Job Type: Temporary
Salary Details: $1800 per month
Deadline: Sep 01, 2021
Required Experience: 0 – 1 years

See full job details at https://www.conservationjobboard.com/job-listing-natural-resource-education-apprenticeship-taylorsville-california/2741750749

Natural Resource Education Apprenticeship
September 2021 – May 2022

The Sierra Institute for Community and Environment (Sierra Institute) is looking for one motivated individual to fill the position of Natural Resource Education Apprentice.

The Apprentice will work with staff, local teachers, and natural resource professionals to develop natural resource educational programming and field-based learning; assist with day and overnight field trips collecting ecological data with high school students; assist with classroom and field-based learning activities; support high school interns in the school production garden and with restoration of native plant propagation projects; assist with projects focused on community health and wellbeing; and support other field work as needed. In addition to natural resource education programming, the member will work with Sierra Institute’s Watershed Coordinator, USFS staff, NGO partners, and other stakeholders within the South Lassen Watersheds Group to accelerate development of a native plant greenhouse and utilization for restoration.

The Sierra Institute for Community and Environment is working in partnership with the Lassen National Forest and a diverse group of stakeholders, including industry, environmental non-profits, and tribes, to accelerate restoration across the nearly one million acre focal landscape of the South Lassen Watersheds Group, a collaborative planning for the future of forest management, climate resilience, and economic development in critical upper watersheds. The Apprentice will support this work through development and advancement of natural resource education programming and native plant propagation as part of collaborative landscape restoration addressing fire threat and forest resilience under a changing climate in some of California’s most critical watersheds – Upper Feather River, Mill Creek, Deer Creek, and Battle Creek. Together, these watersheds provide critical natural infrastructure for the California State Water Project, nearly 10% of the state’s hydroelectric power, and represent three of the last remaining strongholds for Chinook salmon. The Apprentice will improve the capacity of students and residents alike to monitor the climate benefits of forest restoration (e.g., carbon sequestration and wildfire emission avoidance/reduction), ultimately enhancing the resilience of local communities.

Occasional travel to rural communities throughout the state to conduct related work and research may be required.

Apprenticeship will last six to nine months, with potential for a transition to full time, regular employment. Review of applications will begin on July 7, 2021, with an anticipated start date of
early September.

Job Duties: The selected candidate will have the opportunity to advance their knowledge and
professional skills while contributing to meaningful outcomes for rural communities and landscapes
through involvement with a suite of Sierra Institute projects. Project areas described below provide an overview of the core efforts the selected apprentice will contribute to. These are meant to provide a general understanding of the position, and may not capture all responsibilities.

Natural Resource Education (60%):
Work with staff and local teachers to develop natural resource educational programming focused on forest and watershed health, and linked to community well-being; assist with the development of education modules focused on classroom and field-based learning of natural resource management;
assist with day and overnight field trips collecting ecological data with high school students; assist with classroom and field-based learning activities; and, potentially support high school interns in the school production garden, as well as with restoration and/or native plant propagation projects; support other field work as needed. There may also be opportunities to increase understanding of ecological data management, if desired.

Native Plant Propagation and Greenhouse Development (25%):
Work with state and federal agency ecologists, including Lassen Volcanic National Park and Lassen and Plumas National Forests, and local community members to advance native plant propagation including species that hold significant cultural importance to indigenous peoples in the region. Apprentice will be involved in the development of a greenhouse operation that supports local collaborative and community landscape restoration in the northern Sierra and southern Cascade ranges, headwaters of the Sacramento River watershed. Through this work the apprentice will help establish a four-season native plants nursery.

Other Projects (15%):

The apprentice will have the opportunity to assist with other organizational projects. Depending on the individual, other projects could include collaborative restoration, social sciences, or wood utilization projects. There may also be opportunities to support youth recreation and outdoor adventure programs.

As a member of Sierra Institute’s professional staff, the apprentice will contribute to the organization’s overall pursuit of its mission. Responsibilities may include assisting with administrative duties in the main office, or other organizational support activities.

Qualifications

Required

  • An undergraduate or advanced degree in the social science, natural resources or related field;
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills;
  • Basic understanding of land management policies, and natural resource issues such as wildfire forestry, and ecological restoration;
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel);
  • A willingness to work and live in a rural, mountainous area that receives snow and ice in winter;
  • A team-oriented perspective with a productive level of self-guidance and initiative;
  • An ability to bring critical thinking skills, creativity, and laughter to the workplace;
  • A personal vehicle for transportation outside of work;
  • Experience living and/or working in a rural setting and a strong desire to learn about rural issues.

Preferred

  • Demonstrated knowledge of collaborative resource management and community involvement;
  • Experience with qualitative and/or quantitative social science research methods;
  • In-depth experience conducting community surveys and/or stakeholder interviews;
  • Experience with online surveys, webinars, website management, and/or utilizing other computer software programs;
  • Experience using ESRI ArcGIS.

Please note these qualifications are what we believe is necessary to ensure the selected applicant is successful in this position, however we encourage all who are interested to apply and highlight how their experience and background will make them successful.

About the Sierra Institute: The Sierra Institute promotes healthy forests, watersheds, and communities by investing in the well-being of rural communities and strengthening their participation in natural resource management. Our work is grounded by the concept of triple bottom line values, supporting initiatives that simultaneously benefit the environment, economy, and equity within a given landscape. Sierra Institute strives to cultivate innovative projects through a collaborative-minded officeculture—staff often work on interdisciplinary projects both internally and with external partners. Sierra Institute staff must be adaptable, finding their roles must expand to fit the needs of specific projects and partnerships. The diversity of our work provides opportunity to think critically about how communities engage with natural resource management, from workshops to assess community capacity to field trips with high school students to marking timber. Staff routinely draw on the expertise and background of others to improve our collective work, and applicants should expect to be an integral member of this team. In addition, Sierra Institute supports a flexible work schedule that encourages employees to take advantage of our location by getting out to exercise in the sunshine mid-day. A close-knit staff will provide a welcoming sense of community to ease the transition to our rural county.

Location: Sierra Institute is located in Taylorsville, CA (pop. 154) and lies within a large mountain meadow referred to as “Indian Valley”, which includes the communities of Greenville and Crescent Mills. Taylorsville is an historic small town, with a long history dating back to the construction of first flour mill in the Pacific Northwest in 1856. Downtown Taylorsville is home to two historic establishments, the Taylorsville Tavern, a favorite watering hole for loggers, and Young’s Market, a revitalized country store and sandwich shop that first opened its doors in 1862 that is – debatably – home to the oldest working cash register in the nation manufactured in 1914. The community of Taylorsville has long been a blend of long-time residents, ranchers, loggers, and newcomers drawn to the area for its beauty. Taylorsville offers unique, rural community events that bring the community together, such as the Silver Buckle Rodeo held over the 4th of July, the Holiday Light Parade the Saturday after Thanksgiving; and New Year’s Eve fireworks in the fields across from the Tavern. Taylorsville is surrounded by many outdoor recreation opportunities such as Lake Almanor, Plumas and Lassen National Forests, and Lassen Volcanic National Park. These adjacent public lands feature untouched backcountry routes in winter, and endless, empty dirt roads to explore in summer. Adventures that lie just out the back door of the office.

Compensation: The apprentice will receive approximately $1,800/month, plus shared housing and the option to participate in the organization’s health insurance benefits. The Sierra Institute will provide fully furnished, utilities-paid accommodation.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send your resume, cover letter, and contact information for three references as one pdf to jobs@sierrainstitute.us with “Natural Resource Education Apprenticeship Fall 2021” in the subject line. Please include where you heard about the job in the text of the email (please be as specific as possible).

READ FULL JOB DESCRIPTION HERE.

Review of applications will begin on July 7, 2021.