Individual Placement- Rangeland Management at Sierra National Forest

Position Summary 

Crew member would assist with conducting rangeland management inventory and monitoring on grazing allotments within the Sierra National Forest. Inventory and monitoring work would include collecting forage production information, forage utilization levels, herbaceous species composition and cover data. The work environment would include lower elevation Sierra Nevada foothills annual grassland oak woodland range type and higher elevation Sierra Nevada montane meadows. Primary goals are to assist the Forest's rangeland management specialist with inventory on vacant range allotments for restocking with livestock and inspect rangeland for compliance with permitted livestock activities in the actively grazed allotments.

 

Location 

North Fork, CA

 

Schedule 

May 18, 2026 - September 4, 2026

 

Key Duties and Responsibilities 

• Conduct rangeland management inventory and monitoring on vacant and actively grazed allotments within the Sierra National Forest
• Collect forage production information
• Conduct forage utilization and stream channel alteration monitoring using Survey123 using various protocols
• Inspect and record range improvements such as corrals, holding fields, drift fence and water developments
• Efficacy of virtual fencing implementation
• Sample meadow plots for perennial herbaceous plant species composition and cover and soil texture, depth to water table and dominant and co-dominate plant species within the plot

 

Marginal Duties 

• Assist with vehicle maintenance inspections
• Assist Aquatics Biologist with fish counts and stream survey
• Opportunity to work with ranchers Opportunity to work with other natural resources disciplines such as wildlife biologists, botanists and aquatics biologists

 

Required Qualifications 

• Rangeland Management
• Environmental Science or Botany related degrees preferred and/or prior experience with plant identification and vegetation sampling
• Drivers license and comfort level or ability to learn to drive safely on mountainous roads.

 

This SCA Position is authorized under the Public Land Corps Authority. All participants must be between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, or veterans age 35 or younger. Participants must also be a citizen or national of the United States or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. Hours served can be applied toward the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority.

 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience with managing livestock (cattle, sheep or goats)
• Experience with virtual fencing for livestock

 

Hours 

40 per week

 

Living Accommodations 

Housing is available free of charge to crew member through agreement:

• Barracks style with shared room, bathroom and kitchen

 

Compensation

Living Allowance $450/week, Travel Allowance $1100

All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes. 

 

Personal Vehicle Information

Required

 

Additional Benefits 

• Bear Safety
• Defensive Driving Training
• First Aid/CPR
• AmeriCorps: Not Eligible

 

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.