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The Colorado State Forest Service is an agency of Colorado State University, housed organizationally in the Warner College of Natural Resources. The CSFS also staffs the Division of Forestry for the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. The CSFS has field offices throughout the state, organized within 4 Areas with a State Office in Fort Collins on the Foothills Campus at CSU. Individual staff members take the lead on one or more program areas and all staff members are expected to assist each other as needed for successful, efficient, and effective delivery of services and programs.

The FIA Program is a sub-staff of the Science and Data Division of the Colorado State Forest Service. The FIA Program is managed by the Associate Director of Science and Data and the FIA Program Manager.

With direct guidance of a FIA Crew Leader, and the indirect guidance of a FIA Supervisory Forester and the FIA Program Manager within the Science and Data Division of the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS), this research position will be autonomous, independent, and responsible for conducting forest inventory field work across multiple states. The FIA Crew Member is responsible for performing a variety of recurring and complex duties in support of both CSFS and the United States Forest Service (USFS) FIA program. This collaborative partnership’s mission is to produce a comprehensive inventory of forests in all U.S. states and territories so that policy makers, land managers and owners, investors, and other non-governmental groups have timely and accurate information about the health and productivity of forests in the United States.

The incumbent will conduct a variety of field measurements including, but not limited to, those involving tree/sapling/seedling data, vegetation diversity, fuel loading measurements, stand treatments and disturbances, land ownership, and soil and erosion data collection in collaboration with USFS FIA program.

The FIA Crew Member is always expected to ensure safe working practices of themselves and their crew and be an advocate for productive team development. This position will be responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the crew vehicle and all supplies and equipment they are assigned. The FIA Crew Member will work closely with USFS FIA liaisons to meet production and quality benchmarks.

A person who fills the FIA Crew Member position will operate 4-wheel drive vehicles, UTVs, ATVs, and occasionally horses or boats to access various assigned plot locations in Colorado, Wyoming, and the surrounding states. The FIA Crew Member will be required to complete daily check-in safety procedures using email, cell phones, inReach messaging devices, or satellite phones while in travel status. Road and plot navigation skills including use of GIS software and datasets, topographical maps, aerial photos, and GPS units are necessary for this position.

The FIA Crew Member will be required to hike while carrying at least 45-pound packs with all related field gear (pack weights can exceed 60 pounds for longer overnight trips). Crews work at elevations ranging from 3,500 to 14,000 feet when accessing permanent inventory plots. Crews will be expected to hike long distances to reach plot locations both on- and off-trail, and work on steep and/or rough terrain. Crews will be working in full sun, rain, and snow conditions across the full range of temperatures which can change rapidly throughout the day. The FIA Crew Member can expect to be in travel status, camping or staying in hotels and cabins, for varying lengths of time depending on plot location. A typical length of time in travel status is five days, with some trips lasting 10 or more days, during a typical nine-month field season.

When possible and with general consultation with the FIA Program Manager and/or their FIA Supervisory Forester and FIA Crew Leader, the FIA Crew Member will assist other CSFS Field Office personnel within the following areas: forest management, outreach, and administration. The incumbent will be asked to analyze and interpret findings from technical and scientific reports and be able to present summarized findings in a variety of public settings. This position is expected to assist CSFS Field Office staff with providing service, outreach, and education to landowners and cooperators/partners through written and verbal communication methods.

The Colorado State Forest Service is accepting applications on an ongoing basis from individuals who are interested in obtaining research positions within the agency. Positions will be filled as needed when vacancies open throughout the hiring period. Not all listed duty stations may be vacant during the hiring period.

Applicants will be expected to provide:

Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

For full consideration, applications must be received no later than 11:59pm MST on May 12, 2025.

Application materials will be held in confidence by the Search Committee through semi-finalist interviews. Confidentiality of application materials detaches at the point where a candidate accepts participation in a finalist interview.

CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.

This pool expires May 12, 2025. Individuals wishing to be considered beyond this date must reapply.

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.