Employer: Forest Stewards Guild 

Location: St. Paul, Virginia

Application deadline: Rolling (with first applications considered March  14, 2025)

Position duration for crew leaders is one year: May 19, 2025- May 30, 2026

• 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 is one year: June 2, 2025- May 29, 2026

• 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-Virginia program is a one-year apprenticeship based out of St. Paul, VA. Participants will complete forest resilience projects include invasive species removal, mechanical thinning, ecological monitoring, and prescribed fire implementation (if conditions permit). The FSA-VA crew will work alongside project partners from The Nature Conservancy and the Virginia Department of Forestry and Department of Conservation on private and state lands.  

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, invasive species management, and prescribed fire preparation, etc. 
• 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, invasive species management, 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 crew members to ensure tasks are completed 

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