Overview
Permanent Sample Plot Field Crew - Alberta Forest Protection Area
Forest growth and yield monitoring for Alberta Forestry and Parks
We are recruiting a Forestry Crew Lead as part of a two-person field crew to re-measure permanent sample plots (PSPs) across Alberta's Forest Protection Area. PSPs are permanently marked research plots where individually tagged trees are re-measured every 5 to 25 years. The resulting dataset underpins Alberta's sustainable timber supply calculation, forest inventory calibration, and forest health monitoring. This is precision, tree-by-tree measurement work, not inventory cruising.
POSITION: Forestry Crew Lead - Permanent Sample Plots (PSP)
Position type
- Seasonal contract with potential renewal
Term
- August 2026 – March 2027, with possible extension to March 2029
Rotation
Hours
- Approximately 10-hour field days
Home base
- Slave Lake, Alberta (first-season work areas: Slave Lake, Smith, Wabasca, Red Earth, Cold Lake, Lac La Biche, Plamondon)
Wage range
- $34.00 – $40.00 per hour, depending on experience
Travel
- Accommodation and meal allowance provided when working away from home base
About the role
As Crew Lead you are the senior member of a two-person crew and hold responsibility for data quality. You will navigate to established plots using stem maps and GPS, relocate individually tagged trees measured in previous decades, and re-measure them under their original tag numbers. Data accuracy standards are strict: a plot is rejected and must be re-measured if species identification is wrong on more than 2% of stems.
What you will do
● Navigate to plots using maps, stem maps, GPS and previous maintenance sheets
● Relocate previously tagged trees and re-measure diameter at breast height, height, crown class and three-part condition codes
● Identify Alberta tree species accurately, including the difficult pairs: black versus white spruce, balsam poplar versus trembling aspen, and jack versus lodgepole pine
● Tag, map and measure new ingress stems using azimuth and distance from plot centre
● Maintain plot infrastructure: replace posts, refresh paint and flagging, renew the buffer perimeter, and re-tag stems that have lost tags
● Establish regeneration subplots and capture high-precision GPS points where required
● Collect increment cores for stand age and top height assessment
● Record all data on a rugged Android tablet using the client's data collection application, and complete paper maintenance sheets and checklists
● Supervise and train the Field Surveyor, and perform in-field quality checks
Required qualifications
The following experience requirement is set by our client and is non-negotiable. We cannot consider applicants who do not meet it:
● Experience on at least two permanent sample plot or forest research trial projects, each a minimum of one month of full-time work. Qualifying projects must have involved re-locating and re-measuring previously tagged trees under their original tag numbers. Temporary sample plot (TSP) and standard cruising experience does not satisfy this requirement.
● Three business-related references covering the above projects
● Valid Class 5 driver's licence (non-GDL) with a clean driver's abstract
● Availability to attend a mandatory one-day client training session prior to fieldwork
● Willingness to work a 10-on / 4-off rotation, including winter fieldwork in snow conditions
Preferred qualifications
● Two-year Forest Technology diploma (NAIT or equivalent) or a related environmental sciences credential
● Registered Professional Forest Technologist (RPFT) designation, or eligibility for registration with the Association of Alberta Forest Management Professionals
● Additional permanent sample plot or research trial re-measurement projects beyond the two required
● Experience with increment coring and ring counting
● Experience operating an ATV in off-road forestry conditions
● Familiarity with Alberta ecosite classification and vegetation assessment
Certifications
Certifications marked required must be valid before the first field shift. We will fund or arrange the training for successful candidates who do not already hold them.
Standard First Aid with CPR Level C
- Required. Crews work in remote areas without cell coverage
Class 5 driver's licence (non-GDL)
- Required. Clean driver's abstract required; 4WD trucks on forest roads
WHMIS 2015
- Required. Tree marking paint and fuel handling
Bear and wildlife awareness
- Required. Standard for Alberta remote forestry work
Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)
- Required. Carrying fuel and marking paint
ATV operator training
- Preferred. Approximately 9% of plots are ATV-access only
H2S Alive
- Asset. Some work areas are adjacent to oil and gas activity
Wildland firefighting (Type II)
- Asset. Not required for this contract
Client PSP training (one day)
- Mandatory attendance. Provided by Alberta Forestry and Parks; Crew Lead attendance is mandatory, Field Surveyor attendance strongly encouraged
What we provide
● All field equipment: rugged Android tablets, hypsometers, tapes, compasses and measurement supplies
● 4WD truck and fuel
● Accommodation and meal allowance when working away from home base
● Safety equipment, satellite communicator and required safety training
● Paid certification training where not already held
● Structured training in permanent sample plot methodology
Working conditions - please read carefully
● Fieldwork runs from August through early March. A substantial portion of the season is winter work in snow and cold.
● Some plots are in post-fire stands with hazardous standing dead trees and heavy fallen timber. Work is suspended in high wind for safety.
● Daily travel from the accommodation base to work sites averages one hour each way, and more in some areas.
● Plots range from 57 to over 700 individually measured stems; days are physically and mentally demanding.
How to apply
Send your resume and three business-related references to [email protected] with the position title in the subject line.
Please list your qualifying permanent sample plot or research trial projects, including the year, approximate duration in months, the agency or company, and a reference contact for each.
Pixal3D is an equal opportunity employer. We thank all applicants; only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Pay: $34.00-$40.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
