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Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Crew Leader

Colorado State University

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Working Title Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Crew Leader
Position Location Durango/Gunnison (Southwest Colorado), Steamboat Springs/Meeker/Rifle (Northwest Colorado), and potential for other locations throughout Colorado and Wyoming
Work Location Position qualifies for hybrid/in-office work
Research Professional Position Yes
Posting Number 202400025AP
Position Type Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title Research Associate II
Number of Vacancies
Work Hours/Week 40
Proposed Annual Salary Range $50,000 – $55,000
Employee Benefits Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion , and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

  • For detailed benefit plan information for eligible employees, visit https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/ and https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/ .
  • For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, visit https://hr.colostate.edu/total-compensation-calculator/ .
  • For more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in, visit https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-community/ .
Desired Start Date
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 02/12/2024
Description of Work Unit Founded in 1870, Colorado State University is among the nation’s leading research universities and enrolls approximately 32,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Located an hour north of the Denver metro area, Fort Collins is a vibrant community of approximately 157,000 residents that offers the convenience of a small town with all the amenities of a large city. Fort Collins is situated on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains with views of 14,000 foot peaks, and offers access to numerous cultural, recreational, and outdoor opportunities.
The Colorado State Forest Service is an agency of Colorado State University, housed organizationally in the Warner College of Natural Resources. The CSFS also staffs the Division of Forestry for the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. The CSFS has field offices throughout the state, organized within 4 Areas with a State Office in Fort Collins on the Foothills Campus at CSU. Individual staff members take the lead on one or more program areas and all staff members are expected to assist each other as needed for successful, efficient, and effective delivery of services and programs.
The FIA Program is a sub-staff of the Science and Data Division of the Colorado State Forest Service. The FIA Program is managed by the Associate Director of Science and Data and the FIA Program Manager.
Why Choose Colorado State Forest Service?
We not only value our forests; we also value our employees. Joining our team comes with incredible benefits:

  • Identity Wear Stipend: Elevate your professional image with a stipend for personalized wear.
  • Work-Life Harmony: Achieve optimal work-life integration through tailored and flexible scheduling options.
  • Premium Healthcare Benefits: Prioritize your well-being with access to exclusive and comprehensive healthcare benefits.
  • Time-Off: Recharge with 15 days of sick leave and 24 days of annual leave.
  • Retirement Plan: Secure your financial future with a remarkable 12% employer contribution to your retirement plan.
  • Assistance Program: Access premium well-being resources through our Employee Assistance Program.
  • Professional Development: Enhance your skills through personalized professional training opportunities facilitated by CSU.
  • Educational Empowerment: Receive 9 hours of education credits annually through CSU.
  • Tuition Privileges for Family: Secure your family’s future with 50% off tuition for children, partner, and spouse.
  • Relocation Support Package: Facilitate a smooth transition with our moving expense allowance.
  • Community Leadership Initiative: Give back to your community with paid administrative leave dedicated to volunteering.
Position Summary With direct guidance of a FIA Supervisory Forester and the indirect guidance of the FIA Program Manager within the Science and Data Division of the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS), this research position will be autonomous, independent, and responsible for conducting forest inventory field work across multiple states. This position will also have direct supervision of a Research Associate I crew member. The FIA Crew Leader is responsible for performing a variety of recurring and complex duties in support of both CSFS and the United States Forest Service (USFS) FIA program. This collaborative partnership’s mission is to produce a comprehensive inventory of forests in all U.S. states and territories so that policy makers, land managers and owners, investors, and other non-governmental groups have timely and accurate information about the health and productivity of forests in the United States.
The incumbent will conduct a variety of field measurements including, but not limited to, those involving tree/sapling/seedling data, vegetation diversity, fuel loading measurements, stand treatments and disturbances, land ownership, and soil and erosion data collection in collaboration with USFS FIA program. The incumbent will be required to become knowledgeable with scientific literature and technical bulletins related to natural resources. The incumbent must also become effective in written and verbal communication for non-technical and technical reports, professional and public meetings, and professional presentations. Using a variety of geographical information systems (GIS) software packages, FIA Crew Leader must be able to use their skills to analyze data, interpret results, and present findings related to both GIS and FIA databases.
The FIA Crew Leader is always expected to ensure safe working practices of themselves and their crew and be an advocate for productive team development. The FIA Crew Leader will administer performance ratings, assign work, and handle administrative tasks related to their crew. This person will be responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the crew vehicle and all crew supplies and equipment. The FIA Crew Leader will work closely with USFS FIA liaisons to meet production and quality benchmarks, including assisting and leading annual training for the certification of CSFS FIA personnel. The FIA Crew Leader is also responsible for making all private landowner contacts prior to accessing or crossing private property.
A person who fills the FIA Crew Leader position will operate 4-wheel drive vehicles, UTVs, ATVs, and occasionally horses or boats to access various assigned plot locations in Colorado, Wyoming, and the surrounding states. The FIA Research Associate II will be required to complete daily check-in safety procedures using email, cell phones, inReach messaging devices, or satellite phones while in travel status. Road and plot navigation skills including use of GIS software and datasets, topographical maps, aerial photos, and GPS units are necessary for this position. Crews will use handheld data recorders to gather, encode, summarize, and upload collected field measurements to the USFS FIA database. Bi-weekly data upload and data collection progress reports will be submitted to both the FIA Program Manager and USFS FIA liaison.
The FIA Crew Leader and their crew will be required to hike while carrying at least 45-pound packs with all related field gear (pack weights can exceed 60 pounds for longer overnight trips). Crews work at elevations ranging from 3,500 to 14,000 feet when accessing permanent inventory plots. Crews will be expected to hike long distances to reach plot locations both on- and off-trail, and work on steep and/or rough terrain. Crews will be working in full sun, rain, and snow conditions across the full range of temperatures which can change rapidly throughout the day. The FIA Crew Leader can expect to be in travel status, camping or staying in hotels and cabins, for varying lengths of time depending on plot location. A typical length of time in travel status is five days, with some trips lasting 10 or more days, during a typical nine-month field season.
When possible and with general consultation with the FIA Program Manager and/or their FIA Supervisory Foresters, the FIA Crew Leader will assist other CSFS Field Office personnel within the following areas: forest management, outreach, and administration. The incumbent will be asked to analyze and interpret findings from technical and scientific reports and be able to present summarized findings in a variety of public settings. This position is expected to assist CSFS Field Office staff with providing service, outreach, and education to landowners and cooperators/partners through written and verbal communication methods.
Required Job Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree (or greater) in Forestry, Forest Ecology, Botany, or a Natural Resources program option will be considered.
  • Three years (or field seasons) of natural resource data collection experience
  • Analyzing and summarizing scientific data for reports and presentations.
  • Experience in road and backcountry navigation using topographical maps, aerial photos, and GPS units.
  • Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license or access to a licensed driver by the employment start date.
  • The successful candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States before the employment start date; Colorado State Forest Service will not sponsor a visa for this position.
Preferred Job Qualifications
  • Three or more seasons of FIA experience or similar field work experience (e.g., Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) field work).
  • Previous experience supervising employees.
  • Experience with handheld field computers (e.g., Juniper Systems Allegro or Trimble Ranger) and experience using MIDAS software for data collection.
  • Previous use and knowledge of GIS programs, GIS datasets, and GPS units to collect field data.
  • Ability to use and troubleshoot IT issues related to Windows, Java, internet browser security settings, and storage devices.
  • When contacting landowners and resource managers, show the ability to explain the scientific basis behind natural resource inventories through complex negotiation skills.
  • Experience in project/logistical planning and implementation, and experience participating on teams and ability to work autonomously for extended periods of time.
  • Experience in map navigation, compass/orienteering, and aerial photo interpretation for reconnaissance.
  • Experience with maintaining documentation and data quality standards.
  • Experience using and calibrating inventory tools that include hypsometer, clinometer, laser, stereoscope, loggers/diameter tape, chaining tape, increment borers, and others related to repeatable and accurate forestry measurements.
  • Comprehension of basic field forestry skills (cruising).
  • Dendrology and vegetation identification course work and/or field work.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Committed to safety, data quality, demonstrating excellent customer service ethic with the public, and professionalism with CSFS or USFS staff.
  • General safety (CPR/First Aid), Wilderness First Responder, or other safety training and experience.
Diversity Statement Demonstrated knowledge of, and relevant ability with, culturally diverse communities among potential target and constituent populations.

Essential Duties

Job Duty Category Forest Inventory, Biometrics, and Accomplishment Reporting
Duty/Responsibility
  • Conduct extensive forest land inventories across private, public, and tribal land ownership.
  • Determine accuracy of plot location and accessibility.
  • Locate remote field sites using GIS, aerial photographs, topographic maps, compass, and GPS.
  • Collect data related to:
    • Tree species composition (count and measurement of the number, species, size, quality, cull, and other characteristics of sample trees)
    • Understory vegetation composition (species identification, percent coverage, and quantify horizontal and vertical structure)
    • Wildland fuel-loading related to down dead wood (count and measurement of the number, tree species, fuel size, and decay class)
    • Forest floor metrics (depth and volume measurements related to organic matter, litter, duff, mineral soil)
  • Examine and record the classified ownership, forest type, stand size, stocking, cover class, natural and anthropogenic treatments or disturbances, forest insects and diseases, and other items as specified in the FIA national/regional field guide procedures.
  • Make professional interpretations of the FIA national/regional field guide procedures for applications under unusual conditions.
  • Use botanical knowledge to identify plants and collect specimens of unknown plants for later identification procedures.
  • Monitor all measurements, transfer data, analyze data within quality-control parameters, and upload final datasets to a secure off-site FIA national data repository.
  • Complete accurate and concise plot summaries of all field visits.
  • Communicate, cooperate, and collaborate with city, county, state, and federal natural resource management agencies; tribal entities; private, non-profit, and corporations to enlist support in conducting field inventory activities.
  • Use various GIS software platforms to extract, analyze, and summarize natural resource and ownership data for state and regional forest health reports and public presentations.
  • Review and evaluate the FIA national/regional field guide procedures and provide professional and scientific feedback regarding data collection, data analysis, methodology, and conclusions for consultation with supervisors and USFS FIA liaisons.
  • Provide professional and scientific findings related to natural resource inventories.
  • Consult various scientific resources to understand standards, methods, findings, recommendations, and conclusions related to data acquisition and inventories.
Percentage Of Time 60%
Job Duty Category Supervision
Duty/Responsibility
  • Directly supervise at least one Research Associate I employee (crew member).
  • Responsible for interviewing and hiring crew member(s) for the field season and conducting a performance evaluation for a Research Associate I crew member.
  • Responsible for managing, documenting, and reviewing timesheets and travel vouchers for a Research Associate I crew member.
  • Plan daily, weekly, and monthly work to be accomplished by the unit, assign work to employee(s), and establish production or quality standards for the crew’s work.
  • Resolve employee complaints, effect minor disciplinary measures, and recommend action in more serious cases to the FIA Program Manager.
  • Perform administrative and human resources management functions including counselling and instruction on administrative and work matters.
  • Assure full compliance with CSFS safety regulations, USFS FIA safety regulations, and the CSFS FIA Safety Plan for both self and Research Associate I crew member(s).
Percentage Of Time 20%
Job Duty Category Work Planning
Duty/Responsibility
  • Perform project planning activities including scheduling, organizing, and executing field collection projects related to natural resource inventories.
  • Create and implement long-range logistical planning and distribution of workload throughout the field season.
  • Develop and delegate weekly and monthly travel itineraries and logistics for the crew.
  • Develop work plans that include time and costs estimates, and the required materials, supplies, and equipment to accomplish various natural resource studies and inventories.
  • Implement daily and weekly safety plans and hazard assessments.
  • Provide essential support for projects of varying scope; assemble and prepare material for field research work including selection of aerial photos, maps, and equipment.
  • Responsible for coordinating with the FIA Program Manager, FIA Supervisory Foresters, various CSFS staff, USFS FIA liaison, tribal entities, private and corporate landowners, and state and federal agencies.
Percentage Of Time 20%

Application Details

Special Instructions to Applicants Applicants will be expected to provide:

  • A cover letter addressing Required Job Qualifications, Preferred Job Qualifications and Essential Job Duties
  • A resume
  • Unofficial Transcripts
  • Contact information of three references. References will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates.

For full consideration, applications must be received no later than 11:59pm MST on February 12, 2024.
Application materials will be held in confidence by the Search Committee through semi-finalist interviews. Confidentiality of application materials detaches at the point where a candidate accepts participation in a finalist interview.
CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.
Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires), Valid Driver’s License, Use, Handling, or Exposure to hazardous materials – Bear Spray, Travel – In and out of state travel, Special Requirements/Other – Ability to hike carrying at least 45-pound packs at elevations ranging from 3,500 to 14,000 feet. Ability to safely operate 4-wheel drive vehicles, forest machinery, and tools. Ability to perform strenuous outdoor work in a variety of weather conditions.
Search Contact Nate Rausch, [email protected], 970-433-8675
EEO Statement Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.
The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715, [email protected] .
The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education .
Background Check Policy Statement Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

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