![Hiking to forest survey sites, Kings Canyon National Park. Backpacker hikes through green, wild-flower strewn landscape toward rugged mountains in distance.](/im/sien/images/Red_Kings_ForestM_Taboose_dailyCommute_20230817.jpg?maxwidth=650&autorotate=false)
Photo by: Alex Brown, Great Basin Institute
Applying for Seasonal Field Positions or Other Temporary Positions
How do you apply for field positions with us? The Sierra Nevada Network (SIEN) hires or works with partner organizations to hire seasonal staff to collect field data for our birds, high-elevation forests, lakes, and wetlands monitoring projects in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Yosemite National Park, and Devils Postpile National Monument. All of our field staff backpack to remote backcountry sites to collect monitoring data. To learn more about our program, visit our monitoring projects web page. Learn more about our field season opportunities through each of the organizations described below.
Summer 2024 Jobs
We have no remaining seasonal staffing needs for this summer. Please check back during this coming winter and spring for Summer 2025 opportunities.
![Measuring diameter of a foxtail pine, Sequoia National Park Scientist holds a diameter measuring tape in one hand and is stretching it around the trunk of a large pine to measure its diameter.](/im/sien/images/Red_SEQU_ForestMort_JohnDeanCuttoffTrail_FoxtailDBH_09032023_1.jpg?maxwidth=650&autorotate=false)
Photo by Zoe Klein, Great Basin Institute
National Park Service
Each season we hire some of our field positions through the National Park Service. Applicants can find position announcements and apply for jobs through the USAJobs website. Announcements for 2024 seasonal forest monitoring, lake monitoring, and field logistics coordination positions have closed. To apply for National Park Service positions, you must create a USAJobs profile. Be sure to provide enough detail in your resume to fully document the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities ratings that you give yourself. For tips on creating a federal resume, watch this 5-minute video, or check out these tips.
![Bird monitoring crew training in Sequoia National Park Four people looking toward camera and upward toward the sky with binoculars. Blooming yucca, foothill shrublands, and rugged peak in background.](/im/sien/images/BirdMonitors_SEKITraining_BobWilkerson_2019.jpg?maxwidth=650&autorotate=false)
Photo courtesy of Bob Wilkerson, The Institute for Bird Populations
The Institute for Bird Populations
The Institute for Bird Populations (IBP) partners with government agencies, universities, and non-government organizations to support science-based conservation of species by studying the abundance, demography, and ecology of birds and other wildlife. IBP works closely with our network to monitor birds. They recruit, hire, and supervise field crew members and help with field season planning. Local NPS staff partner with IBP in project training, oversight, and field season logistics. Our bird crews work in two crews of two people each, and these crews hike into the backcountry for up to seven days at a time to conduct bird point counts. The season begins with an intensive three-week training session in visual and acoustic bird identification, point count techniques, orienteering and safety, and wilderness camping skills. Crew members acquire substantial expertise in western bird identification, general natural history, and backcountry living.
![Wetlands project in Yosemite National Park Field scientist with muddy hands, lower pants, and boots as he uses a long-handled dowsing tool to locate and remove a wetlands well.](/im/sien/images/YOSE_Wetlands_Cottonwoodcreek15_NorthWellDowsing_cr_KBessem_20220623.jpg?maxwidth=650&autorotate=false)
Photo by Kelly Bessem, Lake Monitoring Crew Lead, Great Basin Institute
Great Basin Institute
The Great Basin Institute (GBI) promotes environmental research, education and service through agency partnerships, such as those with the National Park Service and other federal agencies. When hired for a position through the Great Basin Institute, the field staff member is formally supervised and paid through GBI, but local staff also provide training and guidance.
![Lake monitoring crew member prepares to collect mid-lake sample. Woman sits in raft with monitoring equipment, preparing to paddle out to middle of lake where she will collect water samples.](/im/sien/images/IamonaBoat-Puig-Santana.jpg?maxwidth=650&autorotate=false)
NPS Photo by Glauco Puig-Santana
Scientists in Parks Internships
The Scientists in Parks (SIP) program offers internships to work on a variety of natural resource projects in national parks. Learn more about the benefits and eligibility requirements of the SIP program. It is also important to carefully read all eligibility requirements as stated in the individual position announcements.
Photo by Marisa Monroe, Geoscientist-in-Parks intern, 2018.
What is it like to work on our field crews?
Visit the following web pages and watch the videos to learn more about our lakes and forest monitoring projects from field crew members, our project leads, and park managers:
Click on the names below to hear from three field staff who went on to graduate school. These short articles highlight what they enjoyed about their work here and how it inspired them to pursue their own research projects as graduate students.
Last updated: April 30, 2024