Job Type: Full-time, on-site, seasonal
Location: University of California, Berkeley
Salary: Minimum $27/hour
Description:
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 Research Station 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. 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 3 to 7 people. Additional information on the properties and their function is available at forests.berkeley.edu/forests.
EMPLOYMENT DATES: Five to nine consecutive months, between April 2025 and December 2025 (specific start and end dates negotiable).
This position is full-time, temporary. Applicants must be physically fit and capable of sustained physical work during all seasons of weather conditions in rugged terrain. More than 75% of work is outdoors, and this position will include coordinating crew travel between properties including field work and camping. Work sites may be steep and dense, and there is a potential for encountering poison oak and hornets/bees.
On-site housing at Blodgett Forest Research Station is provided with an expectation to help with chores (cleanliness, building maintenance, dump runs, etc.). Work schedule is typically 40 hours/week M-F but may be adjusted.
Applications accepted until filled. Interviews to start late January/February.
Job Duties:
Supervision of field crew and sampling protocol implementation, including ensuring adherence to safety and equipment maintenance standards during all projects
Organizing field data and preparing technical documentation and reports
Field layout of research treatments related to fuel projects and timber harvests, including flagging and timber marking
Directing stand improvement practices, including pre-commercial thinning; hand, mechanical and chemical weeding; planting; and pruning
Completing field work and project maintenance for various research studies
Surveying and collecting GIS data for property boundaries, inventory/research plots, and project areas, using Avenza and Global Positioning System equipment
Field supervision maintaining permanent forest and stream inventory system and regeneration plots, and helping with salvage operations and contractor oversight
Varying degrees of infrastructure maintenance
Qualifications:
A minimum of two seasons of fieldwork or coursework including field exercises covering the following:
Supervising field crews while carrying out field work protocols
Vegetation measurement techniques, including use of tree measurement tools and forest mensuration
Safe use and maintenance of chainsaws, brush cutters, pruners, and forestry hand tools
Identificaton of common Sierra Nevada plants
Organization and analysis of data and report preparation
Familiarity with spreadsheets, word processors, and forest vegetation simulators
Fuels management, including prescribed burning and both mechanical and treatments
