US Forest Service · Nationwide / location varies · posted today
The Aquatic and Riparian Effectiveness Monitoring Program (AREMP) tracks watershed condition across the Pacific Northwest and reports on the Forest Service’s Northwest Forest Plan and the BLM’s Western Oregon Resource Management Plan. Each summer, we hire seasonal field crews to collect high‑quality stream habitat data across Forest Service, BLM, and National Park Service lands from northern Washington to northern California. Why work for AREMP? • Build real technical field skills You’ll gain experience with widely used stream survey methods across a huge variety of stream types—collecting macroinvertebrates, measuring substrate, bankfull width, large wood, pools, and water chemistry. These skills are directly applicable to careers in fisheries biology, watershed science, ecological monitoring, restoration, and graduate school pathways. • Work in incredible landscapes From remote coastal headwaters to steep forested terrain and large alluvial rivers, you’ll see systems that define aquatic ecology in the Pacific Northwest—and build ecological intuition you simply cannot get in a classroom. • Training that strengthens your professional foundation We provide training in stream survey techniques, Wilderness First Aid, and CPR—essential certifications for field‑based natural resource work. • A schedule that supports balance Crews work eight days in the field followed by six days off, giving you meaningful downtime to explore the region, rest, and recover. • Mentorship, teamwork, and collaboration You’ll work closely with crew leaders and peers who bring a range of backgrounds, communication styles, and field experience. The environment is supportive and collaborative, helping new professionals grow quickly. Depending on availability and project needs, there may also be opportunities to work with career hydrologists and fish biologists from the National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and Forest Service (FS), as well as seasonal employees from these agencies. Crew Leaders (up to 4 positions) — Start late April (TBD) • Lead crews to remote stream sites, requiring strong physical fitness and confident off‑trail navigation in steep, brushy terrain using GPS. • Foster a positive, inclusive team environment with clear communication across diverse experience and communication styles. • Plan daily survey logistics and adapt to changing conditions (heat, rain, smoke, high flows, cold water, crew fatigue) to ensure safe, efficient field operations. • Apply standard fisheries and hydrology methods to collect high‑quality field data. • Organize, review, and manage data using Android tablets. Crew Members (up to 7 positions) — Starts late May (exact date TBD) • Physically fit to hike off‑trail through steep, brushy terrain to access remote stream survey sites. • Collect field data on fish and watershed conditions, including macroinvertebrates, substrate, bankfull width, large wood, pools, and water chemistry. • Contribute to a positive, team‑focused work environment, communicating effectively with crew members who bring diverse backgrounds, work styles, and communication approaches. • Follow daily plans and adapt to changing environmental and survey conditions while maintaining safe and efficient field operations. Frequently Asked Questions How long does the job last? Crew leaders typically work from mid-April to end of September and field crew members work from mid-May to end of September. Start dates are not flexible. Where will I be working? Crews will sample streams in selected watersheds “west of the Cascades” from Northern Washington to Central California on Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service lands. Work is very strenuous and physically demanding because of the steep terrain and remote access of sampling sites. What’s the typical work schedule? All crews are stationed out of Corvallis, Oregon. Each crew will spend 8 days camping on location and surveying streams, followed by 6 days off. Camping is often in campgrounds or primitive, dispersed campsites without restrooms and running water. How do I apply for a job? These positions will be open for applications on USA Jobs sometime in December. Positions will be advertised as a Biological Science Technician (Fisheries) and Biological Science Technician (Natural Resource Monitoring) in order to have the largest applicant pool. Regardless of what announcement you apply for, make sure it is with the BLM and be sure to select Corvallis, Oregon as a duty station. How do I qualify for a Crew Leader Position? There are two components to qualifying, one is the question portion of the application (must be answered atthe highest level) and the other is the experience level based on one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) as Crew Leader’s are typically hired at the GS-6 level. Examples of specialized experience include: Assisted in the development of fisheries project and study plans as well as guidelines for projects such as preparing maps of survey areas, selecting applicable methods, determining equipment needs, and assessing measurements. Performed program support work for fisheries related projects such as planning daily activities, calibrating and operating a variety of equipment, collecting samples and recording data. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. How do I qualify for a crew member position? We hire crew members at the GS-05 level which entails two components; one is the question portion of the application (must be answered at the highest level) and A bachelor's degree or 4 years of successfully completed education above high school (120 semester/180 quarter hours) with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics and at least 6 semester hours of courses must be directly related to the position to be filled. The education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university.
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