Regional Job Board

Field Interviewer – Chico State Enterprises

Plumas, Lassen, and Tahoe National Forests and Lake Tahoe Management Unit

Status: Part-time / Non-benefitted / Hourly / Non-exempt

Compensation: $16.00 – $20.00 per hour

Department: National Visitor Use Monitoring Program

Location: Various recreation sites across the 18 national forests of California.

• Four Northern California forests will be surveyed in FY25 (October 1, 2024-September 30, 2025): Plumas, Lassen, and Tahoe National Forests and Lake Tahoe Management Unit

Recruitment ID: 215

Residency: Candidate must be a California resident. Chico State Enterprises is not a sponsoring agency for staff and management positions (i.e. H-1B Visas).

Essential Job Functions:

Chico State Enterprises, an auxiliary of CSU, Chico, is seeking dependable individuals to assist with the National Visitor Use Monitoring Program (NVUM), a project sponsored by the USDA Forest Service. The position is mostly field based with extensive travel and ample opportunities to explore and enjoy the national forests of California. There no survey sites in Chico or Butte County.

Primary duties include interviewing recreation users exiting general forested areas, trailheads, picnic areas, wilderness areas, campgrounds, or scenic highways. The position requires driving to predetermined forest locations and preparing the survey site, interviewing exiting visitors for a six- hour period, and some summary reporting. With travel time equal to the distance between sites and the appropriate duty station, most field sessions range from 7.5 to 9.5 hours with additional unpaid commuting time from where you reside.

• Communicate properly and effectively through phone, text, and email with supervisory staff, coworkers, and agency personnel.
• Understand survey protocol and diligently count recreation use.
• Understand the requirements of scheduling, site scouting, and data transfer.
• Maintain vehicle cleanliness and treat all equipment properly to maintain property life and increase safety.
• Safely set up survey site (signage, cones, etc.) according to USFS survey protocol.
• Provide job shadowing opportunities and field training for new employees.
• Keep accurate records.
• Adhere to all safety rules and regulations.

Employment Standards:

Interviewers must be personable and friendly, comfortable standing outside in varying weather conditions, able to follow an established and detailed survey protocol, remain alert during periods of low visitor activity, drive on varying road types safely, and drive and work in varied weather conditions. If public safety conditions limit the ability to interview, visitor or vehicle counts may be approved as an alternative protocol with long periods of sitting.

Qualifications:

• Ability to maintain a professional appearance and positive attitude.
• Ability to work independently as well as in team settings.
• Ability to use a tablet device for data collection and transfer.
• Able to speak comfortably with people and effectively communicate with survey team.
• Ability to administer questionnaires to National Forest visitors and to understand basic questionnaire protocol.
• Ability to scout survey sites and prepare data entry forms for use by others.
• Must successfully complete Defensive Driver’s Training and obtain a Campfire permit.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and good driving record throughout employment in this position.
• Must be at least 18 years of age with reliable transportation or over 21+ years of age to operate a rental vehicle.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with the NVUM survey processes and protocols including Survey123 (instrumentation and data transfer) but we are willing to train.
• Experience navigating remote roads and trails with maps and GPS.
• Technical driving skills for unpaved and unmaintained roads.
• Must be willing to work some combinations of weekdays, weekends, and holidays.
• Though not required, an enjoyment of outdoor recreation is a plus. During the summer interviewers frequently camp for multiple nights in campgrounds or open forest areas.
• Capacity and willingness to work in extreme weather conditions and work independently in remote backcountry settings.

Compliance Requirements:

• Candidate must be in possession of valid driver’s license and automobile liability insurance. Participation in the DMV Employer Pull Notice Program (driving record) is required. The candidate will be required to update their insurance with Chico State Enterprises Human Resources when necessary.

How To Apply:

To be considered, submit the following documents by September 26th, 2024. Documents submitted after this date may not be considered.

• Resume
• Chico State Enterprises Application

By Drop Box: https://csuchico.app.box.com/f/8c4c2348bd9d41cda587f05eb3ce40a5

By Email: csejobs@csuchico.edu

Paper applications will not be accepted; however, Chico State Enterprises is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is happy to provide reasonable accommodations to applicants at any step of the application process. If you need assistance in this regard, or are having technical difficulties, please contact the Human Resources office at 530-898-6811 or csejobs@csuchico.edu prior to 5:00 pm on the document deadline date. The employer is Chico State Enterprises, a non- profit corporation serving as an auxiliary organization of California State University, Chico. Employment is considered to be at- will.

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