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Position Summary

The Student Conservation Association, in cooperation with the US Forest Service (USFS), Sierra National Forest, seeks Botany Field Technicians to support projects related to vegetation health, rare plant monitoring, and invasive plant control. Work is across the Sierra National Forest, on the Bass Lake and High Sierra Ranger Districts. The primary focus of this position will be rare plant and invasive weed surveys and manual control of invasive plants. Crew members will serve with USFS Botany Staff and seasonal USFS hires to identify, locate, and map rare plants and invasive weeds in various parts of the forest. Crew members will receive training in plant identification, especially for the specific rare plants and invasives on the Sierra NF; also in data collection methods, FS computer use, types of projects being planned, and safety. Working on the Sierra NF provides a great opportunity to learn about fire ecology and see firsthand how the vegetation is recovering and being managed post-fire.

Location

North Fork, CA

Schedule

July 7, 2025 - September 27, 2025

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Job duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Rare plant and invasive weed surveys for upcoming prescribed burns, roadside hazard tree removal, recreation special uses, range improvement repair and construction, and other projects.
  • Invasive plant early detection/rapid response (EDRR) surveys and treatments in the Oak Fire area and on dozer lines. Invasive weed treatments may be conducted manually, mechanically, and/or with the use of herbicides.
  • Mapping rare plants and invasive weeds using ArcGIS Online (AGOL) Field Maps on tablets, and syncing data each day
  • Enter and manage data using ArcGIS, Microsoft Excel and other software; write draft reports from field notes.
  • Invasive weed control and monitoring at various locations across the Forest where ongoing control is needed, not necessarily in sites where other projects are proposed.

Marginal Duties

Other duties as required

Required Qualifications

  • Experience using technical keys to identify plants to the species or sub-species level
  • Experience working with hand-held GPS, maps and compass for field navigation and data collection
  • Capacity to collect and maintain field data in an organized manner that is easily understood and accessible to other resources staff
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with a diverse audience
  • Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver's license
  • Ability to live and work in rural and remote field and office setting
  • Physically fit to work outdoors, carry up to 50 pounds of personal and/or field equipment and withstand the rigors of a forested and/or high desert environment in all seasons.
  • Comfortable with occasional camping in the field for remote assignments.

This SCA Position is authorized under the Public Land Corps Authority. All participants must be between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, or veterans age 35 or younger. Participants must also be a citizen or national of the United States or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. Hours served can be applied toward the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Knowledge of the flora Sierra Nevada
  • Skills related to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
  • Comfortable with noxious weed control, including herbicides
  • Ability to understand, implement and adhere to established data collection, inventory, assessment, and monitoring protocols
  • Ability to safely operate and maintain a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads.

Hours

40 per week

Living Accommodations

The Duty Station is the Bass Lake Ranger District Office, located in North Fork, CA, approximately 1 hours' drive north & northeast of Fresno. The district is adjacent to Yosemite National Park. Oakhurst is a 30 minute drive from North Fork, and has 2 major grocery stores, 2 drug stores, 2 hardware stores, a cinema, and many hotels serving tourists heading to Yosemite. Smaller communities in and bordering the district are Mariposa, Fish Camp, Midpines, Ahwahnee, and Coarsegold. A range of medical and dental services, housing, schools, churches, retail, and other services are available in and around all these communities; and nearby Fresno has all the services and retail options typical of a large city. The Sierra National Forest is located on the west slope of the central/southern Sierra Nevada. The Forest is about 1.3 million acres, bounded by the Merced River (and Yosemite National Park) to the north, and the Kings River to the south. Elevations range from 900' to nearly 14,000', resulting in diverse conditions for plant growth. Approximately 1400 species of vascular plants occur within the Forest. Temperatures range from very hot in the lower elevation foothills in midsummer to mild and pleasant at higher elevations. The Forest is over 40% wilderness, and since crews work 4 ten-hour days, there is plenty of beautiful country to explore on 3-day weekends.

Compensation

  • $1,100 To/From Travel Allowance (Paid once)
  • $400 Weekly Living Allowance (Paid bi-weekly)
  • Field Services SCA Uniform Package
  • AmeriCorps Eligible (Valued at $1,956) at fulfillment of 450 service hours and completion of internship
  • PLC Eligible (age requirements apply)

All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.

Personal Vehicle Information

Required

Additional Benefits

First Aid/CPR

AmeriCorps: Eligible/Optional

AmeriCorps Enrollment Notice:
This position may be eligible for AmeriCorps enrollment. However, the SCA has not yet received confirmation of a grant award for this program. If funding is awarded, you may qualify for an AmeriCorps Education Award. If not, you will serve in a non-AmeriCorps role with the same living allowance and benefits. If selected, you will be updated on AmeriCorps funding status before your start date.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.