Lead Forestry Team Member, Tahoe National Forest, Yuba District

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with US Forest Service, is seeking 2 Lead Forestry Team Members to contribute to the forestry program alongside Tahoe National Forest Staff. This opportunity is intended for enthusiastic professionals, with a deep interest in advancing their career goals in natural resource management and conservation.

For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.

Start Date: 05/15/2023

Estimated End Date: 12/22/2023 *a 32-week minimum commitment is required * tentative weather dependent

Location Details/Description: Nevada City, CA - Yuba River Ranger District

The Tahoe National Forest is located in the northern Sierra Nevada (east of Sacramento) and extends from the foothills across the Sierra crest to the California state line. It includes over 850,000 acres of public land interspersed with 350,000 acres of private land in a checkerboard ownership pattern. Rivers, snow-capped peaks and dense forests offer outstanding recreation year-round. A complex set of ecosystems are found as the terrain ascends from 1,500 feet along the western boundary to over 9,000 feet along the crest. The forest provides a variety of resources and opportunities and is managed by the Forest Service.

For more information about Tahoe National Forest, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe/

Position Overview: The ACE Member will lead a small marking crew performing a variety of timber sale preparation (TSP) duties that include-but are not limited to-timber marking, timber cruising, and sale layout of both ground and aerial systems as part of the forest health partnership.

Field work often requires moderate to strenuous physical exertion, including walking, bending, and climbing under adverse conditions for long periods of time. Potential risk of falls due to uneven terrain, risk of insect bites, contact with poisonous plants, etc. Duties will be conducted during conditions such as rain, snow, wind, dust, extreme heat and cold. Hardhat, gloves, and other safety equipment are provided.

Project Objectives:

• Monitors and leads prep crew in performing unit layout and marking and cruising of timber
• Independently applies silvicultural prescriptions and marking guides to designate harvest timber
• Brings to the attention of responsible individuals, situations on the ground that are inconsistent with guidelines Acts as a certified timber cruiser and applies the instructions issued in cruise plans.
• Takes and records tree measurements, assesses quality, and determines defects.
• Prepares cruise data for processing.
• Observes and reports areas of possible archeological significance, and sightings of sensitive, threatened or endangered wildlife species
• Determines and delineates harvest unit boundaries, proper location of roads, and maps site area
• Planning, decisions, and judgments made in this position affect long term timber management activities, other resources, and the forest health agreement/contract
• Accuracy of the work affects the quality of residual resource values such as timber stands, visual quality, water quality, and all resources related to timber harvest

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule: The typical week consists of 4/10s, Monday-Thursday from 0700-1730. Occasional Fridays, if necessary, may be needed. Potential to camp during the week for 3 nights/week as needed.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $840/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general information online here.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE. However, housing may be available in government barracks at a daily rate of approximately $10-20/day by the Forest. Housing assistance of up to $250/week will be available. Local candidates are encouraged to apply

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific USFS training may include Region 5 Basic Qualified Cruiser Certification.

Qualifications

This opportunity is intended for enthusiastic professionals, with a deep interest in advancing their career goals in natural resource management and conservation. Applicants with a degree (M.S. or B.S) in Forestry or Environmental Science and an interest in a career in public lands management are strongly encouraged to apply.

ACE Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required two-part criminal history check.
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members must verify that they are fully vaccinated for Covid-19 or have requested and been granted a medical or religious exemption to vaccination by the time they start their term.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website here.

USFS:

• Responsible for establishing accomplishment priorities, distributing the workload among employees, and reporting on the progress of work.
• Working knowledge of forest practices and techniques, including application of silvicultural prescriptions, GPS, maps, environmental analysis reports, and like guides in order to independently select harvest timber in a variety of stand conditions
• Working knowledge of measuring tree diameters and heights, map reading, compass use, tree species identification, obvious defect recognition and determination, GPS-ing, and the use of tools associated with timber cruising
• Knowledge of regularly used timber cruise computer programs for data collection
• Knowledge of other resource areas, such as wildlife management or archaeology, in order to recognize situations which require specific protection measures
• The work is performed primarily in a field environment. Field work often requires moderate to strenuous physical exertion, including walking, bending, and climbing under adverse conditions for long periods of time
• Work in the forest environment involves considerable risk of falls due to uneven terrain, risk of insect bites, contact with poisonous plants, etc. Work is conducted during conditions such as rain, snow, wind, dust, extreme heat and cold - hardhat, boots, gloves, and possibly other safety equipment are required

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing any degree in Natural Resources, Forestry, Environmental Science, Biology, etc. And/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as Natural Resources, Forestry, Environmental Science, Biology, etc.
• Ability and willingness to learn and implement the skills on a variety of forestry tasks not limited to boundary marking, tree marking, and sale layout.
• Deep interest in the outdoors and working outside.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to the online application page for this position here: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/. Early consideration will be given as resumes are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact Member Manager, Celia Demers at cdemers@usaconservation.org

EEO: American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

Current Openings for Lead Forestry Team Member, Tahoe National Forest, Yuba District Jobs at American Conservation Experience - EPIC