Collaborative Forestry and Youth Stewardship Apprenticeship

Expected start date in May/June 2022, for a six month duration (with possible extension)

The Sierra Institute for Community and Environment (Sierra Institute) is looking for one motivated individual to fill the position of Collaborative Forestry and Youth Stewardship Apprentice. The selected applicant will work at the intersection of community and natural resources on collaborative forest and watershed restoration, as well as supporting youth involvement in this work. The position duties will be tailored to the individual interests and skills of the selected applicant, and may include outreach and capacity-building work to promote resilient forest ecosystems and rural communities, support for implementation of forest restoration, and support of youth engagement programming to develop the next generation of stewards. The apprentice will join a talented team of natural resource and rural development professionals dedicated to landscape restoration and community well-being in the northern Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades, and will have the opportunity to work closely with diverse partners and land managers in a highly collaborative environment. Apprenticeships will last a minimum of six months, and may be extended up to nine months by mutual agreement. Applications are due by April 30th, with an anticipated start date of May/June 2022.

Job Duties: The selected candidate will have the opportunity to advance their knowledge and professional skills while contributing to meaningful outcomes for rural communities and landscapes through involvement with a suite of Sierra Institute projects. Project areas described below provide an overview of the core efforts the selected apprentice will contribute to. These are meant to provide a general understanding of the position, and may not capture all responsibilities.

Collaborative Restoration Planning and Implementation (~75%): The Sierra Institute in partnership with the South Lassen Watersheds Group, a collaborative group planning for the future of forest management, climate resilience, and economic development in critical upper watersheds, to accelerate restoration across an 850,000-acre landscape. Active projects include large landscape restoration planning on a 150,000 acre multi-jurisdictional restoration project, planning for reintroduction of prescribed fire in a recommended Research Natural Area, implementation of fuels management in preparation for prescribed fire in wilderness areas, and integrated forest-meadow-stream restoration across several project areas. Potential responsibilities include: conducting background research for large-landscape, cross-boundary planning, supporting landowner outreach and engagement, post-fire recovery and restoration planning, and implementation of forest restoration. The apprentice may also be asked to engage in an array of field activities including natural resource monitoring and inventory, project preparation work, and implementation of forest and watershed restoration on public and private lands. The apprentice’s primary responsibilities will be tailored to individual interests and abilities.

Youth Stewardship (~15%): Sierra Institute’s flagship youth stewardship program, P-CREW, is an immersive experiential work opportunity on northern California’s public lands for youth from rural and urban areas. Participants forge unexpectedly strong friendships, develop leadership and job skills, explore diverse and wild forests, all while building pride and confidence in themselves through social and emotional learning. The selected apprentice will help Sierra Institute’s P-CREW staff prepare for the 2022 season, including updating systems for tracking crew project accomplishments, supporting the recruitment process, and developing natural resource education materials.

General Organizational Support (~10%): As a member of Sierra Institute’s professional staff, the apprentice will contribute to the organization’s overall pursuit of its mission. Responsibilities may include participating on field trips with youth, assisting with administrative duties in the main office, or other organizational support activities.

• An undergraduate or advanced degree in forestry, wildlife, hydrology, or related natural resources field;

• Basic understanding of land management policies, and natural resource issues such as wildfire forestry, and ecological restoration;

• Excellent written and oral communication skills;

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and ESRI ArcGIS;

• A desire to work and live in a rural, mountainous area that receives snow and ice in winter, and may experience wildfires and/or periods of wildfire smoke in summer;

• A team-oriented perspective with a productive level of self-guidance and initiative;

• An ability to bring critical thinking skills, creativity, and laughter to the workplace;

• A personal vehicle for transportation outside of work;

• A strong interest to learn about rural issues and engage with rural communities.

• Demonstrated knowledge of collaborative resource management and community involvement;

• Experience with technical field forestry activities, such as forest inventory, timber sale preparation and administration;

• Experience conducting resource surveys independently and as part of a group (e.g., common stand exams, wildlife surveys, water resource surveys)

• Demonstrated ability and effectiveness in working with youth in a natural resource setting.

• Interest in post-fire forest restoration

Please note these qualifications are what we believe is necessary to ensure the selected applicant is successful in this position, however we encourage all who are interested to apply and highlight how their experience and background will make them successful.