Wilderness Fuels Module Assistant Crew Leader

POSITION OVERVIEW
The Sierra Institute for Community and Environment (Sierra Institute), in cooperation with the Lassen National Park (LAVO) is hiring one Wilderness Fuels Module (WFM) assistant crew leader to assist in guiding an eight person crew in performing fuels management in LAVO to promote future prescribed  and/or  managed  fire  activities  in  wilderness  areas  of  the  park.  The  WFM Assistant Crew Leader, under the direction of the WFM Crew Lead, Sierra Institute support staff, and LAVO specialists, will be responsible for leading the WFM crew in  safely falling, bucking, and limbing  live  and  dead  trees  and  constructing  fireline  using  predominantly  non-mechanized equipment (e.g., crosscut saws, axes, etc.) in undeveloped wilderness areas.
The Assistant Crew Leader will also stand in as Crew Lead in the event that the Crew Leader is not present. The WFM Crew will also be responsible for supervising Sierra Institutes youth corps, “P-CREW” , for a portion of the season while they assist with the project. The crew may also assist as necessary with other activities to advance landscape restoration in the region.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Co-lead the WFM crew in safely bucking, felling, and limbing trees using predominantly non-mechanized tools.
• Construct fireline using predominantly non-mechanized tools.
• Rearrange fuels by piling or lopping and scattering depending on prescription.
• Help in planning crew work and assess progress towards objectives; manage crew safety; and assist with training crew members.
• Oversee tool maintenance, work site activities, and camp life to ensure that tasks are being done correctly, and in accordance with Leave No Trace guidelines.
• Supervise Sierra Institute’s youth corps “P-CREW” in work site assistance on occasional visits throughout the season.
• Work with project partners at Lassen Volcanic National Park to interpret and implement silvicultural prescriptions.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS
Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of two years’ combined field experience in the forest or other natural resource management, including but not limited to biological research, survey work, land conservation, or wildland fire;
• Minimum 12 months experience in a support role, oversight/safety management;
• Experience with utilizing non-mechanized equipment (crosscut saws, axes, etc.) to perform fuels reduction (i.e. felling and bucking);
• Minimum Faller 1 (Class A) or equivalent;
• Experience with maintenance of non-mechanized tools and ability to teach others appropriate tool maintenance techniques;
• Familiarity with mixed conifer forests and the ability to identify common tree species in the northern Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades;
• Ability to use compasses, topographic maps, and handheld GPS units or tablets to navigate and collect data in the field;
• Ability to interpret and communicate stand prescriptions or willingness to learn;
• Good physical conditioning to work and walk in the forest all day carrying day-packs with equipment during all types of weather;
• Ability to live in a campsite setting for eight days at a time;
• An ability to bring adaptability and improvisation, critical thinking skills, creativity, and humor to the workplace;
• Ability to be punctual, diligent, and thorough in their work and support a similarly strong work ethic amongst crew members;
• Ability to effectively work with diverse teams or with diverse groups of people;
• Ability to effectively support a field supervisor for other staff while also conducting implementation activities; ability to effectively stand-in as a  field supervisor;
• Ability to perform physically taxing work in all weather conditions in rugged mountainous environments;
• Interest in, or familiarity with, principles of Wilderness land management;
• Possess a valid, clean, state-issued driver’s license, with an ability to safely operate a 4WD vehicle;
• Full COVID vaccination status (vaccinated and boosted).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Leave No Trace or other backcountry ethics training;
• Certification in S-212 (Federal Wildland Chainsaws);
• Experience with crew leadership,oversight/ safety management, and data collection methods;
• Current wilderness medical training certification (e.g., WFA, WFR, WEMT).

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
This full-time field position will be based in Lassen Volcanic National Park. The crew will implement prescriptions developed by a team of natural resource professionals dedicated to fi eld reduction and reintroduction of fi re in the novel landscape of LAVO.

The incumbent will be expected to walk 4-8 miles per day with a fi eld pack, ample water, and tools over rough terrain and in variable weather conditions, which will likely include high temperatures in the summer months and can quickly drop to dramatically colder temperatures in the fall months. Strenuous and repetitive physical effort will be associated with fuels reduction activities, including the use of a crosscut saw and rearrangement of fuels. Occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds may be required for piling and rearranging large downed wood.
While working, the incumbent will be provided a base camp within Lassen Volcanic National Park.