Wildlife Technician - Tahoe National Forest, Yuba River Ranger District - American Conservation Experience - Staff : Job Details

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the US Forest Service, is seeking 1-2 Wildlife Technicians to contribute to wildlife survey projects alongside Tahoe National Forest Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: April 1, 2025 (04/01/2025)

Estimated End Date: October 17, 2025 (10/17/2025)

Location Details/Description: Yuba River Ranger District (Camptonville, 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 850,000 acres of public land interspersed with 350,000 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 1,500 feet along the western boundary to over 9,000 feet along the crest. The forest provides a variety of resources and opportunities and is managed by the Forest Service.

The Yuba River Ranger District offices are located in Camptonville, CA and Nevada City, CA. Many employees live in the Nevada City/Grass Valley area (population 20,000) located 25 miles south of Camptonville. Nevada City is a vibrant town alongside Grass Valley, CA with excellent access to trails, ski resorts, and world class rafting and swimming holes. The Sacramento metro area is within an hour's drive for urban amenities.

For more information about the Yuba River Ranger District, please visit the Tahoe National Forest website.

Position Overview: The ACE Wildlife Technician will be supervised by district biologists and expected to perform extensive field work. Field work will include a considerable amount of hiking and some backpacking, with variable hours conducting morning, daytime, and night surveys. This position will require close coordination with the district biologists, but most duties will be performed independently and in pairs, in the backcountry, which will require the member to take initiative, plan, and problem solve to complete priorities of their crew. The technician will also be responsible for regular data management throughout their term and assisting Crew Leads with other administrative/organizational tasks related to their field duties.

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:

* Conduct California spotted owl, northern goshawk and Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog surveys alongside a 4-5 member crew. A small portion of the surveys may be done by backpacking for 2-5 day trips, on trails, with a partner. Additional species surveys may include: Bald Eagle, carnivore cameras, California red-legged frog, bat outflight, willow flycatcher. Complete surveys safely and to protocol (60%)

* Provide accurate and timely data documentation and data management (20%)

* Support other projects and responsibilities; including children's educational days, OHV impact monitoring, bird box placement and monitoring (5%)

* Making GIS maps and writing survey reports, and quality control of data. (15%)

Schedule: Tue- Fri, 10 hours/day. Work times vary based on species being surveyed for that week. Shifts may start as early as 5 am for early morning shifts and 2 pm for late night shifts. Usually completed by midnight but 1-2am as needed. Week days may shift in the early season due to weather and will shift in July for youth education events.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $891.16/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 Service. Barracks are available in Downieville or Camptonville, which are 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 the USFS may include, but are not guaranteed: CPR/First Aid, Avenza and Field Maps, field data collection systems, Wilderness First Aid. Additionally the following are based on project needs/availability/ candidate skill level: summary report writing, GIS (ArcPro and ArcGIS Online), UTV, Trailer driving, and possible cross-training with other departments. 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

ACE values an inclusive workforce - if you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!

Required:

* Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts

* 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 driver's license and and insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).

* 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.

* Member 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 a bachelor's degree in natural resources and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as amphibian and/or raptor field work

* Knowledge of the basic theories and practices of biological science sufficient to analyze findings

* Knowledge of the technical processes, procedures and techniques related to biological science samples, measurements, and analysis

* Ability and experience hiking over remote, steep, and rocky terrain in adverse weather and field conditions (biting insects, poison oak, thick vegetation, snow, variable temperatures (hot and cold)).

* Strong, self-driven work ethic

* Willingness and flexibility to transition quickly with changing priorities day to day

* Ability and Experience camping in the outdoors.

* Experience and/or training in ArcGIS

* Experience conducting field work and biological surveys with established protocols

* Ability to work independently at day or night including hiking, driving, following detailed survey protocols

* Ability to navigate in remote areas using GPS, mobile devices, and paper maps

* Flexibility in switching between day and night survey work (maintaining appropriate work/rest ratio)

* Ability to work as part of a team to meet project goals, as well as independently to complete survey tasks

* Must be able to communicate clearly and frequently with team members

* Familiarity with Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft products

* Ability to shift focus and manage time between major field work and necessary office/data tasks

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

* Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, driving, 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 navigate outdoors at night, and camp overnight under field conditions.

* Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus. Helpful to have normal color vision but not required

* Hearing Requirements: must be able to hear spotted owl calls (low frequency), as well as goshawk calls (high frequency).

* Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently carries 15-25 lbs of gear for regular fieldwork. May occasionally carry heavier loads for overnight backpacking trips

* Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working outside under adverse weather conditions and in various climates, sitting for extended periods of time, possibly including foot travel over snow.

* Noise Environment: 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.

* Hazard specifics: Situational awareness and ability to make wise safety decisions. Knowing your own limits and capabilities and communicating those to your crew leads and supervisors.

* Travel: This position may require domestic travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members or resources. Hazards include bees/stinging insects, beetle-killed and/or fire-killed trees.

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 ACE's 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 National Forest Project Manager, Al Richert. Her information can be found on ACE's staff page.

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 with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee 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, creed, sex, gender, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information (including of a family member), veteran or military status, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, 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.