Forest Monitoring Crew Lead

Colorado State University; Colorado; On-site; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Colorado State University’s Forest Monitoring Crew Lead role oversees a seasonal field technician crew, coordinating data collection on tree species, biomass, and forest health while ensuring safety and efficiency in the field. You will plan tasks, supervise crew performance, and collaborate with partners to expand monitoring projects across the state.

The position requires strong GIS skills, experience with forestry measurements, and the ability to work in challenging terrain at elevations with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in forestry, forest ecology, botany, or natural resources.
• Three years of field experience including: at least 1 year supervising field crews, 1 year forestry-specific field work, and 2 years natural resource field work.

Responsibilities

• Navigate, locate and conduct extensive forest land inventories across land ownerships.
• Collect biometric data on tree species, understory vegetation, and forest floor metrics.
• Hire and supervise seasonal measurement crews.
• Organize, summarize and produce data summaries for collaborators.
• Plan daily, weekly, and monthly work; assign field tasks and ensure quality control.
• Contribute to selecting new monitoring projects each year.
• Conduct QA/QC of field data in the office.
• Communicate with stakeholders and landowners to secure access.

Skills

Crew supervision

GIS/navigation

Tree/forest measurements

Data QA/QC

Field safety practices

Vehicle operation (4WD/UTV/ATV)

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Forestry, Forest Ecology, Botany, or Natural Resources

Tools

Hypsometer

Clinometer

Laser devices

Diameter tape

Increment borers

GPS units

Job description

Forest Monitoring Crew Lead# Careers at CSU## Forest Monitoring Crew LeadApply: CSFS Foothills: Full time: Posted Today: R2026108372# Job Description## Position Summary:With direct guidance of the Forest Monitoring Measurement Specialist (FMMS) and Forest Monitoring Program Manager (FMPM), as well as CSFS personnel from the Forest Planning and Implementation (FP&I) the FMCL will manage a seasonal technician crew during the field season, and aid in monitoring program planning, data maintenance and training development during the winter. This work entails working with the FMMS and FMPM to design and implement long-term monitoring projects associated with grant awardees within the Forest Restoration and Wildfire Risk Mitigation Grant Program (FRWRM), as well as help the FMPM expand existing monitoring projects to other programs and collaborations. 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 disturbance delineation, land ownership, and other assorted natural resources-oriented data collection in collaboration with a wide variety of partners. The incumbent will be required to be knowledgeable with general forest management practices within the region, as well as have experience with a wide variety of forestry measurement tools. The FMCL is expected to ensure safe working practices for themselves and their crew and be an advocate for productive team development. This person will be responsible for supervising maintenance and upkeep of the crew vehicle and all crew supplies and equipment. The FMCL will work closely with the FMMS to plan and execute pre- and post-treatment monitoring throughout the state, and work closely with the FMMS and FMPM outside the field season to plan for the next field season, as well as organize and summarize forest monitoring data as well as assist with other tasks associated with expanding the role of monitoring in the state. A person who fills the FMCL position will operate 4-wheel drive vehicles, UTVs, ATVs, and occasionally other modes of transportation as necessary. Road and plot navigation skills – including use of GIS software and datasets, topographical maps, aerial photos and GPS units- are a must for this position. Crews will use handheld data recorders to gather, encode, summarize, and upload collected field measurements to the monitoring program database. The FMCL and their crew will be required to hike carrying at least 45-pound packs with all related field gear; pack weights can exceed 60 pounds. Crews work at elevations ranging from 3,500 to 12,000 feet when accessing monitoring 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 sun, rain and snow, across the full range of temperatures which can change rapidly throughout the day. **For full consideration, please apply by Monday, December 14, 2026, 11:59 PM (MT).** ## Essential Job Duties:* Navigate, locate and conduct extensive forest land inventories across all levels of land ownership.* Collect biometric data related to tree species composition (count and measurement of the number, species, size, quality, cull and other characteristics of sample trees), understory vegetation composition (species identification, percent coverage, and quantify horizontal and vertical structure), wildland fuel-loading related to down dead wood (count and measurement of the number, tree species, fuel size, dead fuel moisture, and decay class), and forest floor metrics (depth and volume measurements related to organic matter, litter, duff, mineral soil, and carbon).* Hire and supervise seasonal measurement crews.* Participate in organizing, summarizing and producing data summaries of monitoring projects for collaborators.* Plan daily, weekly, and monthly work to be accomplished by the unit, effectively assign field-tasks and implement quality control procedures in the field, and plan and secure accommodations for field crews during extensive field travel for work.* Participate in the selection of new monitoring projects each year.* Conduct QA/QC of field-collected data in the office.* Communicate with stakeholders, landowners, and managers to secure access to forest management project areas, ensuring operations fall within legal and operational guidelines for these lands. ## Conditions of Employment:* Valid driver’s license or ability to obtain a driver’s license or access to a licensed driver by the employment start date.* Legally authorized to work in the United States before employment start date; Colorado State Forest Service will not sponsor a visa for this position.* Experience in road and backcountry navigation using topographical maps, aerial photos and GPS units.* Analytical and technical skills related to various GIS software packages and GIS databases, including importing shapefiles, buffering, clipping and intersecting layers. ## Supervision:* Supervise crews of at least one seasonal field technician (non-student hourly).* Responsible for managing crew time and submitting crew reimbursements.* Listen to and resolve employee complaints, effect minor disciplinary measures and recommend action in more serious cases with supervisor support. ## Minimum Qualifications:* Bachelor's Degree in Forestry, Forest Ecology, Botany, or a Natural Resources Program will be considered.* Three years of field experience which must include: + At least 1 year of supervisory field experience. + At least 1 year of forestry-specific field experience. + At least 2 years of natural resource field experience. ## Preferred Qualifications:* Four or more years of monitoring experience or similar fieldwork experience (e.g. the USFS Forest Inventory and Analysis program).* Ability to troubleshoot IT issues related to Android tablets, Windows 11, Java, internet browser security settings and off-site storage devices.* Experience using and calibrating inventory tools that include hypsometer, clinometer, laser, stereoscope, loggers/diameter tape, chaining tape, increment borers and others related to repeatable and accurate measurements.* Previous experience involving supervising hourly, seasonal and/or temporary employees.* Knowledge of western United States forest management techniques in the following areas: silviculture and forest ecology (e.g., intermediate treatments; even-aged and uneven-aged structure; disturbance regimes and variability; periodic and mean annual increment; diameter distributions; stand legacy; and age structure); forest insect and diseases related to vectors and alternative hosts; sustainable harvesting systems in even-, two-, and uneven-aged forests; forest management planning based on desired future conditions; wildfire hazard mitigation, prevention and suppression in the wildland-urban interface (WUI); community forestry in both urban and WUI situations; and outreach and education related to scientific and general public arenas.* Dendrology and vegetation identification course work and/or fieldwork.* Committed to safety, quality, demonstrated excellent customer service ethic and professionalism.* Excellent verbal and written communication skills.* General safety (CPR/First-aid) and wilderness first responder safety training and experience.* Comprehension of basic field forestry skills related to timber sale boundaries, harvest plans, silvicultural prescriptions, natural and artificial regeneration methods, road layout and contract inspections.## ## Additional Information:Search Contact: Tori Hunter, [e-mail]# Salary Range$55,000 - $65,000# Required Application DocumentsTo apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. 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.Cover Letter, Resume/CV