Employment
Current employment openings
Full-time employment
Forester – Ongoing Recruitment
Nurturing Forests, Empowering Communities: Your Journey as a Forester Begins With Us!
Join the Colorado State Forest Service and play a key role in forestry! We’re seeking dynamic foresters to lead various CSFS programs, from forest management to wildfire mitigation. Administer grant programs, provide expert assistance on forest health and contribute to government projects. If you have a strong background in silviculture, pest management and wildfire mitigation and are passionate about professional service and education, join our team! Contribute to healthy forests and vibrant communities with us. Apply now!
Field Office Locations: Boulder, Fort Collins, Franktown, Frisco, Golden, Cañon City, La Veta, Rifle, Woodland Park, Alamosa, Durango, Gunnison, Montrose, Salida, Grand Junction, Granby, Steamboat Springs, Colorado State Forest (Gould)
Salary Range: $50,000 – $55,000 (Based on Experience)
Why Choose Colorado State Forest Service?
We not only value our forests; we also value our employees. Joining our team comes with incredible benefits:
- Boot Allowance: Receive a boot allowance every two years to ensure you’re equipped for the field.
- Identity Wear Stipend: Personalize your work wear with our identity wear stipend.
- Flexible Schedules: Enjoy work-life balance with flexible scheduling options.
- Cell Phone Allowance: Stay connected with a cell phone allowance or provided work cell.
- Excellent Healthcare Benefits: We prioritize your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits.
- Generous Leave: Earn 15 days of sick leave and 24 days of annual leave each year.
- Retirement Plan: Benefit from a 12% employer contribution to your retirement plan.
- Employee Assistance Program: Access well-being resources through our Employee Assistance Program.
- Professional Development: Enhance your skills with access to professional training through CSU.
- Education Credits: Receive 9 hours of education credits per year through CSU.
- Tuition Discounts: Enjoy a 50% tuition discount for your children, partner and spouse.
- Moving Expense Allowance: We support your transition with a moving expense allowance.
- Paid Administrative Leave: Contribute to your community with paid administrative leave for volunteering.
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. MT, Sept. 5, 2025.
CSU is an EO employer and conducts background checks on all final candidates.
Forestry Technician – Ongoing Recruitment
Join the Green Team as a Forestry Technician!
Join the Colorado State Forest Service and play a key role in forestry! Are you passionate about forestry and the great outdoors? Colorado State Forest Service invites you to be part of our dedicated team as a Forestry Technician. Contribute to healthy forests and vibrant communities with us. Apply now!
Locations: Boulder, Fort Collins, Franktown, Frisco, Golden, Canon City, La Veta, Rifle, Woodland Park, Alamosa, Durango, Gunnison, Montrose, Salida, Grand Junction, Granby, Steamboat Springs, Colorado State Forest (Gould).
*This is an open pool – your application will be considered for future positions when opportunities arise in the location(s) you are interested in.
Salary: $45,000 – $50,000 (Based on Experience)
Why Choose Colorado State Forest Service?
We not only value our forests; we also value our employees. Joining our team comes with incredible benefits:
- Identity Wear Stipend: Elevate your professional image with a stipend for personalized executive wear.
- Work-Life Harmony: Achieve optimal work-life integration through tailored and flexible scheduling options.
- Connectivity Privilege: Stay seamlessly connected with either a cell phone allowance or a provided executive work cell.
- Premium Healthcare Benefits: Prioritize your well-being with access to exclusive and comprehensive healthcare benefits.
- Time-Off: Recharge with 15 days of sick leave and 24 days of annual leave.
- Retirement Plan: Secure your financial future with a remarkable 12% employer contribution to your retirement plan.
- Assistance Program: Access premium well-being resources through our Employee Assistance Program.
- Professional Development: Enhance your skills through personalized professional training opportunities facilitated by CSU.
- Educational Empowerment: Receive 9 hours of education credits annually through CSU.
- Tuition Privileges for Family: Secure your family’s future with 50% off tuition for children, partner, and spouse.
- Relocation Support Package: Facilitate a smooth transition with our executive-level moving expense allowance.
- Community Leadership Initiative: Give back to your community with paid administrative leave dedicated to volunteering.
For full consideration, applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. MT on April 28, 2025. References will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates.
CSU is an EO employer and conducts background checks on all final candidates.
Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Crew Member
Join the Adventure: Forest Inventory and Analysis Crew Member Opportunity!
Embark on a thrilling journey as a Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Crew Member at the Colorado State Forest Service! You’ll play a key role in conducting forest inventory fieldwork across multiple states, contributing to a comprehensive inventory of forests in the United States. View complete job description.
Key responsibilities
- Conduct field measurements, including tree data, vegetation diversity, fuel loading, and more
- Ensure safe practices and advocate for productive team development
- Navigate diverse terrains using 4-wheel drive vehicles, UTVs, ATVs, horses, and boats
- Utilize GIS software, topographical maps, aerial photos, and GPS units for navigation
- Hike in varying conditions, carrying field gear at elevations from 3,500 to 14,000 feet
- Collaborate with USFS FIA liaisons to meet production and quality benchmarks
Adventure awaits
- Travel expenses paid for!
- Explore Colorado, Wyoming, and surrounding state’s public and private forests
- Assist in forest management, outreach, and administration when not in the field
- Analyze and present findings in diverse public settings
Why choose Colorado State Forest Service?
We not only value our forests; we also value our employees. Joining our team comes with incredible benefits:
- Identity Wear Stipend: Elevate your professional image with a stipend for personalized wear.
- Work-Life Harmony: Achieve optimal work-life integration through tailored and flexible scheduling options.
- Premium Healthcare Benefits: Prioritize your well-being with access to exclusive and comprehensive healthcare benefits.
- Time-Off: Recharge with 15 days of sick leave and 24 days of annual leave.
- Retirement Plan: Secure your financial future with a remarkable 12% employer contribution to your retirement plan.
- Assistance Program: Access premium well-being resources through our Employee Assistance Program.
- Professional Development: Enhance your skills through personalized professional training opportunities facilitated by CSU.
- Educational Empowerment: Receive 9 free education credits annually through CSU.
- Tuition Privileges for Family: Secure your family’s future with 50% off tuition for children, partner, and spouse.
- Community Leadership Initiative: Give back to your community with paid administrative leave dedicated to volunteering.
For full consideration, applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. MDT on May 12, 2025.
CSU is an EO employer and conducts background checks on all final candidates.
Join Our Team as a Nursery Manager!
The Colorado State Forest Service is seeking a passionate and skilled individual to join our team as Nursery Manager. This position is responsible for planning, directing and coordinating all activities related to a forest nursery propagation program used for conservation and reforestation purposes at the Colorado State Forest Service Seedling Tree Nursery.
As part of Colorado State University, we offer excellent benefits, including a 12% employer contribution to your retirement plan, 24 days of annual leave, and 15 days of sick leave earned each year—all in addition to 11 paid holidays and comprehensive health benefits. Join us in making a meaningful impact on Colorado’s forests and natural resources! Apply now!
Location: CSU Foothills Campus, Fort Collins, CO.
Minimum Qualifications
- A bachelor’s degree in one of the following areas: natural resource management, forestry, horticulture, agriculture, or closely related science with emphasis on crop production.
- Minimum of three years of professional experience with nursery operations or agriculture production management.
- One year experience in business administration and management principles.
- Experience with developing and managing budgets.
- Two years of supervisory experience.
Salary: $80,000 – $95,000 annually
Why Choose Colorado State Forest Service?
We not only value our forests; we also value our employees. Joining our team comes with incredible benefits:
- Identity Wear Stipend: Elevate your professional image with a stipend for personalized executive wear.
- Work-Life Harmony: Achieve optimal work-life integration through tailored and flexible scheduling options.
- Connectivity Privilege: Stay seamlessly connected with either a cell phone allowance or a provided executive work cell.
- Premium Healthcare Benefits: Prioritize your well-being with access to exclusive and comprehensive healthcare benefits.
- Time-Off: Recharge with 24 days of annual leave and 15 days of sick leave earned each year.
- Retirement Plan: Secure your financial future with a remarkable 12% employer contribution to your retirement plan.
- Assistance Program: Access premium well-being resources through our Employee Assistance Program.
- Professional Development: Enhance your skills through personalized professional training opportunities facilitated by CSU.
- Educational Empowerment: Receive 9 hours of education credits annually through CSU.
- Tuition Privileges for Family: Secure your family’s future with 50% off tuition for children, partner, and spouse.
- Relocation Support Package: Facilitate a smooth transition with our executive-level moving expense allowance.
- Community Leadership Initiative: Give back to your community with paid administrative leave dedicated to volunteering.
For full consideration, applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. MT on May 12, 2025.
CSU is an EO employer and conducts background checks on all final candidates.
Ongoing recruitment postings are used to gather applications for multiple job openings in multiple parts of the state. They remain open, collecting applicants, on the CSU Jobs website for three, six or 12 months. At the end of this period, current applications are deactivated and applicants are invited to reapply to the next ongoing recruitment cycle if applicable.
Once an applicant has applied to an Ongoing Recruitment posting, their application materials will be reviewed every time a new vacancy becomes available. CSFS positions can and may be filled year-round. For open positions, applicants should mark the area(s) of Colorado where they’re willing to work.
If at any time you would like to update your information or remove yourself from the pool, please contact Tina Little at [email protected] or (970) 491-8662 so she can reactivate your application or remove you.
Part-time employment
No part-time employment positions available at this time.
AmeriCorps positions
The CSFS has ongoing collaborations with AmeriCorps partners, which have allowed us to establish AmeriCorps positions throughout Colorado. These are full-time community service positions, and each AmeriCorps member is directly supervised by a CSFS employee. Members each receive a bi-weekly allowance and, upon completion of the service term, will receive an education award that can be used for current educational expenses or student loans. A full-service term requires 1,700 hours to be completed over the course of about a year.
As new AmeriCorps positions open up at the CSFS, they will be posted here with application deadlines and submission instructions.
Minimum requirements for all AmeriCorps positions
- 18 years of age
- High school diploma or G.E.D.
- Citizen, national or lawful permanent resident of the U.S.
- Pass a criminal background check
Contact Kristen Switzer for more information.
Internships
The CSFS offers paid undergraduate internship opportunities each summer that run from May to August. The Warner College of Natural Resources Dean’s Office at Colorado State University has partnered with the CSFS to fund certain internship opportunities, which are only available to WCNR students. All other internships are available to all Colorado undergraduate students.
The application period for 2025 internships closed Feb. 7, 2025. Contact Kristen Switzer for more information about CSFS internships.
Job shadowing
The CSFS has opportunities for high school and college students to participate in job shadowing our employees. Such opportunities vary each summer, but involve spending a day with a professional observing their work and learning about their responsibilities firsthand. Positions within the CSFS that may be available to shadow include the following:
- Forester
- Forestry technician
- GIS technician
- Communications specialist
- Experiential learning specialist
- Watershed Coordinator
Contact Kristen Switzer for more information or fill out our Job Shadowing Request Form.
Seasonal employment
We do not have any seasonal employment positions available at this time.
About the CSFS
The Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) is a service and outreach agency of the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University. In addition to our state office on the CSU Foothills Campus in Fort Collins, the CSFS maintains 18 field offices throughout Colorado. Our professional staff offer Colorado residents an easily accessible source of technical forestry assistance and educational outreach.
Together with other natural resource organizations, CSFS provides comprehensive support for the care of our natural environment. This exchange of technical assistance and information among cooperating organizations ensures the commitment to a common goal — future forests that will provide benefits for present and future generations.
Our staff include
- Foresters
- Staff foresters and other support staff
- Administrative staff
- Seasonal foresters and internships
Contact information
- Questions about verification of employment for a current CSFS employee: CSU Human Resources
- Information about careers in forestry: Holly Leary
- Information about becoming a wildland firefighter