Monitoring and Research Field Technician (Temporary)

POSITION: Monitoring and Research Field Technician (Temporary)

STATUS: Part-Time / Non-Benefitted / Hourly / Non-Exempt

COMPENSATION: $20.00 – $22.00 per hour  

DEPARTMENT: Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (BCCER)

LOCATION: 35 Main Street, Chico, CA; Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (BCCER); and the surrounding community. This position may require travel across the broader North State.

RECRUITMENT ID: 398 RESIDENCY: Candidate must be a California resident. Chico State Enterprises is not a sponsoring agency for staff and management positions (i.e., H-1B Visas).

DURATION: This is a temporary position. The position is planned to be staffed during Spring 2026, from approximately March 2026 through June 2026. Based on performance and availability, there may be an option to pivot to part-time work on other crews in Summer or Fall of 2026.

HOURS: This position is expected to work 40 hours per week, with an annual limit of 1,500 hours.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Under the supervision of the Fire Research Scientist, Ecological Reserves Crew Supervisor, Fire and Flora Manager, or Project Manager, responsibilities include both programmatic elements and maintenance.

Programmatic Elements:

• Perform environmental monitoring and/or survey work safely and with direct supervision.
• Ensure accuracy through data collection, entry, and management.
• Install and resample monitoring plots.
• Perform data collection and monitoring during prescribed burns.
• Communicate with outside parties on non-BCCER burns to ensure research objectives are met.
• As required, act as a host and facilitator for groups using the BCCER including facilitating field trips and research activities, students with research projects, and community hikes.
• As requested, perform other duties as assigned.

Maintenance Elements:

• As required, carry out vegetation management on the Reserve or in surrounding community in ecologically sensitive areas using a variety of tools.
• May perform fieldwork including, but not limited to, invasive plan eradication; fence repair; and road and trail maintenance using a variety of hand and power tools.
• Assist with the preparation and implementation of broadcast and pile burns.
• As requested, perform other duties such as facilities maintenance, event preparation, etc.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS:  

Qualifications:

• Experience performing duties similar to those described above.
• A bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences, natural resources, biology, or related fields.
• An understanding of the conservation of natural and open space resources.
• Ability to communicate well with a wide variety of constituents, including volunteers, student staff and interns, visitors to the reserves, faculty, and staff.
• Ability to manage time and complete tasks independently.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of native and non-native plant species.
• An understanding of fire ecology topics.
• Experience setting up and performing research projects.
• Familiarity with a variety of hand tools, including chainsaws, brush cutters, and small equipment.
• Basic firefighter training (FFT2) or equivalent.

Additional Requirements:  

• Ability to perform sedentary and physical labor.
• Capacity and willingness to work in extreme weather conditions.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds unassisted.