify plants.
• Supervise contractors work for the USFS
• Assisting with reporting tasks as needed.

Timber:  As a member of a timber/forestry crew:

• Under direct supervision of lead forester or lead forestry technician, selects and marks timber to be harvested in accordance with provided marking prescriptions.
• Measures tree diameters and heights and notes timber quality defects in accordance with supervisor guidance and training.
• Accurately records field data on field data recorders or provided data sheets.
• Runs compass lines, locates and marks for future identification timber cruise plots in accordance with provided instructions.
• Locates and flags unit boundaries of predesignated units and measures unit acreages using provided GPS equipment.
• Assists higher-graded employees in the inspection of timber stand improvement contracts and communicates results of inspection to supervisor.

LOCATION

Eldorado National Forest; Multiple positions will be filled across the Forest.  Potential duty stations include: Georgetown, CA; Camino, CA; and Pollock Pines, CA

WORK SCHEDULE

Projects begin as early as March and end as late as September (3 – 6 months depending on position/duty location). Season schedules are project specific. 

Botany and timber/forestry crew positions typically follow 10-hour days, 4 days a week schedule (M – Th). 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Technician Wage: $21/hour with overtime at 1.5x hourly rate. Full time, average 40 hours per week

Housing provided in the form of USFS barracks or rental properties.

In addition to a competitive base salary, this full-time,onsite position includes company-paid premium comprehensive medical, dental (with option to upgrade in coverage), and vision insurance, as well as $25,000 Life/AD&D policy. Voluntary short-term and long-term disability policies are available, and voluntary Life/AD&D policies for family members.  Mental health support resources are employer provided, competitive PTO accrual, and paid holidays. This exciting role contributes to GBI’s significant positive impacts within the fields of environmental research, education, and conservation.

TSA employees who serve a term under 52 weeks in duration, and have a thirty (30) day or less break between terms, and then sign a second term that (cumulatively) becomes greater than 52 weeks of employment, will be eligible for the >1-year TSA benefits (equivalent to Regular full-time employees).

Qualifications

Requirements/Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, employees must be able to satisfactorily carry out each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Technician – Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience conducting botanical field surveys, including rare plant surveys, under established project guidance
• Familiarity with standard field methods for botanical surveys, vegetation assessments, and habitat characterization
• Ability to identify plants using technical keys to the species or subspecies level, with support as needed
• Ability to accurately implement established data collection, inventory, assessment, and monitoring protocols
• Skills in GPS navigation and map reading
• Physical ability for fieldwork in remote areas, including overnight camping if necessary
• Ability to follow field instructions, work safely, and contribute effectively to team-based field projects
• Effective communication skills for coordination with multidisciplinary teams
• Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license with the ability to safely operate and maintain a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads

Education:

Coursework Biology, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, Botany, Forestry or a related field OR one season of botany/forestry/natural resource management fieldwork experience.

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 job/industry specific equipment. The noise level in the work environment is usually low.