Lead Collaborative Forestry Technician

POSITION TITLE: Lead Collaborative Forestry Technician

LOCATION: On Site, Taylorsville, CA - with project work in Plumas and Lassen counties
EMPLOYMENT TYPE: [ ] Full-Time [ ] Part-Time [X] Temporary
SEASON DATES: May - November 2026 (season dependent on weather conditions; start/end dates may be flexible for those with scheduling conflicts)

POSITION OVERVIEW
The Sierra Institute for Community and Environment (Sierra Institute) is hiring one Lead Collaborative Forestry Technician to serve as a crew lead for a Collaborative Forestry Crew. This is a temporary full time position working 40 hours a week.. The Lead Forestry Technician will lead the crew in performing forestry work necessary to advance critical timber management and 
restoration treatment on public and  private  lands.  Technicians  may  work  on  various  projects being  advanced  by  Sierra  Institute  in collaboration   with   diverse  partners   (USFS,  NPS,   private  landowners,   etc.).   Work   will  include  unit boundary marking, GPSing unit boundaries, marking and cruising timber, and delineating boundaries of hand thinning units. The Lead Forestry Technician will operate under the direction of SI office support staff  and  with  
guidance  from  project  partners.  Work  objectives  will  be  derived  from treatment  and management goals and will follow prescriptions developed for specific project areas. The Collaborative Forestry Crew will be expected to spend a small portion of their time contributing to empowering the next generation of natural resource stewards through sharing forestry knowledge with Sierra Institute’s high school youth corps members. Collaborative Forestry Technicians may also assist as needed with other tasks necessary to advancing collaborative restoration priorities. This is a unique opportunity to  advance  pivotal  collaborative  forest  and  watershed  restoration  projects  that  aim  to  protect rural communities from catastrophic wildfire and restore the unique landscapes of the northern Sierra and southern Cascades.

The Lead Technician will advance their knowledge of Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer forest ecosystems, technical  forestry,  and  collaborative  forest  management  processes  as  well  as  standard  procedures and practices employed in federal and private lands projects. The Lead Forestry Technician will lead the Collaborative Forestry Crew in assessing progress towards objectives, monitoring/mitigating safety concerns in the field, and creating a collaborative work environment that encourages professionalism, learning, and efficiency. The Collaborative Forestry Crew will receive project-specific training on tree- species identification, marking, methodology,  standard, cruising, methods,  and forest pathology/demography. The Lead  Forestry Technician  will provide  on-the-job training and guidance to the members of the Collaborative Forestry Crew. Depending on the availability of US Forest Service staff, the crew may have  the opportunity to  test for the  USFS  Region  5 timber cruising certification. Wilderness First Aid and S-212 chainsaw certification training will also be provided.
The  Lead  Technician  must  be  organized,  open  to  learning,  and  possess  the  ability  to  motivate  and support  their fellow  Crew  Members, and  be  willing  to work  hard  in  a  physically demanding  role.  This position  requires  hiking while carrying a heavy pack  and paint and mitigating known  
and unforeseen hazards such as smoke, heat, and strong wind. This crew will utilize a 4/10 work schedule consisting of four 10-hour days followed by three days off.

We invite all interested parties to apply including those belonging to Tribal communities, women, POC, and LGBTQ+ persons.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
●     Ensuring that silvicultural prescriptions, cruising guides, and other instructions are accurately and effectively implemented by the Collaborative Forestry Crew
●     Crew field safety and hazard mitigation - leading tailgate safety meetings, tracking stock of PPE, preventative maintenance checks on crew vehicles
●     Managing organization of the Collaborative Forestry Crew - preparedness, punctuality, performance, pace of work, keeping track of equipment furnished by SI or USFS
●     Communication with the supervisor about any issues with crew personnel, safety, etc.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

Required Qualifications:

●   Minimum   of   12-months   combined   field   experience   in   forest   or   other   natural  resource management,  this  may  include  but  is  not  limited  to  corps  work,  wildland  fire,  research  and survey work within the environmental field, land conservation, etc.;
● Minimum of 6-months leading others in carrying out the above;
● Experience towards a degree or certificate in Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Ecological Restoration or related field(s), OR equivalent work experience in forestry or conservation (e.g. timber marking, logging, wildland firefighting, botany, wildlife, etc.);
● Experience with standard forestry field techniques, timber marking/cruising, and ecology and natural systems of the Sierra Nevada;
● Ability to use compasses, topographic maps, and handheld GPS units or tablets to navigate and collect data in the field;
● Ability to track and report project accomplishments;
● Good physical conditioning to work and walk in the forest all day carrying day-packs with equipment during all types of weather;
● 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;
● 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:

● Experience working as part of a field crew or team, experience with safety management, and experience collecting and managing field data;
● Familiarity with mixed conifer forests and the ability to identify common tree species in the northern Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades;
● USFS Qualified Cruiser certification;
● Bachelor’s degree, Associates degree, or professional certificate in Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Ecological Restoration or related field(s);
●     Current first aid or wilderness medical training certification (e.g., WFA, WFR, or WEMT).

Skills or experiences that can fill in for qualifications will be considered.

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This is a field-based position that entails hiking and working primarily outdoors. Suitable candidates should be able to hike several miles with a heavy pack, as the forestry crew is often carrying around marking paint and forestry tools in addition to water and food. This position requires the ability to recognize and mitigate safety hazards in the field and adapt to inclement weather conditions (heat, smoke, thunderstorms, etc.). This position involves chainsaw training and 
operation, and the ability to lift up to 50 lbs is recommended.

APPLICATION PROCESS
●     Send cover letter, resume, and three references as one PDF to jobs@sierrainstitute.us. Use “Lead Collaborative Forestry Technician” as the subject line.
●     Mention where you heard about the job (be specific).

●     Position open until filled; applications reviewed on a rolling basis starting December 29, 2025.
●     Questions? Call 530.284.1022 or email jobs@sierrainstitute.us.