Forestry Technician - Tahoe National Forest, American River Ranger District

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the US Forest Service is seeking 3 Forestry Technicians to contribute to timber survey projects alongside Tahoe National Forest Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: May 19, 2025 (05/19/2025)

Estimated End Date: October 10, 2025 (10/10/2025)

Location Details/Description: American River Ranger District (Foresthill, California)

The Tahoe National Forest is located in the northern Sierra Nevada (east of Sacramento) and extends from the foothills across the Sierra crest to the California state line. It includes over 850,000 acres of public land interspersed with 350,000 acres of private land in a checkerboard ownership pattern. Rivers, snow-capped peaks and dense forests offer outstanding recreation year-round. A complex set of ecosystems are found as the terrain ascends from 1,500 feet along the western boundary to over 9,000 feet along the crest. The forest provides a variety of resources and opportunities and is managed by the Forest Service.

The American River Ranger District is located in Foresthill, California. Foresthill is a beautiful mountain community, located 17 miles east of Auburn and Interstate 80. Foresthill is surrounded on the south and west by the Auburn State Recreation Area, on the north by BLM lands, and on the east by National Forest. The American River Ranger District is distinguished with a portion of Granite Chief Wilderness, the North Fork American Wild River and Placer County Big Trees (northernmost grove of Giant Sequoias).

For more information about the American River Ranger District, please visit the Tahoe National Forest website.

Position Overview: The ACE Forestry Technicians will be part of a small marking crew performing a variety of timber sale preparation (TSP) duties that include-but are not limited to-timber marking, timber cruising, and sale layout of both ground and aerial systems as part of the forest health partnership.

Breakdown:

• Timber Sale Layout (85%): Flagging, boundary marking, GPS tracking, and using silvicultural prescriptions to mark timber.
• Timber Cruising (10%)
• Various Office Tasks (5%)

Field work often requires moderate to strenuous physical exertion, including walking, bending, and climbing under adverse conditions for long periods of time. Potential risk of falls due to uneven terrain, risk of insect bites, contact with poisonous plants, etc. Duties will be conducted during conditions such as rain, snow, wind, dust, extreme heat and cold. Hardhat, gloves, and other safety equipment are provided.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Project Objectives:

• Either independently or with guidance, applies silvicultural prescriptions and marking guides to designate harvest timber.
• Brings to the attention of responsible individuals, situations on the ground that are inconsistent with guidelines.
• Either as a certified timber cruiser or under the supervision of a certified timber cruiser, applies the instructions issued in a cruise plan. Takes and records tree measurements, assesses quality, and determines defect. Prepares cruise data for processing.
• Observes and reports areas of possible archeological significance, and sightings of sensitive, threatened or endangered wildlife species.
• GPS's harvest unit boundaries and determines site area.
• Planning, decisions, and judgments made in this position affect long term timber management activities, other resources, and the forest health agreement/contract.
• Accuracy of the work affects the quality of residual resource values such as timber stands, visual quality, water quality, and all resources related to timber harvest.

Schedule: Monday - Thursday, 7:00am-5:30pm. Occasional Fridays, if necessary.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of 806.28-891/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE. However, housing may be available at a daily bunk rate of approximately $7-20 per day by the Forest. Barracks housing provided by the Forest is typically located 5 minutes from the daily reporting location and are typically in remote locations with limited connectivity. A Housing Allowance of up to $280/week will be available. Local candidates are encouraged to apply.

Gear Allowance: New ACE members will have up to $500 to spend on eligible gear purchases, and returning members or FS employees will have up to $250. Eligible gear for this position may include boots, work pants, hiking socks, and must be approved by ACE and Forest Service staff prior to purchase.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific training may include Qualified Cruiser, Insects & Diseases, and Wilderness First Aid. ACE members will have up to $500 to spend on eligible training/professional development opportunities, which must be approved by ACE and Forest Service staff prior to purchase.

Qualifications

ACE values an inclusive workforce - if you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website located on our Indeed homepage.

Preferred:

• Taken introductory courses in forestry
• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing any degree in Natural Resources, Forestry, Environmental Science, Biology, etc. And/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as Natural Resources, Forestry, Environmental Science, Biology, etc.
• Ability and willingness to learn and implement the skills on a variety of forestry tasks not limited to boundary marking, tree marking, and sale layout.
• Interest in the outdoors and working outside.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain, and camp overnight under field conditions.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 30 lbs., ability to move up to 50 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates. If indoors, office environment conditions; indoor air quality is good and temperature is controlled.
• Noise Environment: Occasional moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools. Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position may require domestic travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members or resources. Specific hazards include bees/stinging insects, and beetle-killed and/or fire-killed trees.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the Forest Service or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the Forest Service. ACE members may, if they possess or obtain certification and training required by the State of California and the U.S. Forest service, operate a gas or electric powered chainsaw to remove dead and downed trees obstructing work areas as permitted by their qualifications and comfort. Members may be asked to remove dead or downed trees or limbs from work areas using a non-powered saw. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the Forest Service, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to Forest Service and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to ACE's online application page for this position on our website. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact Tahoe NF Project Manager, Al Richert. Her contact information can be found on ACE's staff page.

ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

EEO: Employment with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment, hire, training, transfer, promotion, compensation, demotion, termination, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information (including of a family member), veteran or military status, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, medical condition, marital or parental status, political affiliation, ethnicity, hair texture or style, arrest record, caste, hereditary status, endogamy, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.

Salary : $7 - $20