Field Ecology Technician/Lead Field Ecologist WFFRC

The Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies is hiring Field Ecology Technicians and a Lead Field Ecologist for the WFFRC program in Kenya. Positions involve conducting fieldwork on post-fire forest regeneration and burn severity in California and Colorado from April to September 2026. Candidates should have a degree in ecology or related fields, fieldwork experience, and strong communication skills. The roles require working in challenging environments and maintaining high-quality data collection.
WFFRC is a research program designed to accelerate scientific discoveries that will enhance forest resilience and wildfire decision making. In 2026, WFFRC field crews will collect data on post-fire forest regeneration and burn severity to support WFFRC’s research goals. WFFRC is housed at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. For additional information on WFFRC and the Cary Institute, please https://www.westernfireforest.org/ and https://www.caryinstitute.org/, respectively.


We are currently soliciting applications for field ecologist technicians and lead field ecologist positions. Each field crew consists of one crew lead and two technicians. One crew will be based in Santa Barbara, CA and sample sites in the western Sierra Nevada Mountains.


The other crew will be based in Boulder, CO and sample sites in the Southern Rockies of Colorado and northern New Mexico. Each will be based at a university (UC Santa Barbara or University of Colorado, Boulder) for the duration of the season.


Dates

Rockies Crew: April 30, 2026 – September 10, 2026 (Boulder, CO)
Sierras Crew: May 28, 2026 – July 30, 2026 (Santa Barbara, CA)

Position Summary

Conduct wildfire ecology field work consisting of data collection on burn severity and forest regeneration in California, Colorado, and/or New Mexico
Safely and effectively follow established field protocols (e.g. Composite Burn index, tree mortality, ground cover, soil sampling, sapling identification and counts, pre-fire stand composition) to assess post-fire vegetation communities. Comprehensive training in all field protocols and safety procedures will be provided
Crew Leads are responsible for making safety decisions in the field and ensuring high-quality data collection

Required Qualifications

B.S. or working toward a degree in ecology, natural resource management, or a related field
Previous fieldwork experience, including working in challenging environmental conditions
Valid U.S. Driver’s License
Crew Leads must have experience managing field crews or conducting several seasons of field work

Preferred Qualifications

Current certification in or ability to obtain CPR, First Aid, Wilderness First Aid, or Wilderness First Responder certificates. Strong preference will be given to Crew Leads with WFA/WFR certificates.
Strong plant identification skills using taxonomic keys
Familiarity with flora and systems of California Sierras or Southern Rockies

Required Skills

Experience navigating through challenging and remote terrain
Comfortable bushwhacking through dense shrubs, sometimes for hours at a time
Familiarity or willingness to learn and adhere to best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles
Love the outdoors and be passionate about learning botany, forestry, and fire ecology
Excellent communication skills and ability to work both independently and as part of a team
Ability to maintain a positive attitude and adapt to changing conditions
Have high quality data collection skills and great attention to detail
Comfortable navigating to remote sites in a 4WD vehicle and maintaining trucks and gear
Participate in pre- and post-hitch activities, including hitch planning, data entry + QA/QC using tools like those found in the Microsoft Suite Software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access)
Car camp for up to eight days at a time, either at established campgrounds or dispersed camping in areas without amenities. Backcountry camping/backpacking is not required

Physical Demands

Must be able to stand and walk/hike for long periods (up to 4 miles/day on rough, uneven terrain)
Must be able to bend and crouch for long periods of time
Must be able to lift and carry gear and packs that weigh up to 40 pounds
Must be comfortable car camping for up to 8 days at a time

Work Environment And Schedule

This is a fieldwork position based in either the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California and the Southern Rockies of Colorado and Northern New Mexico.
This position involves working in challenging and unpredictable environmental conditions (e.g. extreme weather, uneven terrain, hazardous wildlife, etc.) and safety training will be provided
During fieldwork, camping will be required, typically on a rotating eight, 8.75 hour days on (Thurs-Thurs) and 6 days off schedule throughout the season. A hotel night will be provided halfway through each 8 day hitc