Forest Technician

Forest Technician Elkins Enterprises LLC Salt Lake City, UT Job Details Temporary | Full-time | Contract $23 - $35 an hour 1 day ago Benefits Mileage reimbursement Dental insurance Flexible schedule Qualifications Computer operation Forestry Outdoor work English GPS Ecology Data collection Forestry Associate's degree Ecosystem management Full Job Description Job Summary If you are the type of person who wants a chance to explore the west and get paid to do it, this job is for you. You will travel to remote locations to install or remeasure established Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) surveys (plots). Successful candidates will have the opportunity to camp, day hike, and backpack across the entire state of Utah on public and private lands. This is seasonal work that typically runs from May through mid-November. During your first season, you will train with a certified crew leader to learn FIA protocol and how to successfully operate in the back country. By your second season, you will be ready for certification as a Forestry Technician Crew Leader and a commensurate increase in pay. Strong candidates will likely be ready for certification sometime in the second half of this season. After you become certified, you will be able to work on your own, at your own pace, and on your schedule. Minimum time requirements are measured in plots per month. Fully certified crew leaders are expected to measure at least twenty plots per month or one-hundred plots per season. See below for a description of our company, the FIA program, applicant requirements, and pay. Our Company Elkins Enterprises LLC contracts with the USDA Forest Service to measure FIA plots across the western United States. Our leadership has a combined sixteen years of experience in the FIA program and has operated across much of the west to include Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming.

FIA Program Purpose:

The FIA Program collects, analyzes, and reports information on the status and trends of America's forests: how much forestland exists, where it exists, who owns it, how it is changing, as well as how many trees and other forest vegetation are growing and how much had died or been removed in recent years. This information can be used in many ways such as; evaluating wildlife habitat conditions, assessing the sustainability of ecosystem management practices, and supporting planning and decision-making activities undertaken by public and private enterprises. The FIA Program combines this information with related data on insects and diseases, and other types of forest damages and stressors to assess the health, condition, and potential risks to forests.

Summary of FIA field methods:

We gather quantitative and qualitative measurements on all forested plots that describe:

• Tree diameter, length, damages, amount of rotten or missing wood, and tree quality
• Tree regeneration
• Site quality information
• Percent cover of forested land
• Land use and landscape changes
• Stand characteristics such as forest type, stand age, and disturbances (natural and human caused)
• Estimates of tree growth, mortality, and tree removal
• Measurements in the amount of course and fine wood for carbon estimates and soil erosion potential
• Vegetation structure and potential wildlife habitat Requirements Completion of two years in a Forestry, Botany, or Plant Ecology degree program.

Must be physically capable of hiking long distance on and off trail through steep, rugged terrain. Must be comfortable with extended deployments to remote areas which will require the candidate to camp and backpack. Candidates must have a decent sense of direction and an ability to learn how to use navigational tools (maps and GPS). Must have a dependable, high-clearance 4X4 vehicle and the means to maintain it. Candidates will be paid a mileage stipend to cover the costs of maintenance and fuel. Candidate must be comfortable operating a personal data recorder, personal computer, and all software necessary for post-processing of data. Responsibilities Access survey sites through a variety of means to include the use of 4X4 vehicles. Survey sites exist across the state of Utah and may require short or very long walk-ins across varying terrain of varying difficulty. Properly and accurately measure FIA plots, post-process plot data, and submit to the national database. Coordinate with forest service officials, public land liaisons, and private landowners in a courteous and professional manner. Pay Ranges from $23 to $35 an hour (depending on experience) with overtime and double time. Hours are unlimited.

Mileage Reimbursement:

Standard IRS rate of 72.5 cents per mile when operating on the job site (tax exempt). A nightly per diem allowance of $35 per night spent in the field (tax exempt). Reimbursement of all agreed upon expenses. Potential for employee health and dental in the future. Opportunity to convert to subcontractor status under which you will be paid by the plot. Particularly efficient and motivated individuals can make between $400 and $1000 per day as a subcontractor.

Pay:

$23.00 - $35.00 per hour

Benefits:

Flexible schedule

Education:

Associate (Required)

Experience:

Forestry, Botany, Plant ecology surveying: 1 year (Preferred)

Language:

English (Required) Ability to

Commute:

Salt Lake City, UT 84116 (Required)

Work Location:

In person