Natural Resources Specialist (Forestry Inventory Technician)

Virginia Tech • Blacksburg, VA

2d • $18 - $23 • Onsite

About The Position

Forest Inventory Technicians will assist Principal Investigators on a variety of natural resource and conservation projects within the Virginia Tech Conservation Management Institute. Technicians will work as part of a collaborative field team to collect, record, and manage data related to forest inventory and vegetation monitoring across diverse forested landscapes. Responsibilities include conducting forest measurements, vegetation surveys, forest fuels assessments, and related natural resource field investigations. Technicians will be expected to follow standardized data collection protocols, maintain field equipment, and ensure accurate and complete data records. Additional duties may include performing basic data entry, quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) reviews, and assisting with the preparation of written summaries and reports. Successful candidates should be comfortable working outdoors in varied terrain and weather conditions and demonstrate strong attention to detail, teamwork, and communication skills.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Forestry, Forest Resources, Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Ecology, Wildlife Science, Biology, or a closely related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant field experience.
• Experience working as part of a field crew conducting natural resource, forest inventory, vegetation, or ecological surveys.
• Knowledge of forest inventory methods and procedures, including measuring tree and stand attributes such as species, diameter, height, regeneration, and forest health indicators.
• Ability to identify common tree species and other vegetation found throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States.
• Ability and willingness to work outdoors for extended periods in remote locations and under adverse weather, terrain, and field conditions, including carrying field equipment and hiking over rough terrain.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
• Ability to successfully complete background checks required for access to military installations and other restricted properties.
• Experience using Microsoft Office applications (particularly Excel and Word), GPS/GNSS equipment, mobile data collection platforms, and ESRI GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, Field Maps).

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience conducting forest inventory, timber cruising, forest health monitoring, FIA-style inventories, or related forestry fieldwork.
• Experience using electronic data collection devices, tablets, and GIS-based field applications.
• Familiarity with soils characterization, forest fuels assessments, and vegetation monitoring protocols.
• Experience working on federally managed lands, military installations, or other large-scale natural resource management projects.

Responsibilities

• Conducting forest measurements, vegetation surveys, forest fuels assessments, and related natural resource field investigations.
• Collecting, recording, and managing data related to forest inventory and vegetation monitoring.
• Following standardized data collection protocols.
• Maintaining field equipment.
• Ensuring accurate and complete data records.
• Performing basic data entry.
• Conducting quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) reviews.
• Assisting with the preparation of written summaries and reports.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level