Seasonal Field Technician

The California Deer Association (CDA) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to enhance native deer and other wildlife populations across the state of California through habitat restoration projects. Land-use practices, climate change, and fire suppression over the last century have resulted in substantial degradation of critical forest and wetland habitats. CDA partners with private, local, state, and federal landowners to improve and restore conditions across several habitat types. Our restoration treatments address a variety of objectives, including restoring ecosystem structure and function, reducing hazardous fuel loads, removing encroaching conifer and invasive species, and mitigating post-wildfire impacts. Projects generally entail either hand or mechanized treatment, including but not limited to canopy thinning, understory thinning, mastication, and prescribed burning.

Description: The Seasonal Field Technician will report to the Field Crew Lead and will be responsible for performing timber sale preparation activities and unit layout across various project areas. This job will be primarily field based, with most of the work time spent at job sites performing duties including but not limited to delineating treatment boundaries, delineating avoidance areas, timber marking, timber cruising, and GPS data collection. This is a seasonal position working 40 hours per week on average but will depend on climatic conditions and project needs. The work will be performed in forested environments where terrain may be uneven, rocky, and covered with thick vegetation. Climatic conditions will range from extremely hot and dry to extremely cold and wet. Rain, snow, wind, or dust may be encountered. The work involves regular and recurring risks or discomforts that require safety precautions or the use of personal protective equipment such as boots, gloves, goggles, and hard hats. The CDA headquarters is based in Redding, California, but this is a field-based role and will require regular travel across Northern California. CDA is hiring multiple positions in this role to create a full seasonal field crew.

Essential job duties will include:

• Performing unit layout and other activities to prepare for project implementation.
• Performing field reconnaissance and data collection using the ESRI mobile GPS data collection application Field Maps.
• Performing timber sale preparation activities, which include tree identification, forest mensuration, boundary delineation, streamcourse classification, timber marking, timber cruising, and/or GPS data collection.
• A high level of physical fitness to hike long distances in uneven terrain and varying weather conditions (ability to hike up to 5-10 miles with a 30–40-pound pack daily).
• Driving long distances and navigating 4×4 drive roads.
• Regular overnight project travel, up to one week at a time. Possess skills suitable for working and camping in remote and rugged outdoor environments with variable weather, sometimes alone.
• Willingness to work flexible hours to accommodate field days when necessary. Other job duties as assigned by the Project Manager, Program Manager, or other management staff.

Required Qualifications:

• Understanding basic forestry principles and forest mensuration techniques.
• Ability to hike long distances across difficult terrain and in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• The ability to use a hand-held GPS device and data recording devices such as a tablet.
• Organizational and record keeping skills for regular progress updates.
• Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing. Ability to listen to safety and operational instructions.
• Equal ability to work independently and cooperatively as a team.

Preferred experience:

• 1-2 years of experience in a forestry related field.
• Working proficiency with GPS data collection systems, preferably ESRI Field Maps or Avenza Maps.
• Possess a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record, and experience 4×4 driving.
• Passionate for environmental conservation and restoration.
• Knowledge of USDA Forest Service timber sale prep protocols.
• Knowledge of Northern California wildlife and ecology.
• Wildland Firefighter Type 2 Red Card.