Overview

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the US Forest Service, is seeking 2-4 Lead Botany Technicians to contribute to botanical survey projects alongside Tahoe National Forest Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: April 7, 2025 (04/07/2025)

Estimated End Date: November 21, 2025 (11/21/2025)

Location Details/Description: Tahoe National Forest, Westzone (Nevada City, 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.

Nevada City is a vibrant town alongside Grass Valley, CA with excellent access to trails, ski resorts, and world class rafting and swimming holes. Nevada City has a flourishing arts scene, hosts excellent concerts and music festivals, and has many restaurants and shopping areas. The Sacramento metro area is within an hour’s drive for urban amenities.

For more information about this area, please visit the Tahoe National Forest website.

Position Overview: The Lead Botany Technicians will plan, coordinate logistics, and train Botany Crew Members to conduct targeted botanical surveys for rare and invasive plants and the habitats. They will coordinate with the Forest Service Botanist in planning and strategizing data collection tasks. With the Botany Crew Members, they will create reports for use in habitat and species condition analyses. The Botany Crew Member position will take direction from the Lead Botany Technicians in conducting the botanical surveys and documentation. All positions will work independently and as a team to coordinate work efforts, discuss technical requirements, summarize survey findings, and discuss technical problems encountered or anticipated during project work.

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.

Botanical Surveys (75%):

  • Conducts floristic surveys and targeted surveys for rare and invasive plants within project areas, typically covering several hundred acres in a season.
  • Collects and maintains detailed documentation used in species and habitat analysis related to impacts from projects occurring on Forest Service lands.
  • Collects survey and inventory data to determine species identity, population characteristics, environmental conditions and factors affecting the vigor and extent of the species and their habitat.
  • Uses botanical keys and field guides to identify plants encountered during surveys.
  • Compiles and summarizes data obtained from surveys, inventories, biological evaluations and monitoring, and produces reports that summarize findings, which are used in Forest Service Botanists’ analysis of forest projects.
  • Uses global positioning systems (GPS), aerial photographs, topographic maps, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), or compass in navigation
  • Uses computer systems and associated software for recording, organizing, storing, and summarizing data.
  • Performs physical labor and daily hiking, often to remote locations in rugged terrain, sometimes under adverse weather conditions.
  • Office time will be spent finalizing documentation of the surveys and treatments.

Invasive Plant Management (25%):

  • Assists with a full range of technical assignments related to seasonal invasive plant management activity on US Forest Service lands
  • Assesses invasive plant population parameters, including size, distribution, and phenology to inform decisions about appropriate control tactics and treatment prioritization
  • Performs manual invasive plant treatments such as hand-pulling, using hand tools, and using power tools
  • Assists with herbicide application under the supervision of the USFS Botanist, a California certified pesticide applicator

Botany Crew Lead Objectives in addition to above:

  • Plans surveys using spatial data and habitat information.
  • Trains crew in protocols, botanical identification, and data management.
  • Manages and quality checks data collected by ACE Team Members throughout the season.
  • Manages the daily safety, planning and logistics of crew.
  • Enters finalized data into FS database.
  • Takes direction and priorities in work from FS Botanist.

Schedule: Work schedule will be Mon-Thur 7:00am -5:30pm. Schedule adjustments will be limited and granted upon approval of the District Botanist

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $1007/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 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. Barracks housing provided by the Forest is typically located 30-45 minutes from the daily reporting location and are typically in 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. All ACE Botany team members will receive training on performing USFS Survey and data entry protocols. ACE crew leads will be supported by the USFS Botanists in performing their leadership roles. 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 an 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 a natural resource field, and have experience with botany, either in the field or through coursework. Individuals with Master’s degrees are highly encouraged to apply.
  • A foundational knowledge of botany and plant identification is required for this position, and willingness to learn additional key skills.
  • Knowledge of basic taxonomic principles and characteristics of major plant families and experience using taxonomic keys
  • Knowledge of the technical processes, procedures and techniques related to biological science samples, measurements, and analysis
  • Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation
  • Must be able to communicate clearly and concisely with resource professionals
  • Experience driving 4×4 and/or all-wheel drive vehicles safely in off-road conditions
  • Experience hiking over remote, steep, and rocky terrain in adverse weather conditions (cold/hot temps, light rain, etc.)
  • Ability to navigate in remote areas using GPS, mobile devices, and maps
  • Familiarity with Microsoft Excel/Word, ArcMap, ArcGIS Online (AGOL) and AGOL applications.
  • Competency in data entry work, summarizing and compiling data
  • Leadership experience, especially in regards to safety and conflict resolution

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, 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.
Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 25 lbs., ability to move up to 40 pounds.
Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools.
Travel: This position does not require unique 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 hot summer temperatures, bees/stinging insects, poison oak, 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 NF Project Manager, Al Richert, arichert@usaconservation.org

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.