Regional Job Board

Seed and Inventory Specialist – Sierra Nevada Alliance and American Forests

Placerville, California

Organizational Background:

American Forests is a national non-profit organization committed to creating healthy and resilient Forests, from cities to wilderness, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water and wildlife. We advance our mission through forestry innovation, place-based partnerships to plant and restore forests, and movement building. We envision a world in which the significant environmental, societal and economic benefits of forests are fully realized and equitably available to all people. Established in 1875, American Forests is the oldest national non-profit conservation organization in the U.S. working to restore urban forests and forested landscapes. American Forests is proud to be a diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible (DEIA) workplace. These are our shared values. We welcome individuals who bring a variety of backgrounds and experiences to be a part of our team to help make a difference individually and collectively as we work toward achieving our mission. We are committed to fostering an environment that is welcoming and respectful and provides opportunities for advancement and professional growth for every team member.

We hope you find a future with us.

Position Description:

The Seed Need and Inventory Specialist (Specialist) will work on a cutting-edge climate-smart reforestation need for California – helping to determine gaps in the state’s seed bank. This position will support the work of American Forests’ California Reforestation Pipeline Partnership Manager on their work to develop California’s Seed Strategy. They will collaborate with the U.S. Forest Service Region 5 and will be based at the Placerville Nursery. This position will directly impact reforestation efforts in California, where mega-fires, ongoing drought, and disease have devastated critical forest ecosystems.

The Specialist will support the important work of sorting and entering data for 2019-2021 in order to bring the seed inventory up to date for those years and in doing so assist in the development of a Seed Needs Assessment. This data will guide the U.S. Forest Service as well as other agencies and organizations in their efforts to ensure California has adequate seed supply necessary for the reforestation efforts. Additionally, they will compile historical/archived seed bank inventory and at times, support the Placerville Nursery with operations.

This position is a unique entry-level opportunity to be a part of a high-level reforestation project and contribute directly to the needs of California’s forest ecosystems, including post-fire recovery. It is a chance to start a career in forestry and/or natural resources. The Fellow will receive guidance and mentorship and will have the opportunity to be considered for a permanent position by the end of the term.

Specific Responsibilities:

Data Sorting and Entry (75%)

• Transferring information from hard paper copies of seedlot information (cone handler’s checklist) into an excel spreadsheet to update and fill gaps in the seed bank inventory.
• Compiling data entry for 2018-2022, then prior 10-15 years.
• Communicating their findings and analysis with the U.S. Forest Service Placerville Nursery Manager, Regional Seed Procurement Manager and American Forests California Reforestation Pipeline Cooperative Manager.

Nursery Operations (15%)

• May occasionally be assigned to support cone and/or seed processing, seedling handling, and other assorted nursery operations and maintenance tasks as needed and assigned by the Placerville Nursery manager.

Project Administration (10%)

• In addition, the Specialist will be responsible for engaging with other colleagues, and supporting American Forests’ mission and the California Reforestation Pipeline Cooperative mission as needed.

Location and Working Conditions:

The Specialist will be based in Placerville, California at the US Forest Service Placerville Nursery in the Eldorado National Forest. The individual will have access to a computer containing the appropriate spreadsheets at the Placerville Nursery, thus a large portion of the work shall occur on-site at the nursery offices. Potential on-site housing may be available based on expressed need. Some weekend shifts may be required.

The work may require lifting materials which may weigh up to 40 lbs. Office work will also be expected including data entry, recordkeeping, attending meetings, writing reports and emailing.

Reforestation efforts in California have expanded in recent years, in part due to the efforts of American Forests. This rapid growth has led to an increase in job opportunities across the sector. While employment is not guaranteed upon completion of the term, skills gained will be of value to the reforestation industry and to American Forests’ as our organization continues to grow.

Site-Specific Training Provided:

Nursery operations, seed bank inventory data and data processes, seed needs analysis, hardware and software
and support for learning opportunities in reforestation industry.

Required Qualifications:

• Ability to work independently and gather the necessary information to complete assigned tasks.
• Must be able to read and accurately transfer data to specific form fields as directed during training.
• A background of educational or personal interest in forestry and/or reforestation, horticulture, and plant genetics is preferred.
• Ability to commit to the full Sierra Nevada Alliance AmeriCorps Partnership term.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Data Analytics, Natural Resources, or a related field.
• Experience in data sorting and entry and software utilized to do so (Microsoft Excel).
• A background of educational or personal interest in forestry and/or reforestation, horticulture, and plant genetics is preferred.
• Ability to think creatively, and problem solve, with a willingness to find innovative solutions.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to stand/sit for long periods.
• Ability to lift 40 lbs.
• Repetitive tasks with few breaks.
• At times, work in adverse weather conditions including but not limited to high heat, rain, snow, smoke, dust, and cold temperatures (within reason).

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