Wilderness Fuels Module Crew Lead

Wilderness Fuels Module Crew Lead:
DEPARTMENT:  Community Based Natural Resources REPORTS TO: Stewardship Specialist
LOCATION:  On Site, Taylorsville CA for initial onboarding, Lassen Volcanic National Park for the field season
EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Temporary - term from late May - mid October, dependent on weather and field conditions.

POSITION OVERVIEW
The Sierra Institute for Community and Environment (Sierra Institute) in cooperation with Lassen Volcanic National Park (LAVO) is hiring one Wilderness Fuels Module Crew Lead to lead an eight person crew performing fuels management in LAVO to promote future prescribed and/or managed fire 
activities in wilderness areas of the Park.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
●    Lead the WFM crew in safely felling, bucking, and limbing trees using non-mechanized equipment.
●    Create fire line using non-mechanized equipment.
●    Rearrange fuels either by piling or lopping and scattering, depending on fuel loading and prescription.
●    Supervise Sierra Institute’s youth corps, “P-CREW” on occasional visits throughout the season to assist on the work site.
●    Help plan 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.
●    Work with project partners at Lassen Volcanic National Park to interpret and implement silvicultural prescriptions.
 

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS
Required Qualifications:
●    Minimum of three years’ combined field experience in forest or other natural resource management, this may include but is not limited to biological research, survey work, land conservation, or wildland fire.
●    Minimum 18 months experience with crew leadership, oversight/safety management;

●    Minimum 6 months  data collection methods;
●    Experience with utilizing non-mechanized equipment (crosscut saws, axes, etc.) to perform fuels reduction (i.e. felling and bucking);
●    Minimum Faller 1 or equivalent (minimum Class A);
●    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 or willingness to learn necessary skills;
●    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;
●    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 effectively work with diverse teams or with diverse groups of people;
●    Ability to effectively serve as a field supervisor for other staff while also conducting implementation activities;
●    Ability to be punctual, diligent, and thorough in their work and support a similarly strong work ethic amongst crew members;
●    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:

●    Familiarity with the use and maintenance of crosscut saw and other non-mechanized equipment;.
●    Current wilderness medical training certification (e.g., WFA, WFR, WEMT);
●    Leave No Trace or other backcountry ethics training;
●    Certification in S-212 (Federal Wildland Chainsaws).

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 field reduction and reintroduction of fire in the novel landscape of LAVO.

The incumbent will be expected to walk 4-8 miles per day with a field 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.

APPLICATION PROCESS
● Send cover letter, resume, and three references as one PDF to jobs@sierrainstitute.us. Use “Wilderness Fuels Module - Crew Lead” as the subject line.
● Mention where you heard about the job (be specific).
● Position open until filled; applications reviewed on a rolling basis starting November 2025.
● Questions? Call 530.284.1022 or email jobs@sierrainstitute.us.