Lead Forestry Technician Tahoe National Forest, American River Ranger District

Lead 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 1 lead forestry technician to contribute to the forestry department alongside Tahoe National Forest Staff.

For more information about ACE please visit our website.

Start Date: May 4th 2026 (05/04/2026)

Estimated End Date: November 13th 2026 (11/13/2026)

*a 16-week minimum commitment is required *

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 850000 acres of public land interspersed with 350000 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 1500 feet along the western boundary to over 9000 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 Lead Forestry Technician will lead 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 (75%): Flagging boundary marking GPS tracking and using silvicultural prescriptions to mark timber
• Timber Cruising (15%)
• Various Office Tasks (10%)

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:

• Monitors and leads prep crew in performing unit layout and marking and cruising of timber.
• Independently applies silvicultural prescriptions and marking guides to designate timber.
• Brings to the attention of responsible individuals situations on the ground that are inconsistent with guidelines. Acts as a certified timber cruiser and applies the instructions issued in cruise plans.
• Takes and records tree measurements and determines defects.
• Observes and reports areas of possible archeological significance and sightings of sensitive threatened or endangered wildlife species
• Determines and delineates harvest unit boundaries proper location of roads and maps units.
• Planning decisions and judgments made in this position affect long term timber management activities other resources and forest health.
• 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.

May include staying at barracks (during the work week) near Emigrant Gap due to the distance needed to travel to some work sites.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute 40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $1015/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 (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) 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 timber cruising 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

If you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications we want to hear from you!

Required:

• Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.
• 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 drivers license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request). Members must be 21 to drive due to ACEs insurance and liability requirements.
• 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.
• Members 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:

• 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.
• Responsible for establishing accomplishment priorities distributing the workload among employees and reporting on the progress of work.
• Working knowledge of forest practices and techniques including application of silvicultural prescriptions GPS maps environmental analysis reports and like guides in order to independently select harvest timber in a variety of stand conditions
• Working knowledge of measuring tree diameters and heights map reading compass use tree species identification obvious defect recognition and determination GPS-ing and the use of tools associated with timber cruising
• Knowledge of regularly used timber cruise computer programs for data collection
• Knowledge of other resource areas such as wildlife management or archaeology in order to recognize situations which require specific protection measures
• Proven leadership experience especially in regards to safety and conflict resolution

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 lbs.
• 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 work is performed primarily in a field environment. Field work often requires moderate to strenuous physical exertion including walking bending and climbing under adverse conditions for long periods of time Work in the forest environment involves considerable risk of falls due to uneven terrain risk of insect bites contact with poisonous plants etc. Work is conducted during conditions such as rain snow wind dust extreme heat and cold - hardhat boots gloves eye protection and possibly other safety equipment are required

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 ACEs 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 Project Director Al

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 or Service with ACE is based upon ability qualifications attitude and job-related factors. Every qualified employee member 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 age sex creed national origin pregnancy ancestry citizenship status genetic information veteran or military status physical or mental disability sexual orientation 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.

Required Experience:

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