Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Data Collection Team

About the positions: 

These are temporary positions (not to exceed 1039 hours), and the duration of work is expected to be ~6 months in length. Targeted start date is June 18, and the positions are likely to run through the end of October. 

The positions are with the Data Collection Team of the PNW Research Station’s Resource Monitoring and Assessment (RMA) Program, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) unit. The FIA unit is part of a nationwide program which collects, processes, analyzes, evaluates, and publishes comprehensive information on forest and other related renewable resources. Administration for this Data Collection team is located in Portland, Oregon and field crews are remotely stationed throughout Washington, Oregon and California. 

These positions will support work sampling field plots located on a systematic grid across all landownerships and will be almost entirely field based.  A wide variety of information is collected in the inventory including tree measurements; forest pathogens, understory vegetation composition and structure, stand treatments and disturbances, down woody material measurements, and land ownership.   

Crew members work under the direction of a local crew leader and work alongside one to three people.  Crews will use maps, aerial photos, and GPS units to navigate to permanent plot locations.  Measurements taken by crews include tree/sapling/seedling data (species, diameter, height, defect, insect & disease, damage, etc.); understory vegetation (shrub, herb, grass species and percent cover, etc.); down woody material (line transects, litter depth, and fuels measurement, etc.); and site index and site attributes (site tree selection, slope, aspect, topographic position, distance to water, etc.).  Crews use portable, handheld computers to collect data in the field and then process the data later using laptop computers to address any inconsistencies or errors. 

Each crew travels frequently and independently within their duty station area.  Crews can expect to travel away from home for a significant portion of the field season (40-75% dependent on duty location).  Travel will sometimes involve week-long trips while other times crews may need to spend a month away from home.  During travel periods, crews will change locations about weekly.  Lodging is generally in motel/hotels and car camping, with occasional backpacking required. Individuals will be reimbursed for incurred lodging expenses and travel per diem.  

In all areas work conditions are arduous, requiring regular and recurring physical exertion. In many locations, workdays can exceed 10 hours and frequent overtime may be required. Work may be performed in inclement weather (cold, heat, rain, snow) and on rugged, steep, slippery, and/or brushy slopes.  Significant amounts of on-trail and off-trail hiking are required.  Crew Members must carry a 45lb pack daily, with pack weights sometimes exceeding 60lbs.  Exposure to hazards such as poison oak, bears, and insects is common. 

Urban FIA: 

In addition to these positions, we are outreaching for a 1039 based in Portland, OR whose work will primarily focus on inventorying Urban forested communities in the cities of Portland, OR and San Diego, CA. This work includes extensive landowner outreach and communication, and familiarity with ornamental flora is strongly preferred but not required. The position will start and be based in Portland, with the expectation to work ~2 months in continuous travel status in San Diego. Interested candidates should select “Urban – Portland, OR” as their preferred duty location.