Forestry & Fuels Reduction Fieldcrew

Ecological Services LLC; Leavenworth (WA); On-site; USD 39,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Ecological Services LLC is seeking dedicated team members to join the Fall Season field crew in Leavenworth, WA. This position offers hands-on work in forest health, fuels reduction, prescribed fire, and watershed restoration, with a focus on wildfire resilience.

Typical hours are about 40 per week, weather‑dependent, with compensation at $28–$32 per hour DOE. Candidates must be able to perform strenuous outdoor labor and operate from Leavenworth shop to field sites.

Qualifications

• Must be able to perform strenuous physical labor 8–10 hours daily in rough terrain and variable weather.
• Valid Driver’s License and reliable transportation to Leavenworth, WA.
• Experience with chainsaws, felling, limbing, bucking, and hand tools is a plus.
• NWCG credentials (FFT2/FFT1/FAL3/2) are preferred for wildfire operations.

Responsibilities

• Forestry & Fuels Reduction: thinning, limbing, bucking, and hand-piling to improve forest structure and reduce wildfire risk.
• Prescribed Fire Operations: prepare burn units and participate in prescribed burns when conditions permit.
• Riparian & Ecological Restoration: support fall plantings, native revegetation, and stream restoration tasks.
• Tool & Equipment Care: operate and maintain chainsaws, brushcutters, hand tools, and drip torches.
• Safety & Teamwork: maintain clear communication, follow JHAs and PPE guidelines.

Skills

Physical stamina

Safety awareness

Teamwork

NWCG credentials

Valid Driver's License

Tools

Chainsaw

Brushcutter

Pulaski

McLeod

Hand saw

Drip torch

Job description

Company: Ecological Services LLC https://www.ecologicalservicesllc.com/employment

Location: Based out of Leavenworth, WA (serving surrounding Central WA landscapes)

Position Type: Seasonal, Full-Time (approx. 40 hours/week)

Duration: Immediate Start – December (weather/snow-dependent)

Compensation: $28 – $32.00/hour, DOE

Application Deadline: Ongoing

About the Position:

We are seeking dedicated, hardworking individuals to join our field crew for the Fall Season. This position involves physically demanding, hands‑on field work focused on forest health, fuels reduction, prescribed fire, and watershed restoration. Crew members will work collaboratively in outdoor, variable terrain and weather conditions to implement projects that build wildfire resilience and restore ecosystem health.

Key Responsibilities

• Forestry & Fuels Reduction: Perform small‑diameter tree thinning (low‑impact hand thinning), limbing, bucking, and hand‑piling of woody fuels to improve forest structure and reduce wildfire risk.
• Prescribed Fire Operations: Prepare burn units (fuel breaks, blacklining prep, containment prep), and participate in prescribed broadcast burns and pile burning as conditions permit.
• Riparian & Ecological Restoration: Assist with fall riparian zone plantings, native revegetation, and low‑tech process‑based stream restoration tasks.
• Tool & Equipment Care: Safely operate and perform daily field maintenance on chainsaws, brushcutters, hand tools (pulaskis, McLeod tools, hand saws), and drip torches.
• Safety & Teamwork: Maintain high standards of crew communication, situational awareness, and adherence to Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs) and personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines.

Qualifications & Skills

Preferred / Ideal Qualifications

• Chainsaw Proficiency: Demonstrated experience in chainsaw operation, felling, bucking, limbing, and field maintenance (sharpening, troubleshooting). S-212 Wildland Fire Chainsaws or equivalent certification is a plus.
• NWCG Qualifications: Current or prior National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) credentials (e.g., FFT2, FFT1, FAL3/2) and experience with prescribed fire or wildfire operations.
• Restoration Experience: Prior field experience with native planting, ecological restoration, trail work, or conservation corps.

Required Qualifications:

• Ability to perform strenuous physical labor for 8–10 hours a day in rough, steep, and variable backcountry terrain and changing weather conditions.
• Ability to safely lift, carry, and pack up to 45–50 lbs.
• Strong work ethic, reliable attendance, positive attitude, and commitment to crew safety.
• Valid Driver’s License and reliable transportation to the shop/meeting site in Leavenworth, WA.
• Must provide own sturdy, leather work/wildland boots (other required PPE will be provided/discussed).

Work Environment & Schedule

• Schedule: Typically 4 x 10‑hour or 5 x 8‑hour days per week (approx. 40 hours/week). Prescribed fire days may require flexible start/end times depending on weather and burn windows.
• Field Conditions: Primarily outdoor work in temperatures ranging from late‑summer heat to late‑fall cold/rain/light snow.