Long Cane Forest Recovery Lead Technician

USA The Nature Conservancy; United States; On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The Nature Conservancy in the western Piedmont of South Carolina is seeking a Forest Recovery Lead Technician to support the Long Cane Ranger District. This full-time role focuses on forest restoration, hazardous fuels reduction, prescribed fire, and post-storm recovery, coordinating field teams and ensuring safe, efficient operations.

You will work with TNC staff, Forest Service personnel, and partners to implement restoration activities, monitor progress, and document results, while

Qualifications

• Practical field leader who can organize field assignments and coordinate teams.
• Strong communication and problem-solving in remote field environments.
• Ability to work in hazardous conditions, variable weather, and difficult terrain.

Responsibilities

• Lead field activities to support forest recovery and restoration.
• Organize assignments, coordinate personnel and resources, monitor progress.
• Plan and monitor prescribed fire, vegetation management, and invasive species work.
• Operate and maintain tools, vehicles, and equipment per safety rules.
• Collect field data and maintain records to track progress and reporting.
• Promote safe operations by participating in briefings, hazard assessments, and incident reporting.
• Coordinate logistics and report progress and safety concerns to leadership.
• Collaborate with staff, contractors, landowners, and partners; support training and outreach.

Skills

Field leadership

Communication

Organization

Problem solving

Job description

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Forest Recovery Lead Technician will support implementation of a five-year Hurricane Helene recovery and forest restoration agreement between The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the U.S. Forest Service on the Sumter National Forest, with a focus on the Long Cane Ranger District. The position will help deliver on-the-ground recovery work that reduces hazardous fuels, restores resilient forests, improves watershed health and biological diversity, and strengthens community wildfire preparedness across the western Piedmont landscape.

Working as part of TNC's South Carolina Forest Recovery Team, the Lead Technician will provide day-to-day field leadership for forest restoration, hazardous fuels reduction, prescribed fire, post-storm recovery, and related monitoring activities. The position will organize field assignments, coordinate personnel and equipment, monitor progress, and work alongside TNC staff, U.S. Forest Service personnel, contractors, and other partners to maintain safe and efficient operations.

Work will occur primarily on the Long Cane Ranger District of the Sumter National Forest and may include adjacent lands where treatments directly support recovery and restoration objectives for the district. Some work will occasionally occur on the Andrew Pickens Ranger District or at other approved locations. Activities may include prescribed fire preparation and implementation, mechanical and manual fuels work, fire control feature construction and rehabilitation, invasive species treatment, vegetation management, field assessment, fuels characterization, data collection, and restoration of disturbed areas with native vegetation.

The Lead Technician will help maintain field readiness by inspecting and maintaining tools, vehicles, equipment, personal protective equipment, and supplies; coordinating logistics and mobilization; documenting accomplishments; and communicating field conditions, safety concerns, and operational needs to the Forest Recovery Director and U.S. Forest Service project contacts. The position may serve in Incident Command System positions for which the employee is qualified or formally assigned as a trainee.

The position requires work in variable weather, smoke, remote locations, difficult terrain, and physically demanding conditions. Frequent travel to project sites and occasional overnight, evening, weekend, and extended operational assignments will be required. This is a full-time, term position based in the western Piedmont of South Carolina, within reasonable commuting distance of the Long Cane Ranger District, and may be extended beyond the initial five-year term, subject to funding and organizational need.

We're Looking for You:

If you are looking for meaningful field-based conservation work, join TNC's South Carolina Chapter as a Forest Recovery Lead Technician supporting the Long Cane Ranger District. You will help turn Hurricane Helene recovery investments into visible, measurable results on the ground while building a strong safety culture and supporting a capable, collaborative restoration team.

We are seeking a practical, dependable field leader who can organize work, solve problems, communicate clearly, and contribute directly to demanding restoration and prescribed fire operations. The successful candidate will balance production, safety, stewardship, accurate documentation, and respectful collaboration with agency staff, contractors, partners, and communities.

Essential Functions:

• Lead and participate in field activities that support forest recovery, prescribed fire, hazardous fuels reduction, ecological restoration, and related conservation objectives.
• Provide day-to-day field leadership by organizing assignments, coordinating personnel and resources, monitoring progress, and adapting work to changing conditions.
• Support the planning, preparation, implementation, monitoring, and follow-up of prescribed fire, vegetation management, invasive species treatment, and other forest restoration activities.
• Operate and maintain tools, vehicles, equipment, and project supplies in accordance with training, authorization, and established safety requirements.
• Collect and maintain field data, treatment records, and other documentation needed to track accomplishments and support project reporting and adaptive management.
• Promote safe and compliant operations by participating in briefings, hazard assessments, after-action reviews, and incident reporting and by following approved plans, policies, and environmental requirements.
• Coordinate field logistics and communicate operational needs, progress, safety concerns, and project results to the Forest Recovery Director and other designated contacts.
• Work collaboratively with TNC staff, agency personnel, contractors, landowners, community members, and other partners; support training, outreach, and workforce development when assigned.

Responsibilities & Scope:

May lead or monitor staff, interns, volunt