Forestry - Wildlife Biologist Aide

Sierra Pacific Company; Grass Valley (CA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plan with company match

Paid vacation and 10 holidays

Training and internal promotion

Job summary

Sierra Pacific Industries, a fourth-generation family-owned timber company, is seeking a Wildlife Aide to support our Forestry Division in Grass Valley, CA. You will conduct protocol-level wildlife surveys and collect high-quality field data to support timber harvest planning and conservation efforts.

The role requires hands-on field work, map and GPS navigation, data entry with GIS tools, and the ability to work independently or on a team in remote locations, in all weather conditions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology, ecology, forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field.
• 2 years’ related wildlife or natural resources field experience.
• Field experience with wildlife survey protocols, species identification, and habitat data collection.
• Field experience with map and compass navigation, GPS, tablets, and GIS-based data collection.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team, with strong attention to detail and excellent time management skills.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to safely operate a 4x4 vehicle on rough terrain and remote forest roads.

Responsibilities

• Conduct protocol-level wildlife surveys and collect high-quality field data that support timber harvest planning, conservation agreements, fuel break projects, and other land management activities.
• Accurately collect, record, and edit wildlife occurrence and habitat data using the internal wildlife information system.
• Identify wildlife to family, genus, and species, and document special status and rare wildlife occurrences.
• Record habitat characteristics for project areas and special status wildlife locations.
• Support short- and long-term monitoring efforts, and assist with owl banding and amphibian studies as needed.
• Track completion of wildlife surveys and assist with end-of-season report writing.
• Assist the District Wildlife Biologist with planning, coordinating, and training seasonal field crews.
• Work in remote field locations, hike steep slopes over uneven terrain, and complete extensive field work in all weather conditions.
• Actively support field operations, including routine overnight and out-of-area survey and project work.
• Safely navigate remote forest roads and rough terrain using digital and hard copy maps.

Job description

Forestry - Wildlife Biologist Aide

Tahoe Forestry District, Grass Valley, CA. Close Date: 11/20/2026. Job Type: Full-Time.

Benefits and Compensation

• Earn $26.34 per hour
• We train and promote from within
• Excellent low-cost health benefits
• Retirement plan with employer-paid contributions
• Paid vacation and 10 holidays

At Sierra Pacific Industries, we understand our greatest strength is the people who choose to build a career with us. We are a fourth-generation family-owned company that has grown to be one of the largest lumber and millwork producers in the United States. Our more than 6,000 employees are proud to work at our state-of-the-art sawmills and other facilities, including: manufacturing, custom wood-framed windows, fabrication, millwork, veneer, cogeneration, trucking, forestry, and other operations.

Our more than 2.4 million acres of timberland in the Western United States are sustainably managed by professionals in our Forestry Division. Currently, we are seeking a Wildlife Aide to support the Forestry Division’s wildlife program. The Wildlife Aide conducts protocol-level wildlife surveys and collects occurrence and habitat data that support timber harvest planning, conservation agreements, and other land management activities across our Martell, Tahoe, and Sonora districts.

About The Position

• Conduct protocol-level wildlife surveys and collect high-quality field data that support timber harvest planning, conservation agreements, fuel break projects, and other land management activities
• Accurately collect, record, and edit wildlife occurrence and habitat data using the internal wildlife information system
• Identify wildlife to family, genus, and species, and document special status and rare wildlife occurrences
• Record habitat characteristics for project areas and special status wildlife locations
• Support short- and long-term monitoring efforts, and assist with owl banding and amphibian studies as needed
• Track completion of wildlife surveys and assist with end-of-season report writing
• Assist the District Wildlife Biologist with planning, coordinating, and training seasonal field crews
• Work in remote field locations, hike steep slopes over uneven terrain, and complete extensive field work in all weather conditions
• Actively support field operations, including routine overnight and out-of-area survey and project work
• Safely navigate remote forest roads and rough terrain using digital and hard copy maps

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology, ecology, forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field
• 2 years’ related wildlife or natural resources field experience
• Field experience with wildlife survey protocols, species identification, and habitat data collection
• Field experience with map and compass navigation, GPS, tablets, and GIS-based data collection
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team, with strong attention to detail and excellent time management skills
• Valid driver’s license and ability to safely operate a 4x4 vehicle on rough terrain and remote forest roads

Why Join Our Team?

Because this is more than an invitation, it's a commitment to offer opportunities for personal and professional growth to everyone! We ask people to grow with us and make the company even better.

We provide an excellent benefit package including a full Health Benefits Plan (including medical, dental, and vision) with low-cost premiums, a 401(k) with Company Match, additional Retirement Contributions, and company-paid Life Insurance.

Company Information

Sierra Pacific Industries is a fourth-generation family-owned company based in Northern California that started in 1949 and has grown to be one of the largest lumber and millwork producers in the U.S., employing around 6,500 crew members. Sierra Pacific continues to be a company where its employees are proud to work at state-of-the-art facilities and others strive to become part of the team.

We own and sustainably manage more than 2.4 million acres of timberland in California, Oregon, and Washington. Our forests are sustainably managed under a 100-year plan by Registered Professional Foresters, Wildlife Biologists, Botanists, and other professionals. We are growing forests for our future, planting over 6 million new trees every year. In Spring 2024, we planted our 300 millionth seedling on our timberlands. This milestone was decades in the making, reflecting our commitment to sustainable forest management and ensuring we have forests not just for today, but for generations to come.

Sierra Pacific effectively uses nearly 100% of every piece of wood we bring to our facilities. In fact, any small amount that isn't turned into hand-crafted doors and windows, millwork, lumber, or landscaping material is actually converted into electricity in our eight biomass-fueled power plants.

We are proud that all Sierra Pacific facilities follow our drug-free and tobacco-free policies. As part of our safety in the workplace policy, an offer of employment is subject to a negative drug screen result. We use E-verify to verify the social security number and work authorization of all newly hired employees. Sierra Pacific is an (EOE) Equal Opportunity Employer, including those with a disability and veterans.

What does it mean to be part of the Sierra Pacific family? It means you are a valued team member and part of a growing, fourth-generation family‑owned, forest products company built on hard work, innovation, and wise investments.

With around 6,500 crew members in over 30 states, Sierra Pacific offers many opportunities for personal and professional growth; from entry‑level to skilled trades, from truck drivers to sales managers, from foresters to engineers – for everyone! We invite you to learn more about our history, our 2.4 million acres of forestlands, and our state-of-the-art wood product and window manufacturing facilities at www.spi-ind.com/AboutUs.

As part of our safety in the workplace policy, an offer of employment is subject to a negative drug screen result. We are also proud that all Sierra Pacific facilities follow our tobacco-free policy. Sierra Pacific adheres to E-verify to verify the social security number of all newly hired employees. Sierra Pacific is an (EOE) Equal Opportunity Employer, including those with a disability and veterans. If you are an individual with a disability and need accommodation to complete the application process, please call 800-378-8001 or write to Sierra Pacific Industries at PO Box 496011, Redding, CA 96049.

Celebrate our 300th million seedling planted with us! spi-ind.com/OurForests/ThreeHundredMillion

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