FORESTRY AIDE

Department of Parks & Recreation · Santa Cruz County

Salary: $22 – $27 per month

Closes: 2026-11-06T00:00:00.000Z

Job description and requirements

Job Description and Duties FORESTRY AIDE – SANTA CRUZ DISTRICT / ROADS AND TRAILS / HENRY COWELL REDWOODS STATE PARK “Priority consideration will be given to any person receiving State public assistance under the CalWORKs program. Applicants who receive State public assistance need to identify their status as a CalWORKs recipient in the comments area on the application. Applicants must submit a verification of their CalWORKs eligibility status, which may include the most recent Notice of Action showing TANF eligibility or a copy of your last aid check stub. If verification is not submitted with the application, the application will not be processed. (Applicants may obtain verification from the CalWORKs program).” The reporting location for this position is the maintenance yard at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton. This position works under the direction of permanent staff and Park Maintenance Chief. Forestry Aides (FA) perform down tree removal, tree felling, implementing shaded full breaks and brush pile burning, repair and construction of bridges for emergency vehicle access, trail maintenance and construction of features such as bridges, retainer walls, steps, safety railing, and drainage structures. FA must be able to work well in a crew setting and work in remote locations during hot and inclement weather. Position may also work as a ground support (swamper) for heavy equipment operators. This position is required to camp on projects throughout the Santa Cruz District and work a spike schedule; Wednesday to Wednesday, work holidays, and wear a park uniform. The incumbent’s work schedule will be from Wednesday to Wednesday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This position may work up to 1500 hours within 12 consecutive months. This position is designated as not telework eligible. The selected candidate is required to submit to a background investigation process utilizing Live Scan fingerprinting prior to appointment. This position requires a valid Class C driver’s license. You must answer the questions addressing your driver’s license on your application. Ensure you provide your driver’s license number, class, expiration date, and any endorsements and/or restrictions on your application. State housing may be required. Special Requirement/Condition of Employment: Depending on the assigned location, the incumbent may be required to occupy state-owned housing to meet operational needs or may be offered state-owned housing if available. Housing assignments will be determined in accordance with Department policy, operational priorities, and applicable labor agreements. For further information regarding this position, please contact Matt Weil at (831) 295-1987 or at matthew.weil@parks.ca.gov. Per California Code of Regulations (CCR) 599.961, this is a sensitive position, and therefore subject to drug and alcohol testing. It should be noted that testing is not mandatory, but is allowed to be conducted only if and when there is a determination of reasonable suspicion as defined in CCR 599.962. You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement. Special Requirements • The position(s) require(s) a valid California Drivers License (CDL). You must answer the questions addressing your CDL on your application. Ensure you provide your CDL number, class, expiration date, and any endorsements and/or restrictions. • The position(s) require(s) a Background Investigation be cleared prior to being hired. Candidates that believe they meet the Minimum qualifications based on a pattern of education from the classification description (specifications) must provide a copy of your degree/transcripts and/or license along with your application (STD. 678) to be considered for this position. If selected for the position, official sealed transcripts will be required prior to appointment. DO NOT include any confidential information to your application or supporting documents (i.e., Social Security Number, birthdate, marital status, medical information, examination results, method of eligibility, etc.)
Show full description and requirements

Job Description and Duties

FORESTRY AIDE – SANTA CRUZ DISTRICT / ROADS AND TRAILS / HENRY COWELL REDWOODS STATE PARK

“Priority consideration will be given to any person receiving State public assistance under the CalWORKs program. Applicants who receive State public assistance need to identify their status as a CalWORKs recipient in the comments area on the application. Applicants must submit a verification of their CalWORKs eligibility status, which may include the most recent Notice of Action showing TANF eligibility or a copy of your last aid check stub. If verification is not submitted with the application, the application will not be processed. (Applicants may obtain verification from the CalWORKs program).”

The reporting location for this position is the maintenance yard at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton. This position works under the direction of permanent staff and Park Maintenance Chief.

Forestry Aides (FA) perform down tree removal, tree felling, implementing shaded full breaks and brush pile burning, repair and construction of bridges for emergency vehicle access, trail maintenance and construction of features such as bridges, retainer walls, steps, safety railing, and drainage structures. FA must be able to work well in a crew setting and work in remote locations during hot and inclement weather. Position may also work as a ground support (swamper) for heavy equipment operators. This position is required to camp on projects throughout the Santa Cruz District and work a spike schedule; Wednesday to Wednesday, work holidays, and wear a park uniform.

The incumbent’s work schedule will be from Wednesday to Wednesday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This position may work up to 1500 hours within 12 consecutive months. This position is designated as not telework eligible.

The selected candidate is required to submit to a background investigation process utilizing Live Scan fingerprinting prior to appointment.

This position requires a valid Class C driver’s license. You must answer the questions addressing your driver’s license on your application. Ensure you provide your driver’s license number, class, expiration date, and any endorsements and/or restrictions on your application.

State housing may be required. Special Requirement/Condition of Employment: Depending on the assigned location, the incumbent may be required to occupy state-owned housing to meet operational needs or may be offered state-owned housing if available. Housing assignments will be determined in accordance with Department policy, operational priorities, and applicable labor agreements. For further information regarding this position, please contact Matt Weil at (831) 295-1987 or at matthew.weil@parks.ca.gov.

Per California Code of Regulations (CCR) 599.961, this is a sensitive position, and therefore subject to drug and alcohol testing. It should be noted that testing is not mandatory, but is allowed to be conducted only if and when there is a determination of reasonable suspicion as defined in CCR 599.962.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Special Requirements

  • The position(s) require(s) a valid California Drivers License (CDL). You must answer the questions addressing your CDL on your application. Ensure you provide your CDL number, class, expiration date, and any endorsements and/or restrictions.
  • The position(s) require(s) a Background Investigation be cleared prior to being hired.

Candidates that believe they meet the Minimum qualifications based on a pattern of education from the classification description (specifications) must provide a copy of your degree/transcripts and/or license along with your application (STD. 678) to be considered for this position. If selected for the position, official sealed transcripts will be required prior to appointment.

DO NOT include any confidential information to your application or supporting documents (i.e., Social Security Number, birthdate, marital status, medical information, examination results, method of eligibility, etc.)

About this opportunity

More jobs at this employer

Department of Parks & Recreation currently has 68 other open positions in this database.

Regional hiring context

There are 5 current state openings in Santa Cruz County, including this position.

Application timeline

Applications close in 2 days, on November 6, 2026.

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Posting history

This posting appears on CalCareers. CA Public Jobs first observed it on October 24, 2026. It was last verified open on November 4, 2026.

View the official posting