Forestry Field Technician

About Sierra RCD: A non-regulatory, non-taxing, nonprofit, Special District of the State of California,

under the Public Resources Code (PRC9003); the mission and function of the SIERRA RESOURCE

CONSERVATION DISTRICT (Sierra RCD) is to take available technical, financial, and educational resources,

whatever their source, and focus or coordinate them at the local level, to meet the present and future

natural resource needs of the local land user. Offices are in Auberry and Fresno, CA. More information

can be found at www.sierrarcd.com

Sierra RCD service area covers the eastern half of Fresno County and has two main programs in operation

that interact with local land users and landowners: the Forestry and Watershed Program which

predominantly focuses within the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the Agriculture and Rangeland Program

which focuses within the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Central Valley floor.

Responsibilities and duties: The Conservation Technician is responsible for developing and coordinating

the implementation of Climate-Smart Forestry planning and facilitation of implementation on non-
industrial forestland throughout California. Principally, on a day-to-day basis, the Conservation Technician

works closely with the Fresno County Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on facilitating

applications for financial and technical assistance on specific conservation practices – including under the

Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) with the California Association of Resource

Conservation Districts (CARCD) funded by the NRCS. The Conservation Technician works to reach the

objectives and goals of the NRCS programs, while operating in alignment with the values of Sierra RCD.

Primary Duties Include:

• Support Fresno County NRCS staff in data entry to process contracts in the field office using

NRCS-approved computers with Conservation Desktop.

• Technical Assistance (TA): Technical Assistance to help NRCS staff, landowners, or partners as

needed to support EQIP/CSP contract development. This may include project design, forestry

practice implementation, and inspection of forestry field practices associated with a NRCS or

partner project.

• Forest Management Plans (FMP): Assist in the development of FMPs for landowners who

respond to outreach or are otherwise assigned by NRCS. Assistance includes entering FMPs into

Protracts, screening applicants, and offering office-based assistance to landowners.

• Conduct client outreach and recruitment: This includes participating in efforts to recruit new

clients for TA and FA programs in NRCS or other partner programs.

Other duties include, but are not limited to:

• Establish and/or maintain mutually beneficial working relationships with aligned agencies,

organizations and other entities that provide relevant expertise and technical or financial

assistance.

• Work with colleagues and partner agencies, organizations, and other entities, to plan, coordinate

and broaden outreach efforts for all program-related projects and events.

• Represent Sierra RCD at public meetings, and occasionally make presentations on the work of

Sierra RCD at events and workshops; and provide regular updates to Senior Staff on progress,

challenges, and successes.

• Participate in developing grant proposals and support awarded grants that benefit the F/W

Program.

Essential Education and Experience:

• Associate’s degree, or equivalent professional experience, in forestry, agriculture, natural

resource management, water resources, resource conservation, environmental sciences, or

related fields.

• Ability to work independently, multi-task, and prioritize in a dynamic work environment.
• Working directly with land managers, farmers, ranchers, and other forestry and agriculture

environmental professionals, organizations, and stakeholders.

• Proficiency with MS Office, spreadsheets, databases, and word processing.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience in a leadership role on project management.
• Understanding of the unique forestry and agricultural industry and culture of the Central Valley.
• Multi-lingual proficiency.
• Ability and desire to work in an office with occasional site visits with a desire to advance in

professional conservation planning.

• Demonstrated ability to work with landowners on providing recommendations and services for

land management or conservation.

Reports to: SRCD Program Manager and NRCS District Conservationist.

Commitment: Starting between $20.00-$26.00 per hour– or higher with experience and desired

qualifications. This is a full-time, non-exempt position. Initially, this position will start part-time for the

first month of onboarding leading to full-time at the NRCS Fresno office by month two.

To Apply: This position is OPEN UNTIL FILLED. Please submit your resume to Chelsea Hutchens and via

email: chutchens [at] sierrarcd.com.