Field Ecology Technician; Lead Field Ecologist

WFFRC is a research program designed to accelerate scientific discoveries that will enhance forest resilience and wildfire decision making. In 2026, WFFRC field crews will collect data on post-fire forest regeneration and burn severity to support WFFRC’s research goals. WFFRC is housed at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. For additional information on WFFRC and the Cary Institute, please https://www.westernfireforest.org/ and https://www.caryinstitute.org/, respectively.

We are currently soliciting applications for field ecologist technicians and lead field ecologist positions. Each field crew consists of one crew lead and two technicians. One crew will be based in Santa Barbara, CA and sample sites in the western Sierra Nevada Mountains. The other crew will be based in Boulder, CO and sample sites in the Southern Rockies of Colorado and northern New Mexico. Each will be based at a university (UC Santa Barbara or University of Colorado, Boulder) for the duration of the season.

Dates:

• Rockies Crew: April 30, 2026 – September 10, 2026 (Boulder, CO)
• Sierras Crew: May 28, 2026 – July 30, 2026 (Santa Barbara, CA)

Position Summary

• Conduct wildfire ecology field work consisting of data collection on burn severity and forest regeneration in California, Colorado, and/or New Mexico
• Safely and effectively follow established field protocols (e.g. Composite Burn index, tree mortality, ground cover, soil sampling, sapling identification and counts, pre-fire stand composition) to assess post-fire vegetation communities. Comprehensive training in all field protocols and safety procedures will be provided
• Crew Leads are responsible for making safety decisions in the field and ensuring high-quality data collection

Required Qualifications

• B.S. or working toward a degree in ecology, natural resource management, or a related field
• Previous fieldwork experience, including working in challenging environmental conditions
• Valid U.S. Driver’s License
• Crew Leads must have experience managing field crews or conducting several seasons of field work

Preferred Qualifications

• Current certification in or ability to obtain CPR, First Aid, Wilderness First Aid, or Wilderness First Responder certificates. Strong preference will be given to Crew Leads with WFA/WFR certificates.
• Strong plant identification skills using taxonomic keys
• Familiarity with flora and systems of California Sierras or Southern Rockies

Required Skills

• Experience navigating through challenging and remote terrain
• Comfortable bushwhacking through dense shrubs, sometimes for hours at a time
• Familiarity or willingness to learn and adhere to best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles
• Love the outdoors and be passionate about learning botany, forestry, and fire ecology
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude and adapt to changing conditions
• Have high quality data collection skills and great attention to detail
• Comfortable navigating to remote sites in a 4WD vehicle and maintaining trucks and gear
• Participate in pre- and post-hitch activities, including hitch planning, data entry +  QA/QC using tools like those found in the Microsoft Suite Software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access)
• Car camp for up to eight days at a time, either at established campgrounds or dispersed camping in areas without amenities. Backcountry camping/backpacking is not required

Physical Demands:

• Must be able to stand and walk/hike for long periods (up to 4 miles/day on rough, uneven terrain)
• Must be able to bend and crouch for long periods of time
• Must be able to lift and carry gear and packs that weigh up to 40 pounds
• Must be comfortable car camping for up to 8 days at a time

Work Environment and Schedule:

• This is a fieldwork position based in either the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California and the Southern Rockies of Colorado and Northern New Mexico.
• This position involves working in challenging and unpredictable environmental conditions (e.g. extreme weather, uneven terrain, hazardous wildlife, etc.) and safety training will be provided
• During fieldwork, camping will be required, typically on a rotating eight, 8.75 hour days on (Thurs-Thurs) and 6 days off schedule throughout the season. A hotel night will be provided halfway through each 8 day hitch.
• Lodging during hitches is paid for, but no housing is provided in between hitches

Compensation and Benefits:

• $23-25/hour for Crew Leads and $20-22/hour for Technicians
• $25 Meals and Incidentals per diem while in the field
• Opportunities to network with PIs, postdocs, and graduate students
• Experience with highly sought-after skills in fire ecology, forestry, and vegetation monitoring