Outdoor Recreation Research Technician

USDA Forest Service National Visitor Use Monitoring Program Field Technician

This position will assist with data collection for the USDA Forest Service's National Visitor Use Monitoring (NVUM) Program. Field technicians will conduct on-site surveys with national forest visitors at recreation access points such as Trailheads, forest roads, lakes and reservoirs, resorts, and other recreation sites across the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache and Ashley National Forest.

The data collected through these surveys are used by the USDA Forest Service to estimate annual visitation, track recreation patterns and trends, evaluate visitor experiences and recreation infrastructure, and estimate the economic contributions associated with national forest recreation.

This position provides hands-on experience in outdoor recreation research, visitor-use monitoring, field data collection, and national forest management.

Schedule:

This position will be based a federally generated survey schedule and hours may vary depending on the number of staff. Scheduling will be further discussed with applicants during the interview process, however hours are expected to be elevated in October and decrease during the winter months. This position is telework eligible within the state of Utah.

• Conduct face-to-face surveys with national forest visitors at designated recreation sites.
• Interact professionally with a wide variety of forest visitors, sometimes conducting up to 40 interviews per day.
• Travel independently to survey locations throughout the assigned national forest.
• Navigate to remote and unfamiliar recreation sites.
• Work independently for extended periods, including in remote locations and varying weather conditions.
• Occasionally camp in remote areas for multiple days while completing survey assignments.
• Follow established survey protocols and accurately collect and record visitor-use data.
• Maintain a high level of organization, safety awareness, and professionalism while working in the field.

• Motivated, dependable, organized, and self-sufficient.
• Comfortable approaching and interacting with unfamiliar people.
• Possess strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and solve problems in the field.
• Safety-conscious and capable of exercising good judgment in remote settings.
• Comfortable spending extended periods alone in remote outdoor environments.
• Comfortable camping alone when required.
• Ability to navigate remote and unfamiliar areas.

Along with the online application, please attach:

• Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under "Resume/CV"
• Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

** Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

$20/hour

This position involves extensive fieldwork at recreation sites throughout the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache and Ashley National Forests. Employees may work independently for extended periods in remote locations and in a variety of weather and environmental conditions. The position requires regular travel by vehicle, navigating unfamiliar areas, and occasionally camping in remote locations for multiple days.

Fieldwork may involve prolonged periods of standing, sitting, walking on uneven terrain, and working outdoors with limited access to facilities. Employees must be able to remain alert and safety-conscious while traveling and working in remote areas.

The position also requires sustained interaction with the public, including approaching and conducting interviews with numerous unfamiliar individuals throughout the workday. Employees must be comfortable working independently, following established protocols, managing changing field conditions, solving problems, and exercising sound judgment with limited direct supervision.

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