Scientific Research Specialist CL2 - Forest Technician

University-of-Main; Orono (ME); On-site; USD 45,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Maine in Orono is seeking a Forest Technician to support the university's forestry operations year-round. The role involves supervising student workers, operating heavy equipment, and maintaining a wide range of facilities and trees across Maine.

Work includes field labs, safety training, snow plowing, ski trail grooming, and maple syrup operations, with travel statewide. Normal hours are full-time, Monday through Friday, with compensation of $21.93 per hour, and transfer rates

Qualifications

• Supervise student workers in forestry activities.
• Maintain and operate forest facilities and equipment.
• Plan and participate in field labs and safety trainings.

Responsibilities

• Train and supervise student employees in forestry activities such as thinning, boundary work, harvesting, inventory and invasive species control.
• Maintain buildings, grounds, facilities and equipment.
• Operate heavy equipment including cable skidder and tractors and repair as needed.
• Lead field labs, forestry camps, and orientation events.
• Provide chainsaw safety training using Game-of-Logging methodologies.
• Perform snow plowing and ski trail grooming as required.
• Conduct road maintenance and data collection for forest inventory.
• Represent UMaine on forestry advisory matters.
• Oversee maple syrup operations: supplies, scheduling, evaporation process, bottling and hosting visitors.

Skills

Student supervision

Outdoor work

Heavy equipment operation

Safety training

Job description

The Forest Technician reports to the University Forest Manager although daily work assignments may be made by the Forest Operations Manager. Work is often performed alone with limited or no direct supervision. Year-round outdoor work, sometimes in adverse conditions (i.e. cold, deep snow, heat, rain, and insects) is required. Travel statewide is required. Full-time, regular position, 40 hours per week, 5 days per week. Normal daily work hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This position pays $21.93/hour, or applicable transfer rate in accordance with the ACSUM collective bargaining agreement.

Essential duties and responsibilities of the Forest Technician include:

• Train and supervise student employees in activities such as per-commercial thinning of forest stands, firewood processing, boundary line maintenance, timber harvesting, forest inventory and invasive plant control.
• Maintain buildings, grounds, facilities and equipment.
• Work with the Forest Operations Manager and students as part of a conventional logging crew operating the University Forest cable skidder, or other heavy equipment, hand-felling trees as part of the yearly timber harvest operations and as needed for research and demonstrations.
• Help organize and lead field labs for forestry and wildlife classes on topics related to logging and forest operations, assist with the annual forestry summer camp, research learning experience class and Tanglewood first year student orientation camp.
• Assist with chainsaw safety classes for students and other U-Maine employees using the Game-of-Logging training methodology.
• Operate, maintain and repair a variety of heavy equipment including a cable skidder, farm tractors, bulldozer, road grader, bandsaw mills, chainsaws and various small engine equipment.
• Plow snow on the Demeritt and Penobscot forests and other properties as needed.
• Groom ski trails with snowsled and tow behind groomer.
• Conduct road maintenance and repair under direction of the Forest Manager or Operations Manager.
• Mow roadsides, recreational trails and fields.
• Collect forest inventory data on variable and fixed radius plots andenter data.
• Research, locate and maintain over 115 miles of boundary lines, based on deeds and existing evidence, on properties across the State of Maine.
• Serve as the university representative on the Certified Logging Professional advisory board.
• Principal responsibility for UM Forests maple syrup operations:
  • Ordering supplies and materials.
  • Scheduling student workers and volunteers for tapping trees and gathering sap.
  • Preparation, operation and cleanup of the evaporator, sugarhouse, and collection apparatus, Finishing & bottling syrup.
  • Hosting forestry classes, local TV stations, schoolchildren and visitors.
• Other duties: The Forest Technician is also expected to perform other reasonably related duties as assigned.

This position has been designated as an “Essential Employee” role. This designation means that, in the event of an emergency (including but not limited to severe weather, natural or human‑caused disasters, public health emergencies, operational disruptions, or campus closures), you may be required to work to support the continuity of critical University functions.

About the University:

The University of Maine is a community of more than 11,900 undergraduate and graduate students, and 2,500 employees located on the Orono campus, the regional campus in Machias, and throughout the state.

UMaine is a land, sea and space grant university, and maintains a leadership role as the University of Maine System's flagship institution.

UMaine is the state's public research university and a Carnegie R1 top‑tier research institution, dedicated to providing excellent teaching, research and service for Maine, the nation and the world.

More information about UMaine is at umaine.edu.

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