Forester 1 - GNA Forester

Job Overview:

Forester will perform professional forest management activities under the general supervision of the Good Neighbor Forest Management Supervisor.The incumbent plans, coordinates, and implements projects necessary to sell timber or related products from federal lands. These projects are complex and must be designed on a case-by-case basis to conform to numerous constraints and respond to multiple issues. Each project must be implemented in accordance with The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) rules and will require the preparation of document(s) disclosing the adequate level of analysis for each project and may require preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement. This position would serve a support role for preparation of complex, large-volume forest product sales, timber permits, and other forest product sales.

Essential Functions (Major Duties or Responsibilities): These job functions are the essential duties of the position and are not all-inclusive of all the duties that may be assigned to the incumbent.

Good Neighbor Forest Management (80% of time)

Plan, coordinate and evaluate activities on federal lands to provide for the sustainable use of the land and associated resources, and to ensure adherence to state and federal laws and regulations.

Conducting fieldwork to verify and update records. Implement timber sales by administering contracts. Assist in administering permits, resource protection plans, resource improvement projects, or implement compliance actions. Establish project boundaries. Assist in design specifications for aerial and/or ground-based logging systems. Design /maintain road systems, stream crossings and bridges or reconstruction specifications for state land and or/adjacent ownership. Supervise timber-volume cruise designs and marking with seasonal forestry technicians and supervise and participate in other sale layout activities. Implement Land Management Plans and ensure compliance with NEPA design features and silvicultural prescriptions.  Inventory and monitor land resources to assess conditions, trends and concerns. Prepare technical written reports concerning the impact of projects and prepare all sale-
package documents for Land Office and Good Neighbor Bureau review and distribution. These include the NEPA Design Features Crosswalk, Timber Sale Contract, Prospectus, Notice of Sale, Summary of Actions and other summaries of timber values, cruise documentation, forest improvement appraisal, road and logging costs, and specifications. Work within assigned allocation of budget and capital while ensuring harvest goals are met. Respond to inquiries or requests for technical assistance regarding the development, interpretation or implementation of rules, regulations and department programs. Participate in public hearings, monitor input from industry, affected groups and the public, obtain data and recommend strategies or actions. Mitigate disputes with private landowners, contractors or general public, escalating when needed. Determine and oversee forest restoration treatments on assigned parcels including thinning, timber stand improvement hazard and fuels reduction, weed spraying, road maintenance needs and planting after timber sales or as needed. Perform activities in wildland-fire management that relate to the responsibilities of the Unit; coordinate non-complex burns with county and burn plans.

Benefits:

Health Insurance Retirement Paid Vacation, Sick Leave and Holidays Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) – Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF. 

Application Materials Required for this Position Are:

State of Montana Application Resume Cover Letter

Special Information:
Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. A valid driver's license is required with less than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months. 

Minimum Qualifications 

The required knowledge, skills and abilities are acquired through a bachelor’s degree in Forest Management or a related resource management field and one year of job-related professional forest management experience. May consider alternative combinations of education and experience.

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities:
The position requires knowledge of forest management principles and practices; equipment and techniques used in forest management projects and operations; forest practices and hazard reduction laws, Administrative Rules, standards, guidelines, policies, and procedures related to forest management operations and activities; and considerable knowledge of the National Environmental Policy Act and related laws and rules governing natural resource management. Knowledge of the terminology, principles, methods and approaches used in silviculture, ecology, hydrology, wildlife and fisheries biology. Specific knowledge of plant taxonomy, habitat typing, timber cruising, log scaling, harvesting systems, data collection and sampling techniques; road design and layout; fire behavior, fire suppression techniques, land surveying and timber appraisal procedures. The position also requires knowledge of DNRC and State Personnel policies, procedures, precedents, organizational structures, employment law conflict resolution and program requirements.

The position requires skill in the use and operation of tools, equipment and vehicles used in wildland fire control, forest management activities and field office operations; operation of 4-wheel drive vehicles, ATVs/UTVs and skill in the use of computer hardware and software related to forest management business operations (word processing, spreadsheets, internet, e-mail and smart devices) and specialized resource management software.

The position requires the ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing to individuals, groups and representatives from other organizations; the ability to coordinate and direct multiple resources to complete work objectives, work on multiple projects simultaneously; work well with others and maintain a positive working environment. The position often works independently and requires critical thinking skills as they work in remote work conditions and may encounter various hazards throughout a typical workday including wildlife, road conditions, hazardous terrain and encounters with the public in various high-tension settings that may require de-escalation and conflict resolution.

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