Position Title: Tribal and Forestry Technical Assistance Specialist

Host Site: Sierra Nevada Alliance 

Site Supervisor: Lis Olearts and Taylor Parker

Term: Full Term Fellow, 1920 hours (approximately 11 months at 40 hours/week)

Position Location: Remote, within California and high preference for somewhere within the Sierra Nevada range

Who we’re looking for:

TheTribal and Forestry Technical Assistance Specialist will be a key staff member within the Sierra Nevada Alliance’s (SNA) Forestry and 30x30 Departments focused on increasing land protection and workforce capacity for forest health and natural resource management projects throughout the Sierra. This position will work in coordination with other SNA staff, Tribal communities, governmental agencies, and Non-Government Organization partners to build broad community-based support for our programs. 

A major focus of this position will be supporting our new program being implemented in partnership with Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC): the Tribal Capacity Building Program. The goal of this program is to build capacity among Tribes in California’s Sierra-Cascade region to act as leaders in ecosystem restoration, forest health, and fire resilience work. This position will support the implementation of this intensive, year-long capacity building assistance to help Tribal staff develop the skills to obtain funding, implement grants, manage programs, engage in multi-agency efforts, and to be successful in other critical areas. 

Sierra Corps Forestry Fellowship Program Background: 

Sierra Corps is a Forestry Fellowship program implemented by the SNA that aims to increase workforce capacity for forest health restoration, biomass utilization, and wildfire resilience projects in the Sierra Nevada. The Alliance places Fellows with partners throughout the region for forest-health related employment. Fellows bring their education, skills, and expertise to engage in fellowships that provide assistance in assessment, planning, permitting, project management, and other essential forest restoration and wildfire resilience work. The Sierra Corps is a program that allows you to advance your career in environmental conservation by working as a forest health project specialist developing skills in project management and contributing to the increase in pace and scale of forest restoration at a time when it is critically needed. 

Compensations and Benefits: 

• $27.50/hr, full-time
• Potential for overtime, if agreed upon by Fellow and supervisor, paid at a minimum of 1.5x rate 
• Employer-provided Health Insurance, paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave as identified in the Sierra Nevada Alliance Employee Handbook
• A total of $3,650.00 stipend to be used during the Fellowship term, itemized as follows:
• $1250 travel stipend
• $500 supplies stipend 
• $500 equipment stipend
• $1400 training stipend 

Time Commitment: Fellows are required to complete project specific work and professional development activities and training over 1920 hours (approximately 11 months, working 40 hours/week). All Fellows are required to commit to the full term of their Fellowship position.  Paid holidays, accrued vacation, and sick leave are also included in this time commitment.  The position ideally starts in mid-February 2025, but no later than 1 March 2025 and will conclude upon completion of 1920 hours, approximately February 2026. 

Who We Are: SNA has over three decades of experience in providing technical assistance and capacity building to organizations and Tribes across the Sierra Nevada region. We unite people and organizations to protect Sierra Nevada ecosystems and communities. All of our programs and projects are designed to build collaboration and stronger partnerships to achieve greater impact. We empower organizations and Tribes implementing on-the ground projects that build wildfire resilience, protect watersheds, and restore the health of the forests and water resources. We also support regional coordination to advance climate action and advocate on behalf of the environment and communities of the Sierra.

Responsibilities

• Tribal Capacity Building Program (TCB program) (~19 hrs/wk; 47.5% of time)
• Keep general track of TCB program, including deliverables, timelines, consultants, training, results, and general expenses. 
• Coordinate and facilitate monthly group meetings.
• Help identify Tribal needs, specialized consultants and technical training opportunities. Adapt TCB program direction based on Tribal feedback. 
• Support manage contracts with consultants and their deliverables.
• Help coordinate technical training and workshops based on Tribal needs. 
• Work individually with Tribes to provide general support. This includes helping identify and prioritize goals and needs, helping shape ideas and dreams into project proposals, overseeing the development of project design, reviewing project narrative and budget drafts, and generally being available as needed to each Tribal participant. 
• Develop quarterly evaluation reports. 
• Connect Tribal participants to the SNA Member Group Program (via free technical assistance and networking benefits already offered by SNA)
• Support Tribal relationship building and incorporation of Tribal Traditional Ecological Knowledge and conservation priorities into other SNA programs 
• Forestry Program Assistance (~15 hrs/wk; 37.5% of time)
• Forestry Reporting
• Combining Fellows Monthly Reports and Photos
• Organizing content for monthly and quarterly reports
• Organizing content for monthly invoices
• Assisting with forestry program cost-tracking
• Program Development Assistance
• Assist with professional development curriculum
• Aid in planning forestry events and meetings
• Assisting with staff timesheet management
• Forestry Funding Development 
• Assist with funding proposal development
• Additional tasks as agreed upon
• Individual Professional Development (~6 hrs/wk; 15% of time)
• The Fellow will have an average of approximately six hours per week to plan and participate in professional development opportunities that align with their goals as well as directly support their success at their host site. If there are professional development opportunities that are longer than 6 hours, the excess time will be subtracted during another week. One full workday per month (8 consecutive hours) to attend to Sierra Corps responsibilities, including our monthly meeting and a Fellow(s) respective professional development. These will most likely be scheduled as the last Wednesday of each month. The Fellow will develop monthly reports, and participate in monthly fellow meetings and check-ins with Sierra Nevada Alliance supervisors. They will also plan and budget their use of professional development stipend and complete timesheets.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Environmental Science, or other natural resource field. Exceptions can be made for the right candidate, so please do not hesitate to apply if you feel you are the right candidate.
• At least one year of experience in the field of natural resource management, technical assistance provider, conservation, and/or forest health projects. Experience working with Tribes and/or disinvested communities is a plus. 
• Ability to work independently, self-manage and communicate effectively. 
• Ability to think creatively, problem solve, and a willingness to find innovative solutions.
• Strong desire to work with Tribes or in a forest health related career
• Proficiency with Outlook, Excel, and Word.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license, and a reasonably clean driving record to operate a work vehicle.

Desired Qualifications: 

• Two years combined experience in forest health projects, conservation planning, technical assistance provider, project management,environmental education, and/or working with Tribes.
• Fluency in Spanish. 
• Familiarity with Sierra Nevada communities and natural resources. 

Location and Working Conditions: The position serves the greater Sierra Nevada Range. Therefore, the position can be remote within California and preferably within the Sierra Nevada. SNA has an office in South Lake Tahoe that is available. Additionally, some travel may be required and all travel will be paid for or reimbursed.

Sierra Nevada Alliance Website: www.sierranevadaalliance.org 

Sierra Corps Website: www.sierranevadaalliance.org/sierra-corps-forestry-fellowship-program/