Berkeley Forests is seeking crew members and leads for our seasonal field crews! All positions are full-time, paid, and temporary and will be based at Blodgett Forest or Whitaker's Forest with potential for travel throughout the state. These positions are a good fit for applicants interested in gaining a range of forestry management, data collection, and fuels treatment experience. Further details and how to apply below.
Employment Opportunity 1: Forest Resource Assistant - Multiple Openings
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 or based at 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 the properties and their function is available here.
EMPLOYMENT DATES:
11 to 15 consecutive weeks, between March 2024 and November 2024. Start and end date are negotiable, but applicant must be available May through start of August at minimum. Students graduating from Berkeley may be able to work later into fall (due to seasonal hiring policies and hour limits current Berkeley students have potential for longer hiring period).
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.
SALARY: $19.53/hour to $21.14/hour dependent on experience. On-site housing available.
CLOSING DATE: 02/16/2024, or until filled. Interviews will begin in late January.
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 Ariel Roughton at athomson@berkeley.edu.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
For more information about your rights as an applicant see: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster...
For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct
Employment Opportunity 2: Crew Lead (Senior Agricultural Technician) – Multiple Openings
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 or based at 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. 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 here.
EMPLOYMENT DATES:
Seven to nine consecutive months, between April 2024 and December 2024 (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 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:
- 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
SALARY: Starting at $21.98/hour.
On-site housing may be rented. Work schedule is normally 40 hours/week M-F, but may be adjusted.
CLOSING DATE: 02/16/2024, or until filled. Interviews will begin in late January.
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 Ariel Roughton at athomson@berkeley.edu.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
For more information about your rights as an applicant see: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster...
For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct