The Ecological Restoration Institute (ERI) is hiring field research technicians for the 2025 summer field season!

The ERI at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff is nationally recognized for mobilizing its unique assets to help solve the problem of unnaturally severe wildfire and degraded forest health throughout the western US. The ERI collaborates with land management agencies and local communities to provide comprehensive research, ecological monitoring, and technical support. The mission of the ERI is to serve as an objective leader in research, scholarship, and education, and to assist in the planning and implementation of restoration treatments for frequent-fire forest and woodland landscapes of the West.

Qualifications: Applicants should understand ecological field data collection methods and have experience measuring forest attributes such as tree height and diameter, tree regeneration, shrub abundance, and surface fuel loading. In addition, experience using dichotomous keys to identify plant species, familiarity with understory measurements, and knowledge of southwestern forest flora is preferred. Experienced technicians may lead crews and field trips with limited direct supervision. All technicians will use equipment such as tree diameter tapes, hypsometers, digital cameras, GPS units, and hand-held computers. Ability to work with others of diverse backgrounds and cultural values is required.

Description: ERI crews are based in Flagstaff but work in a variety of forests in Arizona and the Four Corners area. Crews work 40 hours-per-week for the duration of the field season, which begins in mid-May and lasts through mid-August or later. Work schedule is typically four 10-hour days per week, although some field trips may consist of eight consecutive days away from Flagstaff. Eight-day trips will require crews to camp and may require work in backcountry settings. Food for group-organized meals on camping trips is provided. Technicians should have a valid driver’s license and previous 4WD vehicle experience is preferred. Technicians should be able to carry up to 15 lbs. of field equipment in addition to personal gear.

Compensation:

$18.00 - $23.00 per hour, DOE

Start Date: Mid-May, 2025

End Date: From mid-August to mid-October, 2025, depending on availability  

To apply, please email a cover letter outlining qualifications for the position, a resume, and contact information for three references to Mike.Stoddard@nau.edu. Open until filled.