Forest Inventory Technician

POSITION:  Inventory Forester

JOB TYPE:  Full Time, Hourly, Non-Exempt

LOCATION:  Hayward, WI

WHO WE ARE

Steigerwaldt Land Services, Inc., is a full-service resource solution company, offering a wide range of appraisal, analysis, real estate, right-of-way, environmental, and forestry services to our clients in the Lake States region and beyond.  Founded in 1957, Steigerwaldt is a third-generation, family owned and operated company with history and experience spanning more than 60 years. Steigerwaldt employs a staff of over 55 people, with offices in Tomahawk and Hayward, Wisconsin; and Marquette, Michigan.

Becoming a member of Steigerwaldt is more than just an opportunity to follow your passion in forestry. It is an opportunity to be a part of an organization that fosters professional growth, nurtures your talent, and allows you to take ownership of your career path. A strong sense of brand, culture, and values define our company and our team. Our office culture is one that values synergy in the office and in the field.

Steigerwaldt creates a transparent and inclusive environment that involves you in team decision-making, cross-department learning, career path exploration, and hands-on experiences for you to grow your breadth of knowledge. 

 If this sounds like the supportive, passion-driven, professional environment you will thrive in, please apply to join our team. We are currently seeking a full-time Forest Inventory Technician  Ideally, this position would be based near our Hayward office, but flexibility on location may be possible for the right candidate. This is considered an entry-level position, although previous professional experience is helpful.  This position will require travel and working in remote locations. 

WHAT YOU WILL DO

This position resides in our  Inventory and Geospatial Solutions department and will function as a part of aCritical Project Response Teamthat supports forest inventories throughout the country in addition to local inventory efforts and natural resource management projects.  Interest in travel and learning about emerging markets and forest carbon related services is preferred.As a member of the Critical Project Response Team, it is likely and an expectation for weekend work and significant overtime.  Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Inventory data collection with necessary level of speed and precision dependent upon project requirements 
• Detailed tree data recording of field observations (using a tablet and internal software)
• Make calls on tree diameters, heights, species, and product sections within plots
• Utilize sub-meter GPS for applications including plot location collection, monumentation, and accessing boundaries
• Coordinate with property managers to understand any concerns, hazards, and access details
• Collaborate with other inventory foresters to maximize efficiency and operate safely
• Periodic travel on project may exceed ±50 percent (in and out of state)
• Other duties as assigned
  

WHO YOU ARE

You are a supportive and reliable team member that engages in building a great team and work culture.  You are driven and motivated to be a part of a successful team and provide high-quality service and results.  You show persistence, tenacity, and grit every day, through tough conditions and deadlines with energy and enthusiasm.  You are curious and open-minded in exploring solutions and opportunities.  You are accountable, a caretaker of resources, people, and company. You thrive working in a fast-paced, highly driven environment and can adapt quickly to changing conditions and priorities.  You must have an adventurous side, enjoy significant travel, and thrive in high-pressure situations and working with tight deadlines. You value contribution to goals and team, you are energized by a challenge, and you are confident and can work in the woods independently.    

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Functional & Technical Expertise – Effectiveness at gaining, maintaining, and sharing functional expertise related to the role in the organization, including the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities spelled out in the job description and the incorporation of new technologies for competitive advantage.
• Integrity & High Standards – Effectiveness at maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards and company values while building and maintaining trust through transparency, dependability, and consistency, admitting, and correcting mistakes, and promoting high integrity in others.
• Drive & Initiative – Effectiveness at establishing, pursuing, and attaining stretch goals and an ambitious workload that drive the mission in a way that is vigorous, enthusiastic, persistent, positive, internally motivated, and fast paced.
• Problem Solving – Effectiveness at predicting problems inside and outside of the specified role, recommending solutions that are logical, timely and creative, and taking corrective action in the purview of the role and/or coordinating with others when problems cross role and team boundaries.
• Adaptability – Effectiveness at coping with changing priorities, alterations in workflows and overcoming unexpected barriers while demonstrating a learning mindset, growing from adversity, and recommending changes for the betterment of the organization.
• Communication – Effectiveness in both verbal and written expressions of ideas in a clear, concise, and grammatically correct manner, ensuring that all messages are both professional and precise in all media while proactively fostering two-way communications with colleagues and customers.
• Interpersonal Savvy – Effectiveness at interacting respectfully and positively with colleagues, outside partners, and audiences, demonstrating and developing emotional intelligence, being approachable, earning likeability, seeking to understand differences of opinion and perspective, disagreeing respectfully, and solving conflict proactively.
• Teamwork – Effectiveness at working on a team, not just as an individual contributor, by proactively engaging with team members, sharing resources, responding to requests, providing data and ideas, collaborating on tasks and projects, delivering on promises dependably, and actively helping others achieve their individual goals as well as overall team goals.
• Customer Service – Effectiveness at building and maintaining customer relationships by finding and attending to customer needs and expectations within company parameters, reporting up customer needs and expectations, and delighting customers with the results they get and how they are achieved.
• Work Management – Effectiveness at getting and staying organized, planning the work on the immediate horizon, staying focused on the highest priorities, using essential technologies, generating documentation, meeting goals and deadlines, using time and all resources efficiently, and following policies and procedures.
  
  

PREFERRED SKILLS

• Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry or a related field 
• Ability to travel and conduct overnight work away from the office – travel up to 50 percent or more
• Interest in emerging markets, ecosystem and environmental services, and forest carbon
• Desire to develop a career as a natural resource professional in a fast-paced and diverse consulting business 
• Ability to work independently in varied settings, both in the field and with clients and other professionals
• Superior written and oral communication skills
• Competent with Microsoft Office software
• Experience with GPS data collecting and processing
• Experience with ESRI GIS software and GIS mapping and data collection principles
• Current valid driver’s license with personal vehicle suitable for forestry work (mileage is reimbursed)
• ATV and snowmobile certifications
• A team player who is confident, respectful, curious, flexible, and able to work with other professionals in a growing, successful, and respected business

WORK ENVIRONMENT

At Steigerwaldt, we offer a Remote-Friendly Hybrid Work Model for our staff.  The Forest Inventory Technician position is considered a hybrid position.  Due to the nature of the team approach to our fieldwork and needed access to equipment and company vehicles, traveling to the office will be necessary. Remote work available upon approval from your supervisor.  The position is roughly 95 percent field work and 5 percent office work. 

The position will be primarily performed in an outdoor setting and includes very frequent exposure to outdoor weather, such as heat, cold, rain, wind, and snow. This job may be frequently performed in a field or forest, and safety precautions must be taken. Overnight travel to project or client sites may be required (some assignments may be 3-4 weeks in length).

The nature of this job will require frequent walking and standing - sometimes for long periods of time. The use of hands for repetitive grasping and fine manipulation is required. Must utilize hearing for discussions, telephone use, and background noise. While performing the essential functions of the job, one may occasionally bend, squat, reach above head, kneel, and push or pull. Some lifting or carrying may be required (up to 35 lbs). While performing this job, one will use a computer, tablet, and/or cell phone. This job will require independent decision-making skills.

COMPENSATION

Compensation commensurate with experience.

POSTING DATE  

September 17, 2026. Position will be filled within one to three months.  Interviews will be scheduled throughout this time period.  The expected start is dependent upon candidate availability.

CONTACT

For any hiring questions, please reach out to Travis Polinske at [email protected] or 715-409-8535.

Steigerwaldt is an equal opportunity employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.