Wildlife / Forestry Technician

Overview

Mendocino Redwood Company is hiring now for a full-time Wildlife Forestry Technician based in either Ukiah or Fort Bragg, CA! This is a non-exempt position, the hourly rate for this position is $28.65 and includes benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K matching and company paid Life Insurance.  To learn more about our benefits click Here

The Mendocino Companies (Mendocino Forest Products Company, Mendocino Redwood Company, Humboldt Redwood Company, Humboldt Sawmill Company, and Allweather Wood) own nearly 450,000 acres of Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC® C031337) certificated redwood and Douglas-fir timberland, constitute the largest waterborne wood treater in the Western USA, and is the largest producer of redwood lumber in the world. Collectively providing 950 employees and their families with excellent wages and benefits in communities throughout the Western USA. Additionally, the Mendocino Companies own and operate a 25-megaWatt biomass cogeneration power plant and wood pellet plant

Responsibilities

The Wildlife/Forestry Technician is a field position with primary duties and responsibilities consisting of conducting Northern Spotted Owl (NSO) night and daytime surveys from February through August reporting and Timber Harvest Plan (THP) development activities such as timber marking and THP layout from September through January.  Other assigned work may include additional wildlife surveys, watershed monitoring, and conducting forest road inventories.   The position reports to Forest Science (Manager, Forest Science) approximately 7 months out of the year and Forestry (Forest Area Managers) for the other approximate 5 months. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

• Conduct Northern Spotted Owl (NSO) and other sensitive species surveys and monitoring.
• Work independently or as part of a small team in remote field settings, including during nighttime hours.
• Travel through field terrain by truck, all-terrain vehicle (ATV), and on foot as required for survey work.
• Provide care for live mice and feed live mice to NSOs in accordance with established protocols.
• Enter survey results into databases and perform routine data quality checks (QA/QC).
• Perform timber marking in advance of timber harvest activities.
• Assist with Timber Harvest Plan (THP) layout, including mapping and flagging, under the supervision of a Registered Professional Forester (RPF).
• Conduct forest road inventory surveys to identify storm damage and maintenance needs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS 

• Position has travel requirements of a local nature (within 100 miles one way), usually by pickup truck.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Associate degree or 6 months or more experience performing similar forestry and wildlife work
• Must maintain and carry a valid driver license and remain eligible and capable of operating company vehicles including automobiles, trucks and large 4-wheel drive vehicles in accordance with company policy guidelines
• Working knowledge of MS Excel, MS Word and MS Outlook, or similar software programs a plus
• Knowledge of and use of a directional compass, topographical maps, and/or GPS 

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• With appropriate training, the employee is required to safely and effectively operate all-terrain vehicles, including running, maneuvering, navigating, and driving in various types of terrain, in accordance with company policies and safety guidelines.
• The position requires the ability to safely traverse steep, uneven, and difficult terrain, which may include frequent strenuous hiking throughout the workday.
• The employee is regularly required to sit, stand, and walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl. These activities may include climbing trees or ladders, entering and exiting vehicles or trucks, and operating all-terrain vehicles. Climbing and/or crawling through steep, brushy, or uneven terrain may be required.
• The employee must be able to frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds of debris, tools, or forestry equipment, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Specific vision abilities required for this position include close, distance, color, peripheral, and depth perception, as well as the ability to adjust focus and visually identify Northern California birds and trees.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes, dust, and airborne particles while operating four-wheel-drive all-terrain vehicles, chainsaws, and other equipment.
• Work is primarily performed outdoors and may involve varying environmental and field conditions. The position may require night work and an irregular or extended work schedule.
• The noise level in the work environment is typically moderate and may occasionally be loud.
• The use of required personal protective equipment is mandatory and includes, but is not limited to, above-ankle boots, eye protection, hearing protection, leather or rubber gloves, a hard hat, and an all-terrain vehicle helmet.

We are an equal opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment based on any, or a combination of, the following characteristics: race (including hair texture and styles), color, caste, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic conditions), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, reproductive health decision-making, age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran or military status, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other characteristic protected by state or federal anti-discrimination law covering employment.