Landscape Forestry Technician

National Forest Foundation

National Forest Foundation (NFF) are pleased to offer a temporary position, up to 40 hours per week, from May 15, 2024 to October 25, 2024 as a member of a small integrated vegetation management crew focusing on fuels management (up to 5 crew members) on the Payette National Forest in Central Idaho.

About the NFF: The NFF works with communities and organizations to conserve and enhance the watersheds, wildlife habitat, wild places, and recreational opportunities across the 193-million-acre National Forest System. The NFF seeks to engage all Americans in this work. 

Position Function: Under direction of the NFF Intermountain Region Program Manager, the Forest Technician(s) shall conduct pre-and post-treatment surveys/monitoring on non-commercial, commercial, and prescribed fire project areas. Non-commercial thinning stand layout, ground truthing lidar data, non-commercial stand diagnosis, and vegetation survey implementation will all be key duties of this position.

The Payette Program Coordinator is also expected to work closely with Forest Service staff as an integrated team member to provide support and technical assistance for vegetation management projects and a variety of other activities associated with advancing the goals of the Southwest Idaho Landscape (SIL).

Position Duties and Responsibilities: Southwest Idaho Landscape Forestry Technician will:

• Support NFF SIL Staff to coordinate and manage forest-related restoration efforts, to include monitoring of on-the-ground project implementation on behalf of NFF.
• Conduct routine data collection, monitoring of prescriptive and contractual specifications for the felling of trees, collection of dead and down fuels and removal through helicopter yarding.
• Technicians will be comfortable using Survey123 or FieldMaps to complete survey protocols and to input stand/project level data. 
• Implement survey protocols as they are assigned by Fuels Managers and Silviculturists with the USFS. 
• Plot data will be entered on field data forms and/or online databases. Written data will be entered into an Excel spreadsheet and emailed to NFF Representative along with a general project status update. Original hard copy data forms shall be compiled and submitted on a weekly basis, as possible.
• Daily plans shall be coordinated at least 24 hours in advance with NFF Representative and daily with operations to ensure preparation or implementation operations allow for safety as a priority. 
• Compile and analyze forest stand and fuels data as needed to provide effective project and contract monitoring QA/QC.
• Report on project statistics and progress, outcomes, and deliverables of forest restoration projects.
• Assist in Rx fire line preparation as needed.
• Assist with Common Stand Exam surveys as needed. 
• Assist with the Wood for Life firewood program as needed.
• Adhere to and monitor project safety protocol.
• Represent the NFF professionally with all audiences.

Location: McCall/Cascade/Council/New Meadows ID area (Mandatory). Work will occur on multiple project areas within the Payette National Forest. While rare, travel to other forests may occasionally be necessary to aid other NFF efforts and may include the Boise or Sawtooth National Forests.