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Vegetation Field Crew Technicians or Crew Leader

Employer
University of Vermont - Silviculture and Applied Forest Ecology Lab
Job Description, Responsibilities and Required Qualifications or Skills

Project: The University of Vermont, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources is seeking four(4) undergraduate field technicians and one(1) crew lead to assist on field studies examining the impacts of climate change and invasive species and associated adaptive forest management strategies on northern hardwood, mixedwood, spruce-fir, and fire-dependent forests in various locations across Vermont and New Hampshire. Field technicians would work with multidisciplinary teams of graduate students and scientists from the University of Vermont, U.S. Forest Service Northern Research Station, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dartmouth College, The Nature Conservancy, Vermont Land Trust, Vermont Forest Parks and Recreation, Green Mountain National Forest, and The Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science.

Crews will train with staff and state agency personnel to learn the data collection protocols, methods, and techniques. Following training, crews will be responsible for planning daily trips, maintaining equipment, traveling to and from field sites, and conducting field work. In addition to these responsibilities, the crew leader will also be responsible for managing a safe and inclusive work environment, relaying consistent communications between supervisor and field crew, and making decisions in the field for the crew.

Physical Demands 

Field-based roles typically involve data collection in remote locations with little to no cellular service. Crews will face challenging field conditions, including high temperatures, biting insects and heavy rainfall. Daily hikes of up to 5 miles while carrying up to 20 pounds will be required.

Primary responsibilities:

  • Establish long-term vegetation monitoring plots
  • Conduct forest inventory data collection, including overstory tree measurements, vegetation and regeneration surveys, coarse woody material assessments
  • Navigate to field plots using GPS and maps
  • Ensure accuracy and consistency in data collection and management
  • Collaborate with team members to support research goals
  • For Crew Lead, maintaining communication with supervisor while out in the field

 

Required Qualifications

  • Academic background in forestry, ecology or related fields
  • Strong knowledge of forest inventory techniques and tree species identification preferred
  • Physically capable of hiking and conducting daily field work in rough terrain in harsh environmental conditions (heat, rain, biting insects)
  • Crew lead applicants should have leadership experience and advanced field skills
  • Valid driver’s license required
Job Field:
Forestry
Job Type:
Seasonal, Temporary, Internship
Location Detail:
Location: Vermont and New Hampshire, housing provided at each field site, field vehicle provided
Start date: May 19th, 2025
End date: August 14th, 2025
Salary:
Anticipated hours: 13 weeks, 40 hours per week (Mon-Thurs, 10 hours days)
Compensation: $18-20 for crew members DOE, $20-22 for crew lead
Job Benefits:

Position Details

Supervision: Field Technicians will work primarily with their designated crew members, and occasionally with personnel from collaborating agencies and Silviculture and Forest Ecology lab members. 

Interested candidates should e-mail a single PDF with cover letter describing their background, qualifications and interests along with a résumé and two references with subject line "Veg Crew – Your Name" to Grace Smith(grace.smith@uvm.edu). Please indicate in your email if you would like to be considered for the Crew Leader position. Review will begin January 2025 on a rolling basis. Positions remain open until they are filled. All interviews will be conducted remotely using Microsoft Teams

Application Deadline:
Link to Full Job Posting:

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