Forest Management Technician - The Dalles

State of Oregon•The Dalles, OR

About The Position

Real Jobs. Real Impact. Are you up to the Challenge? Our Mission – To protect and promote resilient forests that benefit all Oregonians. Are you interested in a wildfire career with the Oregon Department of Forestry? Then you've come to the right place. Challenge yourself to new limits. Join the people who serve to protect millions of acres of our forests, communities and natural resources. Click here: ODF Seasonal Wildland Fire Video You’ll be part of the ODF team that serves our fellow Oregonians relying on regulation and protection of both public and private forest land in our great state of Oregon! Click here . Great Benefits Package - watch this video Forest Management Technician (FMT) Eighteen months of experience working in the field of natural resources; OR Associate Degree in Forestry, Forest Engineering, Forest Recreation, Fire Protection or a related natural resource field of study; OR An equivalent combination of education and experience. Valid driver’s license with acceptable driving record. General Duties You perform a wide variety of tasks in the areas of timber sale preparation, fuels reduction, and timber stand improvements through thinning, piling, and burning of fuels. You will be supervised by The Dalles Unit Forest Resources Manager and will function as a team member of a Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) crew. This crew will work to achieve the goals and objectives given to them by The Dalles Unit Forest Resources Manager. The primary function of this position is to accomplish additive work on USFS National Forest projects. The GNA Crew will assist the National Forests in accomplishing their management goals including, but not limited to, timber sale planning, pre-commercial thinning, piling, prescribed burning, both piles and broadcast, and brushing roads. This crew will also implement all-lands, cross-boundary work to achieve forest restoration on a landscape scale. In addition, this position will perform fire suppression duties as needed. Some positions may include one or more of the following: Fuels Reduction: Works as a part of the crew. Performs fuel reduction tasks such as cutting and clearing brush, limbing trees, modification of vegetation, chipping, hand piling of slash, slash burning, pre-commercial thinning, fuel break construction, roadside brushing, water source maintenance and other tasks needed to develop defensible space and fire breaks. Will be required to utilize and maintain a chain saw, pruning saws, chipper and various hand tools. May contact homeowners and landowners to schedule and identify work to be completed. Utilize maps and agreement documents for identification and project description for each site project. Identify various vegetation and tree species in order to prune, trim or clear for the project site. Vehicle Operation: Operates department vehicles including cars, trucks, chippers and fire engines. Ensures all equipment is ready to support fuel reduction and fire suppression activities by completing safety inspection, submitting requests for maintenance, and maintains general up-keep. Maintenance: May perform landscape activities such as mowing, weeding, pruning, spreading bark or rock using hand tools and power equipment. Perform building maintenance activities such as assisting with minor repairs and custodial duties. Performs vehicle maintenance activities such as daily safety inspections, fluid checks, wash and wax. Performs maintenance on equipment to include cleaning, inspecting, sharpening and basic servicing fuels reduction equipment. Community: Maintains positive relationships with landowners, cooperators, and the public. Participates in activities and landowner cooperative projects as assigned. Other duties as assigned. Coop Activities (Silviculture): Conducts stocking surveys where recently planted units are inventoried for mortality, browse, competing vegetation and species make-up are tallied. This involves use of data recorders, maps, and tape measures. Planting surveys where plots are taken during and after planting activities to verify prescriptions are being met, and contracted planters are providing a quality product that is within specification and results in a survivable stand. Oversees and helps with slash burning. This involves communicating with smoke management personnel and forecasts. Performs property line surveys to verify ownership via compass and maps, referencing blazing on trees and surveyed corner posts to flag and mark end and start of property lines. Fire Suppression: Performs wildland fighting activities by serving as member on hand crew. Constructs fire line using hand tools by scraping, digging, and chopping or burning out to remove flammable materials. Performs mop up duties by scraping, digging, chopping, and applying water to remove heat. Assist in the operation and monitoring of vehicle mounted pumps. May collect weather observations as assigned. Performs suppression activities appropriate to the qualification of the individual.

Requirements

Eighteen months of experience working in the field of natural resources; OR Associate Degree in Forestry, Forest Engineering, Forest Recreation, Fire Protection or a related natural resource field of study; OR An equivalent combination of education and experience.
Valid driver’s license with acceptable driving record.
The person in this position is expected to have or be able to acquire FFT2 or higher ICS fire qualification(s) upon hire, successfully complete ICS S212 and be able to perform firefighting duties as needed.
Successful applicants must take and pass the physical fitness Work Capacity Test at the arduous level if selected for employment.

Nice To Haves

Preference given for firefighter (FFT2) qualifications and faller (FAL3) or above.
Experience with reading and interpreting aerial photos and USFS/ODF fire maps.
Knowledge and experience with timber cruising and basic forestry related skills (use of clinometer and GPS).
Experience using chainsaws to limb and fall standing trees.
Successful completion of S-212.
Experience driving on improved and unimproved forest roads.
Demonstrated ability to foster a culture of service, workforce diversity, equity and inclusion, team environment, and strong internal communication and alignment.
Proven experience as an excellent communicator who is honest, fair and inclusive among employees, partners and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Timber sale preparation
Fuels reduction
Timber stand improvements through thinning, piling, and burning of fuels
Accomplish additive work on USFS National Forest projects
Timber sale planning
Pre-commercial thinning
Piling
Prescribed burning, both piles and broadcast
Brushing roads
Implement all-lands, cross-boundary work to achieve forest restoration on a landscape scale
Fire suppression duties as needed
Fuel reduction tasks such as cutting and clearing brush, limbing trees, modification of vegetation, chipping, hand piling of slash, slash burning, pre-commercial thinning, fuel break construction, roadside brushing, water source maintenance and other tasks needed to develop defensible space and fire breaks
Utilize and maintain a chain saw, pruning saws, chipper and various hand tools
Contact homeowners and landowners to schedule and identify work to be completed
Utilize maps and agreement documents for identification and project description for each site project
Identify various vegetation and tree species in order to prune, trim or clear for the project site
Operates department vehicles including cars, trucks, chippers and fire engines
Ensures all equipment is ready to support fuel reduction and fire suppression activities by completing safety inspection, submitting requests for maintenance, and maintains general up-keep
Perform landscape activities such as mowing, weeding, pruning, spreading bark or rock using hand tools and power equipment
Perform building maintenance activities such as assisting with minor repairs and custodial duties
Performs vehicle maintenance activities such as daily safety inspections, fluid checks, wash and wax
Performs maintenance on equipment to include cleaning, inspecting, sharpening and basic servicing fuels reduction equipment
Maintains positive relationships with landowners, cooperators, and the public
Participates in activities and landowner cooperative projects as assigned
Conducts stocking surveys where recently planted units are inventoried for mortality, browse, competing vegetation and species make-up are tallied
Planting surveys where plots are taken during and after planting activities to verify prescriptions are being met, and contracted planters are providing a quality product that is within specification and results in a survivable stand
Oversees and helps with slash burning
Performs property line surveys to verify ownership via compass and maps, referencing blazing on trees and surveyed corner posts to flag and mark end and start of property lines
Performs wildland fighting activities by serving as member on hand crew
Constructs fire line using hand tools by scraping, digging, and chopping or burning out to remove flammable materials
Performs mop up duties by scraping, digging, chopping, and applying water to remove heat
Assist in the operation and monitoring of vehicle mounted pumps
May collect weather observations as assigned
Performs suppression activities appropriate to the qualification of the individual