The Utah Conservation Corps (UCC) in partnership with the Ashley National Forest is hiring UCC Timber Crew Members. This is a (3+ month) full-time professional development and work experience opportunity that runs from approximately May through September.

The UCC Timber Crew Members will be placed with and work alongside the UCC Timber Crew Lead and the Forest’s Timber Crew. Crew Members will perform assignments in support of the Timber Program located at the Ashley National Forest, Supervisor’s Office in Vernal, UT. Assignments are designed to provide training for the timber functions for which the unit is responsible. Crew Members will receive on-the-job training in planning, organizing, and implementing various timber projects on the unit to develop experience in various phases of timber management. This position will be lead and mentored by the UCC Timber Crew Lead, Forest Silviculturist & Crew Foreperson.

Apply by: April 13, 2025
*Application review begins April 13, 2025. Preference will be given to applicants who submit a complete application packet by April 13.

Schedule: Most positions will work four days a week, 10 hours a day for a 40-hour week. Some positions may work five days per week, 8 hours a day for a 40-hour week. 30-minute lunches do not count toward work-day hours.

Position Locations:
• 355 N Vernal Ave. Vernal, UT 84078

Compensation & Benefits:

• $17.27/hour (taxable) along with health care coverage (if requested during onboarding process via the requisite ACA form), worker's compensation, and FICA/Medicare. https://www.usu.edu/policies/397/.
  • USU pay periods run from the 1st-15th and 16th-end of each month.
  • USU pay dates fall on the 10th and 25th of each month (or next business day if holiday or weekend).
  • USU non-benefited hourly employees do not receive holiday pay.
  • There may be limited overtime (OT) available for this position. OT is based on the USU definition of a work week (12:01 a.m. on Saturday and ends at midnight the following Friday). https://www.usu.edu/policies/378/.
  • There is no per diem available for this position.
• Housing: Seasonal government housing NOT available for the VERNAL positions. Employees must secure their own accommodations/housing near the duty station.

Research shows that candidates often don’t apply for positions if they don’t feel they meet all the position qualifications and skill sets. We strongly encourage you to apply if you are interested!

Crew Member duties include the following:

• Assist with timber marking (painting), traversing, and basic tree measurements.
• Assist with Common Stand Exam (CSE), KV Exams, & Others.
• The work is primarily performed in a field environment. Fieldwork often requires moderate to strenuous physical exertion, including walking, hiking, bending, or climbing in rugged terrain under adverse conditions for long periods.
• Serve as a tally person and may operate electronic field data recorders. Assist in the measure of limiting distances, tree diameter using a logger’s tape/diameter tape, tree height using a clinometer, estimation of defect and quality, and related fundamental timber cruising procedures.
• Under close supervision, crew members will: also assist higher-grade specialists in performing silviculture work by conducting stand exams in recently harvested areas, areas of past disturbance, or future (potential) harvest locations.

What this position is NOT:

• A Forest Service position. This position is a Utah State University Hourly employee with the Utah Conservation Corps.
• An AmeriCorps Position.

Training/Professional Development Opportunities:

• Tree species identification (required).
• Stand Exam and Timber Cruising techniques, testing, and certification (required).
• First Aid training, evaluation, and certification (required).
• FS vehicle operation (truck) (required).
• Networking and collaboration with professionals in the field.
• USU position-specific training (required).

Position Requirements: 

• Must be 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license and good driving record. Must drive government vehicle as required for the position.
• United States citizen, national or lawful permanent resident.
• Utah State University promotes a safe environment for its students and staff. As an employee of Utah State University in a non-security sensitive position, you must submit a Self-Disclosure of Criminal Background. If hired, you agree to conform to University Rules.
• Candidates must have basic knowledge of Forestry or related ecological field of study.
• Candidates must have demonstrated leadership experience and qualities.
• Regular and reliable attendance and dependability.
• Strongly prefer experience in working outdoors.
• Prefer experience with ATVs or UTVs (but not required).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• An independent, self-motivated, creative, and resourceful individual able to work with groups of people.
• A cooperative manner and the ability to serve as part of a team, but the ability to work independently.
• Ability to commit to and complete the service dates.

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume to be uploaded to the candidate profile

2. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of the application

3. Contact Information for Professional References

In addition to submitting your online application, please send an email to the contact below to notify them of your intent to apply for the position. Write “UCC Timber Crew Member” in the subject line of your email.
Kristin Smithmyer Timber Crew Foreperson, kristin.smithmyer@usda.gov

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

This position requires considerable physical activity.  Employees must have sufficient strength to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position including heavy lifting (up to 75 lbs.) and/or pushing and pulling of heavy objects. Employees must be prepared to assume uncomfortable positions, such as crawling, kneeling, and squatting.  Employees work outside and will not be protected from weather conditions, including extreme cold and extreme heat for extended periods.   

The Utah Conservation Corps is dedicated to developing the conservation leaders of tomorrow. We engage in projects throughout the state of Utah that address goals relating to environmental conservation, building leadership, strengthening education on local issues, providing hands-on training and skills to members, all while building the next generation of America’s workforce. Our vision is to create thriving communities and conserve the natural heritage of Utah and the Intermountain West. The UCC supports Utah’s pride in our tradition of service and volunteerism to get things done.

Equal Opportunity Program:

Utah Conservation Corps is an equal opportunity program. Utah Conservation Corps and Utah State University do not discriminate or tolerate discrimination based on an individual’s identity. UCC is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for application and service with our programs. To request reasonable accommodation please visit https://www.usu.edu/hr/current-employees/ada/

UCC’s Zero Tolerance Policies

The following behaviors will result in immediate termination. At no time may the employee:

• Engage in activities that pose a significant emotional or physical safety risk to others, including harassment, creating a hostile work environment, or bullying
• Possess, consume, or be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs during the performance of service activities or while living and working at the project site, campsite, or in vehicles (which includes showing up to work hungover); and
• Fail to notify the UCC of a criminal arrest or conviction during their term of service.

The Ashley National Forest
http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/ashley/

The Ashley National Forest encompasses about a million and a half acres in northeastern Utah and southwestern Wyoming. The Forest lies in three geographical areas: the east-west range of the Uinta Mountains, the Green River Basin, and the Tavaputs Plateau. Elevations range from 6,000 feet to 13,528 feet.

Steep canyons, high mountain peaks, glaciated basins, large open meadows, and desert badlands produce a rich diversity of vegetation and wildlife. The grasses and shrubs of the high mountain desert are replaced by pinyon and juniper as the elevation rises. In mid-elevation areas, aspen dominates and becomes mixed with conifer. Higher up, the vegetation changes to conifer forest composed of ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, fir, and spruce. Wildlife is abundant. Larger species include black bear, mountain lion, moose, elk, mule deer, pronghorn, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep.
Neighboring lands include the Uinta and Ouray Indian Reservation to the south, the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest to the west and north, and a mixture of Bureau of Land Management, State of Utah, and private lands to the east and southeast. Compared with other National Forests, relatively few small tracts of private land lie within the Ashley's boundary.

The High Uintas Wilderness, established by Congress in 1984, comprises nearly one-half million acres in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache and Ashley National Forests. Within the wilderness, elevations range from 8,000 feet to 13,582 feet at the top of Kings Peak, the highest mountain in Utah. The Uinta Mountain range runs east to west, from the Wasatch Mountains into Colorado. Pre-Cambrian rock formed from sediments laid down 600 million years ago makes up the core of the range. Glacial activity carved deep canyons and left a spectacular landscape of rolling, treeless peaks and stratified ridges interspersed with broad meadows and numerous lakes.

The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area lies in the northeast part of the Forest. Flaming Gorge Reservoir extends almost 90 miles into Wyoming and offers outstanding fishing and boating opportunities. Record-breaking German brown trout and large lake and rainbow trout have been taken from its waters. The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area has three marinas and many campgrounds, some of which are open year-round.

The Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam is a world-famous blue-ribbon trout stream. The Little Hole National Recreation Trail parallels the river 7.3 miles from the Dam to the Little Hole Recreation Complex.

About Vernal, Utah

Vernal has a population of approximately 8,000 people and the surrounding Uintah Basin population is approximately 20,000 according to 2000 census bureau data. The Uintah Basin is greatly influenced by the oil and gas industry, which is in the middle of a job boom, so the population numbers have noticeably increased over the past 6 years. Vernal is situated in northeast Utah about 35 minutes from the Colorado border (and Dinosaur National Monument) and 1.5 hours south of the Wyoming border. Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area on the Ashley National Forest is a neighboring district that is a good reference point for locating the area since it is easily discernible on most maps. Vernal is approximately 2 hours from ski resorts such as Park City, UT, and Steamboat Springs, CO; and approximately 2.5 to 3 hours from cities along the Wasatch front like Salt

Lake City and Provo, UT. The Vernal area has year-round recreation throughout the Uintah Mountains and Uintah Basin including fishing, hiking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, motorized and non-motorized boating, camping, hunting, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and more. Vernal City has recreation leagues for sports such as basketball, softball, volleyball, tennis, soccer, and other activities like yoga and table tennis. For more information go to: http://www.vernalchamber.com/

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.

USU enrolls 28,900 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level, USU is a proud member of the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-2027 season. The Aggies’ long-standing tradition of athletic and academic excellence is exemplified by conference championships in multiple sports, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

*updated 02/2025

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023