Collaborative Forestry Technician

POSITION TITLE: 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 Collaborative Forestry Technicians   to   perform   forestry   work   necessary   to advance   critical  timber   management   and restoration  treatments  on  public and  private  lands.  This  is  a  temporary  position  working  40  hours  a week.   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. Forestry Technicians 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 necessary 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.

Forestry Technicians 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 the federal and private lands projects. Forestry Technicians 
will help assess progress towards objectives, monitor/mitigate safety concerns in the field, and create a collaborative work environment that encourages professionalism, learning, and efficiency. They will receive project- specific training on tree-species identification, marking methodology, 
standard cruising methods, and forest pathology/demography. 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.
Forestry Technicians must be organized, open to learning, possess the ability to motivate and support their coworkers and be willing to work hard in a physically demanding role. This position requires hiking while carrying a heavy pack and paint while mitigating known and unforeseen hazards such as smoke, heat, cold, and  strong  wind.  This  position  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
●     Implementation of silvicultural prescriptions, cruising guides, and other project-specific instructions
●     Collaboration and communication with the forestry crew, SI staff, and project partners
●     Maintain a positive attitude and strong pace of work under the leadership of the Lead Collaborative Forestry Technician(s)
●     Taking good care of equipment (cruising tools, marking paint, etc.) furnished by SI or USFS

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS
Required Qualifications:

● Progress 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.);
● Familiarity with compasses, topographic maps, and handheld GPS units or tablets to navigate and collect data in the field;
● Interest in learning the ecology and natural systems of the Sierra Nevada and utilizing standard forestry field techniques to advance forest restoration projects;
● 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 fellow staff 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 with standard forestry field techniques, timber marking/ cruising;
● 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;
● 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, 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 “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.