Field Technician

Organization description:

Sierra Streams Institute (SSI) is a watershed monitoring, research, education, and restoration group based in Nevada City, California, dedicated to linking water, science, and people for the benefit of human and environmental health. We work with local, state, and federal agencies as well as universities and community groups to find solutions to the problems that afflict Deer Creek and Bear River, which share historical challenges resulting from gold mining and development, and more recent challenges resulting from wildfire. SSI’s emphasis on community involvement and accessible science provides many opportunities for community members to get involved in our work, including ongoing water quality monitoring and seasonal creek surveys. 

Position Description and Responsibilities:

The field technician will work across two main monitoring projects during SSI’s field season (late April through October) as described below.

From Source to Sea: Building an Integrated Vision of Sierra Headwaters and Delta Resilience

The Field Technician will be part of this project to document the biodiversity of Sierran stream invertebrates, which has to this point been under-studied. The Field Technician will lead creek surveys across 9 major watersheds in the Northern and Central Sierra. The Field Technician will be responsible for following scientific protocols, ensuring accurate data collection, maintaining equipment, and overseeing safety of team members. The Field Technician will also be responsible for assisting with training crew members. Surveys will be along a gradient of stream communities, collecting data on physical habitat, benthic macroinvertebrates, organic matter, algae, chlorophyll, eDNA, and water quality.

The Field Technician will also help run analyses of collected samples from the creek surveys in our inhouse chemistry lab. The Field Technician will learn to run analysis on algae, chlorophyll, and organic matter, to be completed soon after each creek survey.

Lake Wildwood Bacteria and Nutrient Monitoring

Each summer, SSI monitors water quality at Lake Wildwood, including twice weekly collection and analysis of bacteria and once monthly nutrient analysis. The Field Technician will aid monitoring staff in collecting and processing bacteria and nutrient samples. Running samples involves following detailed and precise protocols as well as multitasking.

Season commitment: Late April to mid October 2026.

Hours/Week: 30-40 hr/week, with the likelihood of overtime.

Pay: $21 – $23 an hour, depending on experience

Required qualifications: 

• Strong interest in biology, hydrology, chemistry, ecology, environmental science or a related field.
• Previous field work experience.
• Ability to follow strict scientific protocols.
• Attention to detail.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to hike up to 7 miles through uneven terrain, creeks and vegetation (occasionally poison oak or Himalayan blackberry) and be on your feet for up to 10 hours a day.
• Ability to carry monitoring equipment that weighs up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of staff and volunteers.
• A valid drivers license and access to a personal vehicle, which can ideally handle some off-roading.
• Be willing to go on overnight work trips of up to 3-nights that involve camping (SSI can provide all camping equipment).
• Positive attitude and willingness to learn.
• Must be able to commit to a full field season.

Preferred qualifications:

• Completed or pursuing an undergraduate degree.
• Experience working in a chemistry lab.
• Experience with nutrient and bacteria collection and analysis.
• Experience managing and training teams.

Benefits:

• Paid holidays and accrued sick pay.
• Work with and learn from scientists in a friendly and supportive environment.
• Gain field and technical experience, as well as professional networking opportunities.
• Participate in a community science program.
• Contribute to a robust water quality monitoring dataset.
• Get involved in your local watershed.
• Enjoy the outdoors, while learning about local ecosystems.
• Opportunities for school-based credit (varies by institution).