Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit - Forestry Technician

Position Description Summary

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the USFS, is recruiting Forestry Technicians to perform timber sale-preparation, vegetation management and restoration projects in the Sierra Nevada region. These projects all serve the Basin & Range Forestry program’s greater mission of helping the USFS in their critical goal of improving forest resilience in the face of worsening climate conditions and increased wildfire threats. The work that you will do directly improves the quality of these forests helping ensure they continue to thrive for generations to come. Technicians will serve vegetation management and fuels reduction efforts, supporting initiatives for healthy, productive, and resilient forest landscapes and resources. Project work may include post fire recovery efforts.

Essential Job Functions may include the following:

• Assist with timber sale unit boundary delineation and layout, including GPS tracking, flagging, and painting.
• Conduct tree species identification and provide input on green and salvage timber marking.
• Support timber cruising and biomass plot cruising for resource assessments.
• Collect general silvicultural data, including stand examination and forest health metrics.
• Contribute to post-fire recovery and restoration efforts, where applicable.
• Ensure accurate and organized field data collection and management for team use.
• Assist with maintaining safety standards and protocol adherence during field operations.

LOCATION

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU), CA

The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is a United States National Forest that manages and protects public land surrounding Lake Tahoe and the Lake Tahoe Basin. Straddling the state borders of California and Nevada in the Sierra Nevada, the LTBMU encompasses 154,851 acres (626 km2) of National Forest system lands. The LTBMU is a unique inter-mix of forest and urban communities, presenting challenges and complexities few other National Forests experience. Since its establishment in 1973, the LTBMU has become a pioneer and leader in the science of forest and ecosystem management.

WORK SCHEDULE

This position is seasonal, running from mid-July to mid-November, with start and end dates dependent on project and weather conditions. Forestry Technicians typically work four 10-hour days per week. TSA employees are eligible for holiday pay, subject to partner approval, and will follow the partner’s holiday schedule unless otherwise specified in the employment offer. TSAs working four 10-hour days per week will receive 10 hours of pay for holidays; those working five 8-hour days per week will receive 8 hours of pay for holidays.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The position offers a competitive wage of $21.42 per hour, with overtime compensation at 1.5 times the hourly rate. This is a full-time role, averaging 40 hours per week.

In addition to a competitive base salary, the position includes premium-paid comprehensive benefits:

• Medical, dental (with an option for upgraded coverage), and vision insurance
• A $25,000 Life/AD&D policy
• Voluntary short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Optional Life/AD&D coverage for family members
• Mental health support resources
• Generous paid time off (PTO) accrual and paid holidays

TSA employees who serve a term of less than 52 weeks, with a break of 30 days or fewer, and then sign a subsequent term that, when combined, exceeds 52 weeks of employment, will be eligible for benefits typically provided to full-time employees.  Shared housing is provided.

This exciting opportunity contributes to GBI's significant positive impacts in the fields of environmental research, education, and conservation.

Requirements/Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, employees must be able to carry out the essential duties outlined above. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to collect, maintain, and organize field data for efficient team access.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, with a variety of stakeholders.
• Proficiency in using handheld GPS units, compasses, and topographic maps for navigation.
• Valid state-issued driver’s license with the ability to operate and maintain a 4WD vehicle in off-road environments.
• Ability to work and live in remote field settings with minimal supervision.
• Physically fit to work outdoors, carry up to 50 pounds, and endure challenging forested or high desert environments in all seasons.
• Familiarity with timber cruising and marking techniques, along with resource management issues specific to the Sierra Nevada ecoregion.
• Knowledge of mixed conifer forests, including common plants, wildlife, geology, and topography of eastern California.
• Ability to adhere to USFS data collection, inventory, and monitoring protocols.
• Experience with ArcGIS for map creation and analysis is a plus.
• Must meet AmeriCorps eligibility requirements and successfully pass background checks.

Education: A Bachelor’s degree in Forestry (preferred), Natural Resource Management, or a related field, with coursework and experience that demonstrates a solid understanding of forestry principles.

Experience: At least six months of professional fieldwork experience in forestry or a related environmental field.

TO APPLY

Please submit an up-to-date resume, a one-page cover letter that details your interest in the position, and any qualifications not fully outlined in your resume, and contact information for three professional references to the unique application link.Qualified applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands, stand, walk, bend, and have specific vision abilities to include close and distance vision, and ability to adjust focus working with computer business equipment and other job/industry specific equipment. The noise level in the work environment is usually low.

NOTE:  This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the organization's ongoing needs.

Disclaimer: Although the organization has attempted to accurately and thoroughly describe this position, GBI reserves the right to change the same, including to change, add to or subtract from the duties outlined, within the sole discretion of the organization, at any time, with or without advance notice