Enter a job title or keyword

Hydrology Crew Lead (Mendocino National Forest)


Job Location:

Willows, CA - USA

Hourly Salary: $ 26 - 26
Posted: 1 July 2026 (30+ days ago)
Application Deadline: 28 September 2026
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Description

The Great Basin Institute (GBI) in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service is recruiting a Hydrology Crew Lead to supervise field operations and support resource management projects on the Mendocino National Forest Grindstone Ranger District (Willows CA). The Crew Lead will oversee a team of Hydrology Technicians coordinate field surveys manage project layout and provide technical guidance to ensure that all work meets program goals for protecting water quality and its associated beneficial uses. This role provides opportunities to gain hands-on experience in resource management and leadership including participating in land management planning and implementation applying hydrologic evaluation techniques and procedures to identify management opportunities developing management prescriptions aimed at protecting or enhancing water resources and overseeing standard administrative procedures associated with project documentation reporting and team coordination.

A Temporary Special Assignment (TSA) employee is hired for a specific temporary assignment external to the Institutes administrative operations with one of GBIs partners. TSA assignments may be for less than or greater than 52 weeks and employees may work full-time defined as 30 or more hours per week or part-time defined as less than 30 hours per week.

Essential Job Functions may include the following:

  • Supervise and coordinate a team of Hydrology Technicians during field operations.
  • Conduct and oversee water resource inventories.
  • Map hydrologic features including streams springs meadows and riparian habitats.
  • Perform and supervise road surveys to identify sediment sources and water quality impacts.
  • Evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of the Best Management Practices (BMP) Program on several projects ranging from trails to vegetation management.
  • Conduct in-channel monitoring using modified Stream Condition Inventory (SCI) protocols.
  • Ensure accurate data collection and adherence to monitoring protocols.
  • Train and mentor technicians on field procedures safety and data quality standards.
  • Manage field equipment setup maintenance and troubleshooting.
  • Coordinate field schedules logistics and workflow for the crew.
  • Communicate project progress technical findings and compliance information with USFS and GBI staff.
  • Conduct fieldwork in remote forest locations which may require overnight stays.

LOCATION

Mendocino National Forest Supervisors Office Willows CA The North Coast Ranges of California are a section of the Pacific Coast Ranges of western North America which run parallel to the Pacific Coast from north of San Francisco Bay to the South Fork Mountains of northern Humboldt County. The Klamath-Siskiyou Ranges lie to the north and the Southern Coast Ranges continue south of San Francisco Bay. The North Coast Ranges run north-south parallel to the coast and include the King Range of Humboldt County where the coastal mountains meet the sea dramatically on what is called California#39;s Lost Coast. Component ranges within the North Coast Ranges include the Mendocino Range and the Mayacamas Sonoma and Vaca Mountains and the Marin Hills of the North Bay.

WORK SCHEDULE

Hydrology positions for the Mendocino National Forest projects will begin in May and continue into October with surveys and assessment work conducted throughout the season. Hydrology Crew Technician positions follow a 10-hour day 4-day-per-week schedule

Temporary Special Assignment (TSA) employees are eligible to receive holiday pay if approved by the project partner. TSA holiday schedules will comply with the project partners schedule unless otherwise specified in the employment offer. TSAs working five 8-hour days per week will be paid 8 hours for all holidays and TSAs working four 10-hour days per week will be paid 10 hours for all holidays. Other approved workweek configurations may also be accommodated with banked holiday hours

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Wage: $26/hour with overtime at 1.5x hourly rate. Full time average 40 hours per week. Shared housing addition to a competitive base salary this full-time onsite position includes company-paid comprehensive medical dental (with option to upgrade in coverage) and vision insurance as well as $25000 Life/AD&D policy. Voluntary short-term and long-term disability policies are available and voluntary Life/AD&D policies for family members. Mental health support resources are employer provided competitive PTO accrual and paid holidays. This exciting role contributes to GBIs significant positive impacts within the fields of environmental research education and conservation.

TSA employees who serve a term under 52 weeks in duration and have a thirty (30) day or less break between terms and then sign a second term that (cumulatively) becomes greater than 52 weeks of employment will be eligible for the > 1-year TSA benefits (equivalent to Regular full-time employees).



Qualifications

To perform this job successfully employees must be able to satisfactorily carry out each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

  • Experience in conducting some form of hydrologic surveys. Conducting Stream Condition Inventory (SCI) basic stream longitudinal profile and cross-sections profile.
  • Experience conducting road surveys identifying sediment sources and/or water quality issues.
  • Experience doing layout of fuels reduction logging and restoration projects.
  • Experience and/or ability to work in steep terrain in a hot landscape with minimal shade.
  • Physical ability for fieldwork in remote areas.
  • Experience working in the forest on 4WD roads and ability to drive for several hours at a time.
  • Possess a clean valid state-issued drivers license with the ability to safely operate and maintain a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads
  • Ability to understand implement and adhere to established data collection inventory assessment and monitoring protocols.
  • Willingness to work a variable schedule in response to project needs including some weekends
  • Skills in GPS navigation and map reading
  • Effective communication skills for coordination with multidisciplinary teams

TO APPLY

Please submit an up-to-date resume a one-page cover letter that details your interest in the position and any qualifications not fully outlined in your resume and contact information for three

professional references.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to sit use hands stand walk bend and have specific vision abilities to include close and distance vision and ability to adjust focus working with computer business equipment and other job/industry specific equipment. The noise level in the work environment is usually low.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the organizations ongoing needs.

Disclaimer: Although the organization has attempted to accurately and thoroughly describe this position GBI reserves the right to change the same including to change add to or subtract from the duties outlined within the sole discretion of the organization at any time with or without advance notice.