Forestry Specialist

Hiring Organization: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Employment type: Full-Time
Job Location: Minnesota
Application Due Date: January 6, 2025

Job ID: 82234
Location: Baudette, Bemidji, Grygla, Lewiston, Nimrod, Preston, Warroad
Telework Eligible: No
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Regular/Temporary: Unlimited
Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers
Date Posted: 12/06/2024
Closing Date: 01/06/2025
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit: Department of Natural Resources
Division/Unit: Forestry
Work Shift/Work Hours: Day Shift
Days of Work: Monday - Friday
Travel Required: Yes, occasionally
Salary Range: $24.42 - $35.43 / hourly; $50,989 - $73,978 / annually
Classified Status: Classified
Bargaining Unit/Union: 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
FLSA Status: Exempt-Professional
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: Yes

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

Job Summary

The DNR, Division of Forestry is seeking to fill multiple Forestry Specialist positions across the state. This posting will be used to fill vacancies in the following work locations: Baudette, Bemidji, Grygla, Lewiston, Nimrod, Preston, and Warroad, Minnesota. During the application process, applicants will choose their preferred location(s).

Depending on internal movement, this posting may be used to fill vacancies in these locations if they become available: Aitkin, Backus, Bagley, Big Falls, Effie, Finland, Littlefork, McGregor, Northome, Onamia, Orr, Outing, Park Rapids, Sandstone, and Williams.

The Forestry Specialist position exists to implement program support tasks across all Division of Forestry programs so that forest resources are protected, managed, and utilized in accordance with department policy and procedure. During periods of elevated wildfire danger, the Forestry Specialist will be assigned to work weekends, evening, and holidays. Also, to support ongoing incidents, the Forestry Specialist will be assigned to travel throughout Minnesota on multiple-day assignments.

The Forestry Specialist commonly performs the following tasks:

Evaluate the condition of forest stands and apply native plant community guidelines, develop silvicultural prescriptions, and determine harvest systems to meet multiple resource goals.
Appraise timber for sale, implement forest management guidelines, market permits to timber purchasers, administer state timber permits, and scale cut products.
Visit forest stands impacted by insects, disease, or fire and create plans to respond to those effects.
Create maps in GIS programs, analyze and interpret air photos, and use GPS and/or compass to navigate to forest stands to establish management boundaries.
Engage in wildfire prevention and suppression activities to minimize threats to life, property, and resources
Collect forest inventory data using common forestry tools and mobile data recorders.
Analyze forest inventory data, input into GIS databases, and adjust stand boundaries.
Identify tree, shrub, and plant species common to Minnesota.
Use the Ecological Classification System to determine native plant communities and update maps.
Apply statistical methods to develop timber cruises and accurately estimate standing volume.
Propose tree planting, site preparation, or timber stand improvement projects to meet management plan objectives.
Locate, identify, and map instances of terrestrial invasive plants and propose treatments to control infestations.
Operate various vehicles, equipment, and tools (pickup, trailer, ATV, snowmobile, fire engine, long-handled tools, etc.)
Meet with private landowners and provide advice to manage private woodlands.
Participate in presentations and outreach to the public and to internal and external agency partners.
Lead seasonal or intermittent employees, student interns, and emergency hire firefighters to meet assigned objectives.
Review and approve, or deny, burn permit requests.

This position requires the ability to complete physically demanding tasks with or without accommodation and the ability to work independently in remote locations sufficient to accomplish work without immediate supervision.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

To be considered for this job, applicants must have either:

Two (2) years’ experience in forestry that demonstrates:
- Scientific knowledge of forest resource management sufficient to create ecologically-sound silviculture prescriptions including timber harvest, regeneration, and stand improvement treatments that meet management plan goals.
- Applying forest management guidelines, policy, and procedure.
- Understanding of sampling statistics and forest mensuration sufficient to accurately collect, interpret, and analyze data for ecological classification, forest inventory, timber appraisal, and scaling of cut forest products.
- Knowledge of plant physiology and dendrology sufficient to identify tree species and the environmental factors that affect them including native range, climate, soils, topography, associated forest cover, growth and reproduction, succession, and genetics.
- Knowledge of GIS, aerial photography, and cartography sufficient to interpret photos, identify features, make maps, and locate property lines and survey monuments.

OR:

A bachelor's degree or higher in forestry or closely related field including coursework in:
- Silviculture, forest management, forest ecology, or forest engineering.
- Forest/natural resource policy or forest/natural resource economics.
- Forest measurements, forest mensuration, or forest inventory.
- Plant physiology, dendrology, botany, or taxonomy.
- Land survey, photogrammetry, remote sensing, or geographic information systems.

OR:

Eighteen (18) months experience in forestry demonstrating the knowledge above AND an associate degree or higher in forestry or closely related field including coursework in the areas of study listed above.

In addition to the above experience and/or education, applicants must also have:

Ability to earn and maintain National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) basic wildland firefighter (FFT2) qualification within six months of hire.
Ability to work weekends, evenings, holidays, and occasionally on multi-day assignments away from home during times of elevated fire danger to protect life, property, and natural resources from wildfires and other natural disasters in Minnesota.
Ability to communicate orally and in written form sufficient to clearly convey information on forest management practices and policy to the general public, special interest groups, and other department employees.
Human relation skills sufficient to deal appropriately with supervisors, coworkers, special interest groups, loggers, and the general public in a variety of situations.
Demonstrated planning skills sufficient to organize short projects, prioritize tasks, make recommendations on the direction of a project, provide leadership on small teams, and exercise limited discretion.
Knowledge of multi-use forestry concepts sufficient to conduct and evaluate management activities that benefit wildlife species, ecosystem health, recreational opportunities, and wood marketing and utilization.
Computer skills sufficient to keep records, analyze data, write reports, and communicate and collaborate with partners and colleagues using various applications (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, SharePoint, Adobe, ArcGIS).

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor's degree or higher, accredited by the Society of American Foresters.
Three (3) or more years of experience in forestry.
Knowledge of Division of Forestry policies and procedures sufficient to implement assigned tasks safely and within legal and ethical guidelines.
NWCG qualified as a Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1), Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5), Faller Type 3 (FAL3), Tracked Vehicle Operator (TVOP), Engine Operator (ENOP), Fixed-wing Parking Tender (FWPT), or Initial Attack Dispatcher (IADP).

Additional Requirements

This position requires an unrestricted Class D Driver’s license with a clear driving record.

Applicants must have the ability to meet the physical requirements and work in the environmental conditions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H1B status).

It is policy of the Department of Natural Resources that all candidates submit to a background check prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components:

Conflict of Interest Review
Criminal History Check
Education Verification
Employment Reference / Records Check
License / Certification Verification

Application Details

How to Apply

Select “Apply for Job” at the top of this page. If you have questions about applying for jobs, contact the Careers Help Desk at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us. For additional information about the application process, go to http://www.mn.gov/careers.

Contact

If you have questions about this position, contact Austin Dane at austin.dane@state.mn.us or 612-401-1433.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to assist with the application process, please contact the ADA Coordinator at ADA.DNR@state.mn.us. To receive consideration as a Connect 700 Program applicant, apply online, email the Job ID#, the Working Title and your valid Proof of Eligibility Certificate by the closing date to Layla Daleiden at layla.daleiden@state.mn.us.

Working together to improve the state we love.

What do Minnesota's State employees have in common?

A sense of purpose in their work
Connection with their coworkers and communities
Opportunities for personal and professional growth

Benefits

As an employee, you'll have access to one of the most affordable health insurance plans in Minnesota, along with other benefits to help you and your family be well.

Your benefits may include:

Paid vacation and sick leave
12 paid holidays each year
Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans
- Fertility care, including IVF
- Diabetes care
- Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children
6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children
Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years)
Employer paid life insurance to provide support for your family in the event of death
Short-term and long-term disability insurance that can provide income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury
Tax-free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care
Resources that provide support and promote physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being

Support to help you reach your career goals:

Training, classes, and professional development
Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid website at studentaid.gov)

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for work/life support:

A voluntary confidential program that helps employees and their families with life challenges that may impact overall health, personal well-being, or job performance
Common sources of stress can be addressed through the EAP: mental health, relationship challenges (personal and work), grief and loss, finances, and legal issues
Daily Living/Convenience Services: Chore services, home repair, trip planning, child/elder care

Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of Minnesota.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERS

Minnesota state agencies are equal opportunity, affirmative action, and veteran-friendly employers. State agencies are committed to creating a workforce that reflects the diversity of the state and strongly encourages persons of color and Indigenous communities, members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply. The varied experiences and perspectives of employees strengthen the work we do together and our ability to best serve Minnesotans.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and disabilities related to pregnancy or childbirth), gender identity, gender expression, marital status, familial status, age, sexual orientation, status regarding public assistance, disability, veteran status or activity in a local Human Rights Commission or any other characteristic protected by law.

APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES

Minnesota state agencies make reasonable accommodations to their employees and applicants with disabilities. If you have a disability and need assistance in searching or applying for jobs with the State of Minnesota, call the Careers Help Desk at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us and let us know the support you need.

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