Employer: Forest Stewards Guild 

Location: Prince, West Virginia

Position duration for crew leaders: May 19 – August 15, 2025 (3 months)

• Crew leader: Full position description and application instructions
• Crew leader application deadline: Rolling (with first applications considered March 14, 2025)

Position duration for crew members: June 2 – August 13, 2025 (2.5 months)

• Crew member: Full position description and application instructions 
• Crew member application deadline: Rolling (with first applications considered March 24, 2025)

Summary: 

The Forest Stewards Apprenticeship (FSA) is a paid program providing training, education, and experience in forestry and natural resource management. The FSA-NERI program is a 12-week apprenticeship based out of New River Gorge National Park (NERI). The duty station for FSA-NERI is in Prince, WV and is where participants will report to work every morning. Participants will complete forest resilience projects including invasive species removal, mechanical thinning, ecological monitoring, and prescribed fire implementation (if conditions permit). The FSA-NERI crew will work alongside National Park Service staff as they complete critical forest resilience projects in America’s newest National Park.  

Experience in forestry is not a pre-requisite to be a crew member as all necessary training will be provided.  Applicants for the Crew Leader position are expected to have outdoor leadership and forestry experience, although, some training is available if a candidate does not possess all of the qualifications necessary to complete work projects.  

Crew Leader Duties Include: 

• Ensure the safety of crews at all times, when working and traveling 

• Lead 3 crew members in natural resource management projects such as oak restoration, ecological monitoring, and invasive species management 

• Build positive team and work culture 

• Track crew accomplishments and other reporting duties   

• Correspond between Guild and Work Partner staff to ensure crew tasks are completed 

• Drive 4WD vehicles on rough roads 

• Work in steep and uneven terrain during rough weather conditions 

Crew Member Duties Include: 

• Work with a crew of 4 people on natural resource management projects such as oak restoration, and ecological monitoring 

• Work outside in steep and uneven terrain and, sometimes, during inclement weather conditions 

• Work safely as part of team 

• Problem solve and work collaboratively with fellow crewmembers to ensure tasks are completed 

• The position runs from June 2, 2025-August 13th, 2025. The end date may be extended depending upon crew member availability and/or project needs. 

Questions about this position can be directed to Chris DeFiore at cdefiore@forestguild.org.