Botany & Forestry Field Technician (Technologists & Technicians)

  Green Diamond Resource Company

  Korbel, California, United States

POSITION PURPOSE:
This is a full time position working half of the year conducting botanical field surveys and the other half assisting the  Registered Professional Forester (RPF) with Timber Harvest Plan (THP) layout and design.  Includes work in both the Korbel and Klamath areas.

Botany Technician Purpose:  Conduct thorough floristic surveys for Timber Harvest Plans, which includes documenting abundance and distribution of rare and sensitive species on company lands in order to minimize potential impacts to populations. 

Forestry Technician Purpose:  Provide high quality field assistance to the Registered Professional Forester in the engineering of harvest units and associated roads, for the development of Timber Harvest Plans.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:  (other duties may be assigned)
Botany
Under the direction of the Botanist the employee will:
• Conducts seasonally appropriate floristic surveys in a variety of habitats, documenting all species encountered.
• Utilizes the Jepson manual to key unknown plants, pressing and annotating voucher specimens
• Sights, IDs, rare or sensitive plant species and associated habitat encountered and thoroughly document their abundance, distribution and potential threats.
• Maintains detailed, legible and accurate records of work completed, e.g. survey forms, survey routes, location maps of sensitive plant populations and unique habitat features observed.
• Conducts botanical research and monitoring duties as needed.
• Participates actively in Company safety program.

Forestry
Under the guidance of an RPF, the incumbent supports a wide variety of field layout tasks associated with the design of timber harvest units, road location and design, and riparian management zones.
• Specific duties include flagging setting boundaries, stream protection zones, property lines,  wildlife habitat features (green trees, snags, ponds, seeps etc.),  tree marking, stream classification and road grades.
• Aids in the reconnaissance of new larger stands of timber for the eventual future development of roads and harvest areas.
• Documents and records technical information related to each THP in a concise and accurate manor.
• Interacts daily with RPFs as well as other Forestry Technicians.
• The incumbent will also work with other departments such as harvesting, contract administration, geology, fisheries and wildlife. 
• Represents the THP on Pre-harvest inspections and active inspections on an as needed basis
• May be assigned to other forestry associated tasks as needed, including but not limited to: prescribed burning, wildlife, stream or road assessment projects, timber cruising and contract logging administration under RPF guidance.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
• Successful completion of college-level courses such as general botany, plant taxonomy, plant physiology, dendrology, forest ecology, surveying, forest road location & design, harvesting systems and related fields of study as they pertain to botany and forestry. 
• The ability to negotiate through rough topography, accurately interprets maps, and navigates using a compass or GPS devise.
• Current valid driver’s license.
• Must be able to successfully pass a qualifying course in ATV training.
• Positive attitude, enthusiasm for botany and forestry and the desire to improve one’s professional skills.
• Experience identifying plants, by sight in the field and with the aid of keys, e.g. Jepson Manual.
• Perform field reconnaissance with excellent observational skills, a demonstrated ability to gather precise data, and describe conditions and constraints to the RPF. 
• Ability to learn GDRCo’s conservation program, operational guidelines, safety program, State Forest Practice Rules and other policies and guidelines as needed.
• Team player who has flexibility and physical ability to work the required hours including overtime.
• Must be self-motivated with a strong work ethic and have the ability to prioritize work in order of importance to maintain efficiency and accuracy of the job on a daily basis.
• Some overnight travel may be required.
• Effective and professional relationships with co-workers within immediate work group, outside the immediate department and with key contacts outside the company.

Desired:
• Completion of upper division coursework such as Agrostology and Plant Ecology or their equivalents and/or to those individuals who are familiar with the local flora and have prior survey experience.
• Ability to sight ID most plant species encountered locally.
• Proficiency utilizing the Jepson Manual to key unknown species.
• Knowledge of local rare and sensitive plant species and their associated habitats.
• Previous experience conducting botanical field surveys
• Previous THP field layout experience
• Knowledge of logging systems and California Forest Practice Rules

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Works primarily (90%+) of the time in the field under varying topography and climatic extremes.
• Ability to orient, climb, and traverse steep rugged, densely vegetated terrain on a consistent basis in in sometimes harsh weather conditions for long periods of time.
• Mandatory travel to remote company locations.
• Must have the ability to see distance and detail with accuracy.
• Must have good hearing ability.
• Requires the use of standard safety equipment, including cutting tools such as chainsaws, brush axes and machetes, in regulation with GDRCo policies.
• Works in conditions that may expose employee wildlife encounters, poison oak and/or insect bites.
• Ability to drive long distances on highways and seasonal dirt roads.
•This position is a Physical and Mental Requirement Classification 3.

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