Senior Forestry Technician (Crew Lead)

Multiple openings: Crew Leads (Senior Forestry Technicians)

Berkeley Forests manages multiple forest research stations throughout the state. Assignments may be at any one of these sites, but most will be at Blodgett Forest in El Dorado County, CA with trips of varying lengths to other properties. Potential for significant portions of the season to be spent at Flatwoods Research Forest in Shasta County and/or Grouse Ridge Research Forest in Nevada County. Forestry-related research in areas of forest ecology, fire ecology, ecosystem processes, silviculture, and forest management are conducted throughout the Berkeley Forests’ properties. This position provides broad support for achieving the mission of facilitating research, demonstration, and education. They will work closely with professional forestry staff on forestry projects and supervise field crews of one to six people. Additional information on the properties and their function is available at forests.berkeley.edu/forests.

EMPLOYMENT DATES:

Seven to nine consecutive months, between April 2025 and December 2025 (start and end dates negotiable).

QUALIFICATIONS: A minimum of two seasons of fieldwork or coursework including field exercises covering the following:

• Fuels management, including prescribed burning and mechanical treatments
• Vegetation measurement techniques, including use of tree measurement tools
• Safe use and maintenance of chainsaws, brush cutters, pruners, and forestry hand tools
• Identification of common Sierra Nevada plants
• Analysis of data and report preparation
• Familiarity with spreadsheets, word processors, and forest vegetation simulators
• Supervising field crews and writing and carrying out fieldwork protocols

This position is full-time, temporary. Applicants must be physically fit and capable of sustained physical work during all seasons of weather conditions. More than 75% of work is outdoors, and this position will aid in coordinating crew travel between properties, including fieldwork and camping.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: Assist with the following:

• General oversight of field crews and protocol implementation, including ensuring adherence to safety and equipment maintenance standards
• Field layout of research treatments related to fuel projects, including flagging and marking
• Field supervision of stand improvement practices, including pre-commercial thinning; hand, mechanical and chemical weeding; planting, and pruning
• Field supervision maintaining permanent forest and stream inventory system and regeneration plots, and helping with salvage operations and contractor oversight.
• Survey property, plots, research, and fuel treatment boundaries, including use of Avenza and Global Positioning System equipment
• Assist various research studies with fieldwork and project maintenance
• Analyze data and prepare technical documentation and reports
• Varying degrees of infrastructure maintenance

SALARY: Ranging from $22.64/hour to $27.06/hour

[On-site housing provided with an expectation to help with chores (cleanliness, firewood splitting,  dump runs, etc.). Work schedule is normally 40 hours/week M-F but may be adjusted.] 

CLOSING DATE: Applications are accepted until filled.