Crew Lead Position Announcment
(scroll down for Forest Resource Assistants posting)
Multiple openings: Crew Leads (Senior Forestry Technicians)
Berkeley Forests manages multiple forest research stations throughout the state. Assignments may be at any one of these sites, but most will be at Blodgett Forest in El Dorado County, CA with trips of varying lengths to other properties. Potential for significant portions of the season to be spent at Flatwoods Research Forest in Shasta County and/or Grouse Ridge Research Forest in Nevada County. Forestry-related research in areas of forest ecology, fire ecology, ecosystem processes, silviculture, and forest management are conducted throughout the Berkeley Forests’ properties. This position provides broad support for achieving the mission of facilitating research, demonstration, and education. They will work closely with professional forestry staff on forestry projects and supervise field crews of one to six people. Additional information on the properties and their function is available at forests.berkeley.edu/forests.
EMPLOYMENT DATES:
Seven to nine consecutive months, between April 2025 and December 2025 (start and end dates negotiable).
QUALIFICATIONS: A minimum of two seasons of fieldwork or coursework including field exercises covering the following:
- Fuels management, including prescribed burning and mechanical treatments
- Vegetation measurement techniques, including use of tree measurement tools
- Safe use and maintenance of chainsaws, brush cutters, pruners, and forestry hand tools
- Identification of common Sierra Nevada plants
- Analysis of data and report preparation
- Familiarity with spreadsheets, word processors, and forest vegetation simulators
- Supervising field crews and writing and carrying out field work protocols
This position is full-time, temporary. Applicants must be physically fit and capable of sustained physical work during all seasons of weather conditions. More than 75% of work is outdoors, and this position will aid in coordinating crew travel between properties including field work and camping.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: Assist with the following:
- General oversight of field crews and protocol implementation, including ensuring adherence to safety and equipment maintenance standards
- Field layout of research treatments related to fuel projects, including flagging and marking
- Field supervision of stand improvement practices, including pre-commercial thinning; hand, mechanical and chemical weeding; planting, and pruning
- Field supervision maintaining permanent forest and stream inventory system and regeneration plots, and helping with salvage operations and contractor oversight
- Survey property, plots, research, and fuel treatment boundaries, including use of Avenza and Global Positioning System equipment
- Assist various research studies with field work and project maintenance
- Analyze data and prepare technical documentation and reports
- Varying degrees of infrastructure maintenance
SALARY: Ranging from $22.64/hour to $27.06/hour
[On-site housing provided with an expectation to help with chores (cleanliness, firewood splitting, dump runs, etc.). Work schedule is normally 40 hours/week M-F but may be adjusted.]
CLOSING DATE: Applications accepted until filled.
TO APPLY: When applying submit resume, cover letter, and contact information of two references. Include description of work experience and/or relevant class experience. Submit application materials and any questions to Aidan Sullivan at aidangsullivan01@berkeley.edu. In the subject for the email, please label as ”2025 BF Crew Lead Application.”
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We offer a diverse working environment, competitive salaries, and comprehensive benefits.
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Forest Resource Assistants Position Announcment
Multiple openings: Forest Resource Assistants
Berkeley Forests manages multiple forest research stations throughout the state. Assignments may be at any one of these sites, but most will be at Blodgett Forest in El Dorado County, CA with trips of varying lengths to other properties. Potential for significant portions of the season to be spent at Flatwoods Research Forest in Shasta County, Grouse Ridge Research Forest in Nevada County, or Whitaker’s Forest in Tulare County (with work locations throughout the Southern Sierra). Forestry-related research in areas of forest ecology, fire ecology, ecosystem processes, silviculture, and forest management are conducted throughout the Berkeley Forests’ properties. These positions provide broad support for achieving the mission of facilitating research, demonstration, and education. A wide variety of work experience conducting both research and management
activities is provided under the supervision of multiple registered professional foresters. Additional information on these properties and their function is available at forests.berkeley.edu/forests.
EMPLOYMENT DATES:
11 to 15 consecutive weeks, between April 2025 and November 2025. Start and end date are negotiable, but applicant must be available May/early-June through early/mid-August at minimum. Term not to exceed 900 hours total.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Work experience or coursework including field exercises covering the following:
Required:
- Vegetation measurement techniques, including use of tree measurement tools.
- Identification of common Sierra Nevada plants.
- Field orientation/surveying including use of a compass and maps.
Preferred:
- Safe use and maintenance of chainsaws, brush cutters or pruners, and forestry hand tools.
- Operation of automatic four-wheel drive vehicles and valid Calif. Driver’s license.
- Use of field data loggers and computers to collect research-grade precision data.
These positions are full-time, temporary. Applicants must be physically fit, situationally aware, and capable of sustained physical work during summer forest weather conditions. More than 90% of work is outdoors and may include camping and travel between properties.
DUTIES:
This position may include assisting with a range of forestry, fuels, and research operations including:
- Resource monitoring program, including measurement of permanent vegetation plots, riparian plots, and post-fire areas.
- Various silviculture and ecology research studies with potential for student research opportunities.
- Aiding with preparation and implementation of pile and broadcast burns.
- Mechanical manipulation/removal of fuel including: chainsaw thinning and hand pile construction, pre-commercial thinning, herbicide application, roadside clearing, etc.
- Reforestation and stand improvement practices, including site prep, planting, thinning and pruning.
- Surveying of forest feature locations, including use of Avenza, GPS devices, and ArcGIS software.
- Work with low impact logging techniques and maintenance of roads, facilities, and equipment.
- Varying degrees of infrastructure maintenance
SALARY: $20.12/hour to $24.02/hour dependent on experience. On-site housing available. [On-site housing provided with an expectation to help with chores (cleanliness, firewood splitting, dump runs, etc.). Work schedule is normally 40 hours/week M-F but may be adjusted.]
CLOSING DATE: Accepting applications until they are filled
TO APPLY: When applying submit resume, cover letter, and contact information of two references. Include description of work experience and/or relevant class experience. Submit application materials and any questions to Aidan Sullivan at aidangsullivan01@berkeley.edu. In the subject for the email, please label as “2025 BF Application.”
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We offer a diverse working environment, competitive salaries, and comprehensive benefits.