Forestry Technician II/ Crew Leader Assistant (Summer 2025) at Mountain Village, Town of (CO) – Mountain Village, Colorado

Job Title: Forestry Tech II / Crew Leader Assistant -Seasonal
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Salary Grade: 12 (Min: $25.37, Mid $29.81, Max $34.25)
Hiring Range: $25.37 - $29.81
*Application deadline is Sunday 3/23/25 at midnight. Applications will begin to be reviewed on Monday 3/24.
**Seasonal employee housing is available with this position.
Check out our work: https://vimeo.com/1063415830

NATURE OF WORK:
Under direct supervision, will primarily support the Crew Leader with the coordination, and implementation of forestry/arboriculture projects and tasks, inspect and maintain equipment daily, participate in daily tailgate safety briefings and applicable trainings. The Forestry Crew Assistant will work with the Forestry Tech II/Crew Team Leader to plan and execute daily project objectives and ensure that the team’s operation is conducted safely and according to project specifications.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Provide effective support and assistance to the Forestry Crew Team to safely perform ground operations on challenging sites in rugged, steep terrain to move material and help position and process trees and tree parts.

• Will act as crew leader in absence of crew leader and will serve as point person for public safety during field operations. Able to supervise, train and assist team members of duties.
• Work involves participating in and occasionally supervising a variety of tasks, often hazardous, such as trimming and removing limbs and branches, and removing dead or diseased trees.
• Will focus on safely working with the crew, equipment, and tools; processing materials; providing field operation support; assisting with felling and aerial work; rigging; and communications on challenging sites to perform forestry/arboriculture operations.
• Will assist to complete operational objectives for each working location, and work with team members to complete tasks.
• Will rig materials to be moved; connects chokers to logs and brush for the winch; collects and drags brush to chipper; operates chipper to process brush and trees. Assists in cleanup of site after tree removals and forestry operations. Carefully plans and executes trimming and removals to minimize the probability of damage to property. Performs routine preventive maintenance on equipment operated such as fueling/cleaning, checking oil/fluid levels, lubrications, inspecting tires, etc.
• Performs required labor involved with preventing the destructive effects of wildfires and reducing tree risks by implementing fuel treatments and the mitigation of tree hazards.

2. Safety – Recognizes, practices, and enforces safety rules and procedures when performing any and all tasks associated with this position.

• Reports unsafe actions, conditions, and injuries to Town personnel immediately.
• Participates in regular safety tailgate trainings.
• Wears all required safety apparel and personal protective equipment (PPE) including wearing seat belts when operating any town vehicle.
• Strict commitment to Town, State, and Federal regulations and maintains a safe, productive, and positive work environment for self and others. Responsible for personal, forestry team, and public safety (EPA, OSHA, USFS, and ANSI Z133 safety standards).

3. Special Projects

• Develops proficiencies in the operation of light, medium, and heavy machinery.
• Develop the proficient skills to operate forestry equipment, chainsaws, and hand tools to cut, clear and remove brush, surface fuels, and trees.
• Develops proficient skills in chainsaw use; connects chokers to logs and brush for winch; collects and drags brush to chipper; operates chipper to process brush and trees. Cleans up site after tree removals and forestry operations.
• Performs routine preventive maintenance on equipment operated such as fueling/cleaning, checking oil/fluid levels, lubrications, inspecting tires, etc. Exercises teamwork as a crew member, watches clearances, assists in securing ropes, pulleys, and chokers to move materials, watches and directs traffic as needed, maintains personal, crew, and public safety.
• May be asked to assist Town Forester with issuing tree permits and performing hazard tree and fire mitigation inspections as well as provide resident consultations.
• Always performs duties with attention to minimizing impacts to the environment including water conservation, natural products, chemical use, recycling and Zero Waste, energy and fuel conservation.
• Performs all tasks in a friendly and professional manner at all times, assists and provides information to residents and guests, subcontractors and merchants with utmost attention to quality customer service
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
High School diploma/GED. Experience in previous forestry/arboriculture, wildland/firefighting, summer and winter parks and recreational duties required. Experience operating four wheelers, hand tools and light and heavy equipment preferred. Previous chainsaw training course completion preferred.

Licenses/Certification(s):
Possession of a valid Colorado State Driver’s License is required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES REQUIRED:
Knowledge of: Principles and practices of forestry and/or arboriculture, recreation maintenance; regulations governing the maintenance of recreation facilities and trails; trail construction and maintenance principles; equipment and tools relative to forestry/arboriculture maintenance and construction.

Skill in: Ability to speak, read, hear, write, and comprehend the English language at a high school graduate level. Ability to read and understand documents, plans, and maps pertaining to Mountain Village facilities and surrounding forests and trails. Effective verbal and written communication skills. Employee must be able to operate hand tools, power tools, and various pieces of equipment, especially chainsaws. Employee must have proficiency in safe and efficient equipment operation including dump trucks, 4-wheel-drive vehicles, trailers, loaders, skidders, tree chippers, and 4 wheelers.

Environmental Factors: Work is performed primarily in outdoor environments with exposure to extreme weather conditions, rugged terrain, unstable ice, high winds, falling trees, very steep slopes and animal feces. The work requires the use of protective devices such as safety glasses, helmets, hearing protection, chainsaw chaps, boots, and gloves. Subject to be on call 24/7 during emergency situations. May be on duty up to 10 hours a day.
Physical Factors: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to operate light to heavy equipment, perform manual labor, stand, walk, and hike for extended periods of time and will be exposed to noise, dust, dirt, fumes, smoke, chemicals, dirt grease, machinery with moving parts, and hot to cold or inclement weather. The employee will be required to walk, climb, and move objects on very steep slopes. The employee must be able to lift or move up to 80pounds. The employee must be willing and able to hike uphill for a minimum distance of two miles over one thousand vertical feet in all summer and winter-like weather conditions.

Expectations of All Employees:
To support consistent high-quality guest service to everyone in our community, including our co-workers, making Mountain Village a great place to live, work and visit.