Forestry Crew Lead – Eldorado NF (USFS)

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with Eldorado & Lassen National Forests, is recruiting a Timber Stand Improvement (TSI) Crew to work cooperatively with USFS and GBI staff to perform inspection of contracted vegetation management and restoration projects within forest/woodland areas. This work provides professional development opportunities in standard forest management practices while supporting USFS initiatives for healthy and productive forest landscapes and resources. Duties will principally involve inspecting outcomes of reforestation treatments, including inspection of planting and herbicide contractors. Additional duties will involve timber cruising and marking and flagging in timber stand improvement unit boundaries for subsequent TSI treatments.

Initial work will involve oversight of contractors preforming landscape improvements on targeted areas on USFS lands. GBI Timber Stand Improvement (Contract Inspection) crews will conduct compliance inspections for various vegetation treatment projects including planting, mastication, herbicide treatments and brush cutting. In the latter half of the season, Crews will collect plot and regeneration data from reforestation treatments. Additional duties may include training in timber marking and cruising and the application of these learned skills on large timber sales areas. This work greatly supports the regeneration of forested areas, facilitates the restoration of landscapes affected by type-conversion and high severity wildfire, the preparation of future timber sales and contributes to the development and refinement of management techniques and operations.

A Timber Stand Improvement (Contract Inspection) Crew, comprising of one crew lead and two-four crew members per crew, will perform this work in coordination with USFS personnel. Please note that, for several consecutive weeks at a time, the work schedule of GBI crews aligns with the work schedule of contractors when the contractors are on site planting and applying herbicides. During these phases, extensive overtime (up to 12 hours (04:00 to 16:00 hours) of work per day, including travel from and to job sites, for up to six consecutive days, paid at 1.5 times regular wage for any hours over 40 in a work week) is expected. When performing work not related to contract administration, the normal work schedule will consist of 4-10 hour days per week working from approximately 07:00 to 17:30 hrs.

As Crew lead:

• applicants are expected to exercise sound judgement, and be willing to work hard in a physically demanding position with an eye towards the safety and well being of their crew.
• Leadership responsibilities of this position include communication with USFS and GBI staff, maintaining safety awareness and practices in the field, scheduling, logistics, and overseeing fidelity to methods and quality of outcomes. 

Contract Timeline:-Tentatively: March – October 2024
– Projects are weather dependent, therefore start and end dates vary according to local conditions and individual project needs

Location:Pioneer, CA; Amador Ranger District

Eldorado National Forest:
Project activities will take place on the Eldorado National Forest (NF).
Located in the central Sierra Nevada, the Eldorado NF is bordered on the east by the Lake Tahoe Basin and the Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, and by the Tahoe and Stanislaus NFs to the north and south, respectively. Eldorado NF offers an abundance of outdoor activities including fishing, boating, hiking, biking, skiing and climbing. The forest is home to much of the American River headwaters and the stunning Desolation Wilderness, and is in the heart of California’s historic Gold Country. People travel to Eldorado National Forest for its rich prospecting history, diversity of outdoor adventure and even beautiful vineyards.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Wage: $26/hour with overtime at 1.5x hourly rate. Full time, average 60 hours/week for first 2 months; 40 hours/week for remainder of season
• Health, dental, vision Insurance premiums covered 100% by GBI (equivalent to approximately $350/month); health, dental and vision insurance is available on the first day of the month following the start of employment
• Shared housing provided (equivalent to approximately $1000/month); housing stipend not provided if shared housing is denied by employee
• Camping per diem: $15/night as necessary (infrequent)
• Uniform Stipend
  

Job Qualifications:

Preferred qualifications as follows: 

• Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in Forestry or a closely related field, plus applicable field experience in techniques for timber stand improvement;
• Knowledge of the mixed conifer forests typical of westside-Sierra California, including common plants (woody and herbaceous), wildlife, and/or geology/topography;
• Experience in chainsaw operation and pesticide application;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with a diverse audience;
• Ability to navigate and collect data using handheld GPS units;
• Proficiency using a compass and topographic map to navigate;
• Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license with ability to safely operate and maintain a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads;
• Ability to live and work in rural and remote field and office setting;
• Physically fit to work outdoors, carry up to 50 pounds of field equipment and personal gear, and withstand the rigors of a forested and/or high desert environment in all seasons;
• Willingness and ability to work extensive overtime hours for several consecutive weeks multiple times during the field season;
• Familiarity with best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles; and
• Willingness and ability to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the mission of GBI and the goals and objectives of the USFS.
• Experience leading forestry crews in the field, including oversight of safety, communication, fidelity to methods, and quality of accomplishments;
• Experience using ArcGIS to create maps preferred;