Field Technician - Maine

Trout Unlimited is a national organization with 300,000 members and supporters organized into over 400 chapters and councils nationwide.  These dedicated grassroots volunteers are matched by a respected staff of organizers, lawyers, policy experts, and scientists, who work out of more than 45 offices across the country.  Our mission is to bring together diverse interests to care for and recover rivers and streams so our children can experience the joy of wild and native trout and salmon.  

Trout Unlimited recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. 

POSITION SUMMARY  

The Maine Field Technician’s primary focus will be implementing strategic wood addition (SWA) projects. The field tech will lead a seasonal crew to conduct this habitat improvement, utilizing chainsaws, grip hoists and other hand tools to selectively place trees into stream channels. Outside of the SWA project season, the field technician will assist the Maine Project Manager in data collection, reporting, permitting, and project implementation on other types of restoration projects.  

The field tech will report directly to the project manager and will be responsible for working as part of a restoration team to conduct instream habitat improvement, streambank stabilization, and aquatic organism passage projects. The field tech will have a lead role within the field team, including coordinating project logistics in remote areas. Candidates should have experience as a sawyer, preferably with US Forest Service certification. Projects implemented by the position will provide multiple benefits to coldwater fisheries and local communities including flood resiliency, improvement of aquatic habitat and water quality, and protection of aquatic health and biodiversity. The position will be based in Maine and will include travel throughout the state. Travel reimbursement and lodging will be provided on an as-needed basis.  

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Perform all duties with safety as top priority. 
• Working onsite in remote areas with limited or no cell signal for several days each week. 
• With appropriate training, use tools (chainsaws, grip hoists, hand tools, pulleys, levers) to place trees into streams to create aquatic habitat. 
• Transport, maintain, and inventory equipment for projects. 
• Operate hand-powered equipment (e.g. winches, axes, etc.). 
• Assist with monitoring, survey, and data collection at project sites. 
• Assist with stream habitat and/or culvert assessments. 
• Lead a small field crew through implementation of projects throughout Maine.  
• Assist Maine Project Manager with reporting, permitting, and planning as needed. 

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

REQUIREMENTS 

• B.S. degree in environmental science, fisheries biology, forestry, or related discipline or commensurate field experience.  
• Ability to work both independently and cooperatively in a team with varied skills, abilities, and perspectives. 
• Experience with data entry and Microsoft Office programs. 
• Knowledge of stream ecology and/or natural stream design techniques. 
• Saw experience, preferably with USFS, S-212, or Game of Logging certification. 
• Familiarity with using and maintaining hand tools (e.g. axes, shovels, chainsaws). 
• Ability to hike and carry heavy gear (up to 50lbs.) through rough terrain. 
• Self-motivated and highly energetic, with excellent time-management skills. 
• Ability and willingness to travel. Valid driver’s license and own vehicle required.  
• Ability to problem solve and think creatively to achieve a conservation mission.  
• Schedule flexibility, adaptability to varying environments and plans. 
• Satisfactory completion of state and federal background checks. 
• Passion for protecting and restoring trout populations and their watersheds. 

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Experience with directional tree felling and cutting on steep slopes. 
• Tree ID skills. 
• Knowledge of fish habitat and/or basic hydrology.  
• Experience with Esri Applications (Survey123, Esri Field Maps, etc.)  
• Basic First Aid and CPR; Wilderness First Aid or similar. 
• Experience with or interest in growing GIS skills. 

COMPENSATION 

This is a full-time position with a generous benefits package. The position pay range is $40,000-$47,000 based on experience and location. Applicant must be located in Maine.  

Staff and leadership at TU 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 position with a generous benefits package. 

At TU, we value a diverse representation of staff, and we actively seek candidates for this position who come from communities that have been historically under-represented in conservation and those who have been most impacted by degraded rivers and streams. We are committed to building space for all people to participate in our work to care for trout and salmon and clean our shared waters. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome you to read more about TU’s equity practice and values?https://www.tu.org/equity/.