Deadline: Mon, 05/22/2023 - 12:00pm Employer: The Great Basin Institute Job Field: Forestry Job Type: Seasonal, Temporary, Internship Location: California Location Detail: Susanville Job Description: The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the USFS, is recruiting Forestry Technicians to perform timber sale-preparation, vegetation management and restoration projects in the Sierra Nevada region. These projects all serve the Basin & Range Forestry program’s greater mission of helping the USFS in their critical goal of improving forest resilience in the face of worsening climate conditions and increased wildfire threats. The work that you will do directly improves the quality of these forests helping ensure they continue to thrive for generations to come. Technicians will serve vegetation management and fuels reduction efforts, supporting initiatives for healthy, productive, and resilient forest landscapes and resources. Project work may include post fire recovery efforts. AmeriCorps Forestry Technicians will perform a wide variety of activities to support all stages of project work. Forestry duties may include, but are not limited to: Timber sale unit boundary delineation and layout (GPSing, flagging, painting); Tree species identification; Green and salvage timber marking and cruising; General silviculture data collection; Maintain field supplies; Following directions of crew lead; and Navigate to plots using GPS and/or topo map. All procedures will be performed in compliance with silvicultural prescriptions based on forest and treatment type and land management goals. Data will be gathered using standard instruments, direct measurements, general observations and on-site inspections. Project-specific training will be provided on tree-species identification, GPS data collection, tree marking, hydrology, entomology/pathology, heritage, fire/fuels and other elements. Prior experience in basic GIS skills, GPS data collection, tree-species identification, timber marking and cruising, identifying hydrologic concerns, recognizing forest entomology/pathology issues, identifying heritage sites and experience with fire/fuels assessments or related field tasks is preferred. Qualifications: At least one of the following: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in forestry (preferred), natural resource management or related field, with coursework and experience that demonstrate understanding of the principles of forestry; Six months of professional fieldwork experience. Other: Capacity to collect and maintain field data in an organized manner that is easily understood and accessible to other resources staff; Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with a diverse audience; Ability to navigate and collect data using handheld GPS units; Experience using a compass and topographic map to navigate; Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license; Ability to live and work in rural and remote field and office setting; Physically fit to work outdoors, carry up to 50 pounds of personal and/or field equipment, and withstand the rigors of a forested and/or high desert environment in all seasons. Meet AmeriCorps eligibility requirements: (1) U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status, (2) eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award (limit of four in a lifetime or the equivalent of two full-time education awards), (3) pass National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and federal criminal background checks, (4) adhere to the rules, regulations and code of conduct as specified in the Member Service Agreement; and (5) not engage in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement. Preferred: Familiarity with cruising and marking techniques; Familiarity with, and interest in, resource management issues of western states and the ecology of the Sierra Nevada ecoregion; Familiarity with the mixed conifer forests typical of eastern California, including common plants (woody and herbaceous), wildlife, geology and topography; Ability to safely operate and maintain a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads; Ability to understand, implement and adhere to established data collection, inventory, assessment and monitoring protocols; Experience using ArcGIS to create maps is a plus. Miscellaneous: Start and end dates may vary according to local conditions and individual projects: Tentatively June-November. Projects are weather dependent and there is always a chance the season will end earlier if weather prevents safe field operations. Salary: ~$1680 biweekly living allowance Benefits: - Crew Members in these AmeriCorps positions will receive a living allowance, the value of which is dependent on the length of service. The living allowance is a fixed amount, not an hourly wage or a salary. The allowance is paid to members in bi-weekly installments throughout their term of service. Upon successful completion of AmeriCorps service, members become eligible for an education award (the amount is dependent on the length of service) The award may be used for past, present, or future educational expenses, including payment of qualifying federal student loans and Title IV accredited college tuition. • Living Allowance: ~$1400 bi weekly living allowance + ~ $35 field per diem = Total of ~$1,680 bi weekly • Education Awards: o 900-hour term – $3,247.50 o 675-hour term – $2,474.27 - Student Loan Forbearance: If you are currently paying on any federal student loans, you have the option to put those loans into forbearance during your time as an AmeriCorps volunteer, allowing you to cease payments while in service. - Interest Accrual Repayment: As an AmeriCorps alumnus, you will be eligible to have the National Service Trust pay all or a portion of the interest that accumulated on your qualified student loan(s) during your term of service. These payments are made in addition to the Education Award, and are not deducted from your Education Award balance. To be eligible for this service, the loan must have been placed in forbearance for the service period, and you must have successfully completed a term of service and received an Education Award. - Health, Dental, Vision Insurance premiums are covered 100% by GBI, ~$350/month. Available on the first day of the month following the start of employment. - Shared housing provided! Saving you ~$1200/month. - Camping Per Diem: $15/night as necessary. - Uniform Stipend How to Apply: https://www.vscyberhosting.com/greatbasin/careers.aspx?rf=WSF&req=2023-BRF-030
