Forester 2 - Service Forester

State of Montana•Anaconda, MT

73d

About The Position

This position is a Service Forester. The position is responsible for providing service forestry leadership and consultation to forest communities, loggers, land managers, and landowners located within the Unit to build local capacity to sustain adaptive management of Montana forests. This includes assisting landowners in meeting their management objectives while improving and restoring the health of the land, protecting homes and property, retaining the value of the land and ensuring compliance with state and federal laws. The position also provides wildland fire suppression services and assistance to county and rural fire departments as needed to protect lives, property and natural resources in the unit, and manages unit operations on behalf of the unit manger to ensure continuity of services. The Service Forester reports to the Unit Manager.

Requirements

The position requires education and experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree in forestry, natural resource management, forest management, or a related field and four (4) years progressively responsible experience in forestry and resource management.
The position requires knowledge of the principles and practices of forestry and natural resource management including silviculture, survey methods, research and analysis, fire prevention, forest improvement, insect and disease identification and treatment, wildland and urban fire fighting tactics, conservation practices, watershed protection, and forest products (e.g., logging and mill operations).
The position requires knowledge of public relations, communication, technical writing, conflict resolution methods and techniques, investigation and enforcement practices, program administration, governmental accounting and budgeting, grant administration, records management, and report writing.
Requires knowledge to pass the following courses upon hire: Standards for Survival (annual); Work Capacity (pack) Test (annual); S-130 Introduction to Fire Fighting; S-190 Basic Fire Behavior; S-290 Intermediate Fire Behavior; S-205 Fire Operations in Urban Interface; and S-230 Single Resource Boss.
The position requires skill in administering multiple forestry programs, verbal and written communication, negotiation and conflict management, the use of personal computers and forestry- and business-related software, and in the operation of fire suppression equipment.
The position requires the ability to communicate detailed information verbally and in writing; develop and implement State forestry programs; train and direct the work of others; plan, manage time, set priorities and carry out forestry field projects; keep records and prepare reports; make quick, proper and decisive fire suppression decisions; persuade and direct private landowners on methods to achieve forest management objectives; prepare silvicultural prescriptions and fire prescriptions; persuade, discern, negotiate or sometimes diffuse volatile situations, and to provide effective application of forest management principles for accomplishment of forestry field projects.
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.

Responsibilities

Provide service forestry leadership, education, and consultation to forest communities and landowners in the Unit to build local capacity to sustain active management of Montana forests.
Plan and develop service forestry services to meet bureau and division objectives and to facilitate the management of public and private forested lands for economic, recreational, and conservation purposes and to meet customer needs.
Manage program and project funding and administration including grant administration activities to achieve unit service forestry objectives in compliance with funding requirements and applicable regulations and to manage natural resources in a sustainable manner.
Provide technical assistance with and enforcement of Streamside Management Zone (SMZ) law and voluntary Best Management Practices (BMP) to safeguard land and water and to ensure wise resource use.
Provide direct wildland fire suppression services and assistance to county and rural fire departments as needed to protect lives, property and natural resources in the unit.
Serve as Duty Officer on a rotating basis with other Unit personnel to provide direction for unit fire responses including acting for the Unit Manager and being available by radio or telephone on a twenty-four hour basis while on duty.
Take command of initial attack and extended attack or escaped fires in wildland urban interface and other areas by interpreting and responding to fire data, resources at risk, and the nature of impending threats.
Perform fire prevention duties as specified in the Unit's Prevention Plan to reduce fire hazards.
Participate in training of seasonal fire crews as needed to ensure adequate trained staffing to meet unit prevention and suppression needs.
Provide expertise and technical assistance on fire rehabilitation projects to restore lands after fires and support fire prevention activities.