Forestry Technician (Seasonal)

Background
Located in beautiful Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Resource Conservation District (District, Tahoe RCD) seeks to hire a Seasonal Forestry Technician. Tahoe RCD is a leader in local conservation and our staff works with a diversity of stakeholders, including land managers, government agencies, fire protection districts, tribal entities, educational institutions, landowners, and others, to protect, restore, and enhance the natural resources of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Join our team of forest and natural resource professionals and build your career in forest management!

Job Description
The Forestry Technician works under the supervision of the Forester-Program Specialist, a Registered Professional Forester (RPF), and/or the Executive Director (RPF). The position assists in forestry tasks such as tree marking, flagging, timber cruising, forest inventory, GIS, exotic plant control, vegetation monitoring, and wildlife monitoring. This position works full-time (40 hours/week), but only on a seasonal basis approximately May – October depending on project need and funding (Not to exceed 1000 hours).

The Forestry Technician will assist a Registered Professional Forester on projects focused on wildfire resiliency and forest health in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Projects include Community Wildfire Protection Plan project implementation, forest health, post-fire restoration and reforestation, hazard tree evaluation, and education and outreach. The Forestry Technician reports to the Forester–Program Specialist (RPF) and will work closely with a broad array of partner organizations including, government agencies, and public and private landowners. The ideal candidate will have a working knowledge of forestry, forest inventory methods, and environmental permitting/regulation. 

Work is performed in the Tahoe RCD office and the field, which can periodically involve long hours. The position is considered ‘at will’ and is seasonal, full-time, and non-exempt.

Specific Job Duties
Forestry Technician Duties and Responsibilities 

• Forest inventory and cruising, possibly including forest carbon inventories.
• Independently marks trees using and adapting complex marking rules in areas complicated by variations in type, species composition, defect, site, age, class, etc., flagging operational boundaries, Watercourse and Lake Protection Zones and Stream Environment Zones, and other protection/retention zones.
• Use of a smartphone or tablet to record inventory and spatial data in ESRI Field Maps and other applications.
• Interprets complex silvicultural prescriptions and marking guides to designate harvest timber.
• Provides field instruction to interns in fundamental timber measuring practices, cruise methods, and techniques.
• Works with temporary (6-weeks) forestry interns from Lake Tahoe Community College to achieve program and project goals.
• Assembles and summarizes data and prepares reports and maps regarding areas cruised.
• Other duties assigned by the Forester-Program Specialist and/or assist staff RPFs and other professionals with other project work as needed.
• Strictly follows Tahoe RCD safety and equipment use policies.

Qualifications and Abilities

Minimum Qualifications/Requirements

• Enrolled in a forestry or closely related degree program, or commensurate work experience.
• Knowledge of the use of basic forestry tools and timber inventory methods
• Ability to identify Northern California tree species.
• Valid California driver’s license and clean driving record
• Ability to work safely, efficiently, and respectfully with others and alone in steep, rugged terrain under adverse weather conditions.
• Ability to navigate terrain with GPS or map and compass.

Knowledge and Skills 

• Knowledge of forestry, vegetation management, watershed management and conservation, resource management, and native plants
• Strong technical, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to work with a variety of people with diverse interests and backgrounds.
• Applies self-motivation, initiative, excellent organizational skills, exercises situational discernment, and maintains a positive attitude.
• Highly organized and motivated self-starter
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and follow through to completion.
• Creative, flexible, and enjoy working in a team environment.
• Working knowledge of computer programs required for data collection, cruise processing, and Global Positioning Systems (GPS); experience in the fundamentals of timber cruising including tree measurements, map reading and compass use, species identification, and use of timber cruising tools and instruments; use of sampling systems such as 3P, fixed area, point, and sample tree to determine statistically sound cruise samples.

Desired Qualifications

• Working knowledge of California Forest Practice Rules and Tahoe area regulations (TRPA, Lahontan Timber Waiver).
• Bachelor or Associate Degree in Forestry or other closely related field.
• Knowledge of silvicultural prescriptions and forest management regimes.
• Experience preparing timber sales, including flagging Watercourse and Lake Protection Zones, Equipment Limitation Zones, unit boundaries, etc.
• Experience conducting timber or other natural resource inventories.

For the full job announcement visit: https://www.tahoercd.org/forestry-technician-seasonal