DEPARTMENT: California (Western Conservation)
REPORTS TO: California Inland Trout Program Manager 
POSITION TYPE/HOURS: Full-time, temporary  
LOCATION: Alturas, California

ABOUT TROUT UNLIMITED

Trout Unlimited (TU) takes care of the rivers and clean water that trout, salmon and communities around the country depend on. We are a nationwide network of advocates, outdoor enthusiasts, volunteers, anglers and staff dedicated to protecting places where trout and salmon thrive and recovering rivers and fisheries that need help. We want to make sure healthy rivers and fisheries are available for all people to use and enjoy.

Trout Unlimited has 300,000 members and supporters supported by a respected staff of organizers, lawyers, policy experts, and scientists, who work out of more than 45 offices across the country. The California program has 20+ staff located in Berkeley, Ft. Bragg, Truckee, and home offices around the state. Every year our team manages dozens of river flow and habitat restoration projects, with focal areas on the North Coast, Sacramento Valley, and the Sierra Nevada, and we advocate for strong conservation policies by the state and federal governments.

Trout Unlimited’s California Inland Trout Program is based in Truckee and works to improve wild and native inland trout populations across the Sierra Nevada, Eastern Sierra, and parts of western Nevada.  We work to improve headwater habitat, primary located on public land, with a variety of federal, state, natural resource agency, industry, and other NGO partners. We also work to protect and improve high profile recreational sport fisheries so that they can support the anglers, businesses, and rural communities that depend on them.    

POSITION SUMMARY

The Rangeland Management Specialist position will serve as a core member of the Modoc National Forest (MNF) Range Program Team, typically working in the field from early May through the end of November in 2025 and 2026.  The person will work primarily on the Warner Mountain Ranger District collecting data on numerous livestock grazing allotments, as well as supporting collaborative ongoing TU-MNF meadow restoration projects. The person will collect data, document and prepare various vegetation and riparian utilization studies using existing Forest Service (FS) monitoring protocols; implement sensitive and invasive plant surveys; conduct range improvement inspections and mapping; and document and communicate livestock permit compliance.  This position requires daily travel in a 4-wheel drive vehicle to distant and remote locations to perform the work as described above. The person will ideally be based near the Modoc Supervisors Office in Alturas, CA and report to the Warner Mountain District Ranger at the Modoc National Forest.  Government housing may be available.

Work during the non-field season, from approximately December 2025 through April 2026 and December 2026, will consist of helping TU with project management and other duties related to the field work from the prior field season.  The location of this work is flexible.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assists the Warner Mountain District range program with assessing range readiness, utilization monitoring and various aspects of livestock permit compliance on numerous Forest range allotments, including photo documentation, data form completion, coordinate identification, database entry and report writing as applicable.
• Conducts field surveys for invasive noxious weeds, threatened, endangered, and sensitive plants.
• Prepares statistical and narrative reports, correspondence and briefings as required.
• Performs quality control checks on all data collected prior to final submittal.
• Finished work is reviewed for completeness, adequacy, and compliance with Forest Service policies and procedures.
• Collects established key area study data throughout the allotments, focusing on riparian sites and meadows. Distinguishes between livestock and wildlife use.
• Accurately maps existing range improvements (e.g., fences, water developments) using field mapping software which involves hiking and topo hardcopy map navigation and assists with developing updated maps.
• Inspects, documents and reports on riparian exclosure fences and other range and/or vegetation improvements.
• Makes minor maintenance repairs to exclosure fences.
• Works closely with the Forest Service work supervisor and District Ranger to identify, document, communicate, and check on compliance issues with permittees in a timely and professional manner.
• Properly store and maintain field equipment and tools.
• Hike and work in a mountainous forest environment with black bears, cougars and other dangerous wildlife.
• The work may include strenuous outdoor activity, such as walking, climbing, riding (ATV/UTV), often in steep, rough terrain in isolated areas in a forest environment.
• Work is performed outdoors where terrain may be steep, uneven, rocky, and covered with vegetation. Climate ranges from extremely dry to extremely wet and from hot to cold. Rain, snow, wind, or dust may be encountered. The work requires the use of appropriate clothing and footwear.
• Drive to and from field sites in a large, 4wd truck on rough roads.

This is not an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in the physical or biological sciences or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience conducting scientifically robust fieldwork.
• Ability to correctly identify flora and fauna of interest.
• Ability to correctly identify livestock (by sex and maturity) and ownership marks (e.g., brands, ear marks, etc.).
• Willingness and ability to travel and perform field work at least 85% time.
• Positive outlook and ability to work independently and as a team member.
• Be able to rapport successfully with livestock permittees.
• Rangeland fence building/maintenance experience.
• Sufficient knowledge of related disciplines such as ecology and hydrology to evaluate rangeland health, data and activity impacts.
• Experience with Field and data mapping (Avenza, ESRI FieldMaps, and Survey123).
• Skill using compass, aerial photos, topographic maps, and GPS units to locate and navigate to sites and survey areas.
• Valid driver’s license and own vehicle required (field vehicle will be supplied, but must be able to travel to FS office).
• Experience and competence driving large field vehicles on rough roads (Forest Service dirt roads and Jeep roads).
• Knowledge of accepted safety practices to prevent injury or loss of life and attention to applicable FS Job Hazard Assessments.
• Must successfully pass required driving and other mandatory trainings utilized by the FS.

Staff and leadership at TU and the MNF understand that life outside of work is important to personal health, and we strive to create a healthy and family-friendly atmosphere. This is a full-time temporary position running from May 2025 through December of 2026 (20 months) with a pay range of $22-$30/hr.  Formal supervision is through TU, although daily coordination will be with a Forest Service work supervisor during the field season periods.