Forester 2 - Urban Community Forester x 2

State of Montana • Missoula, MT

2d

About The Position

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's mission is to help ensure that Montana's land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations. The DNRC believes employees are their most important asset. The DNRC empowers employees to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. Employees are provided with the training and tools necessary to achieve the mission. Both team effort and individual employee expertise are supported and sustained. Core Values: The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Forestry and Trust Land Division recognizes that building a collaborative, professional, and inclusive work environment is critical to fulfilling our mission of managing, protecting, and promoting stewardship of Montana’s forests and lands for the benefit of current and future generations and our trust beneficiaries. We hold ourselves to these high standards as we are accountable to the people of Montana. We value and respect each other. We create collaborative work environments. We build and maintain strong relationships. We practice accountability. We celebrate our successes and take pride in our work Hiring two foresters, working locations TBD. Will fill one eastside and one westside. Position Overview: Serve as Regional Urban and Community (UCF) Forester to provide communities with the assistance necessary to develop and maintain comprehensive UCF programs within their region, develop short and long-term plans of action for communities, and oversee technical, financial and educational assistance. Regional foresters will work with DNRC staff and communities in their regions providing technical assistance, education and outreach, project and proposal development and implementation, UCF planning and subaward financial compliance. This position will administer the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program, collect and manage urban forest data, represent the UCF Program and the Forestry and Trust Lands Division when performing public relations duties, and assist in the Division's mission to promote and apply management for the sustainable use and protection of Montana’s public and private urban forests. Work with the DNRC’s Urban and Community Forestry Program’s advisory group, the Montana Urban and Community Forestry Association, to ensure collaboration on urban forestry issues of concern across the state.

Requirements

• The required knowledge, skills, and abilities are typically acquired through a combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree in fire, forestry, natural resources, or related field and 2 years of progressively responsible experience.
• Acceptable fields of study or necessary knowledge and skills: Urban and Community Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Forestry, Arboriculture, Project Management
• Must successfully complete arborist certification within first year of employment pursuant to International Society of Arboriculture.
• Requires knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration, arboriculture, forestry and resource management.
• The work requires knowledge of program planning, coordination and administration; public relations and communication methods and practices; federal and state forestry laws, policies and procedures; and statewide community forestry needs and priorities.
• Experience with desktop and web GIS software (ArcMap, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online), spatial data analysis and data management fundamentals; field data collection.
• 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.
• In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the person selected must produce within three days of hire documents that show authorization to work in the United States. Examples of such documentation include a birth certificate or Social Security card along with a driver’s license or other picture I.D., or a U.S. passport, or a "green card".

Responsibilities

• Regional UCF Forester: Travel within the assigned UCF Region (east or west) to help communities build and invest in strong, sustainable UCF programs.
• Assist communities to develop and implement projects that will substantially improve the long-term growth and development of their community forests.
• B roaden community engagement in local urban forest planning and improve resilience to climate change, pests and storm events.
• Assist in planning projects, help communities plant and maintain the next generation of urban and community forests, monitor health, as well as environmental and economic benefits.
• Help communities implement the goals and strategies from the Montana Forest Action Plan and the Forestry Assistance Strategic Plan, including strategic tree planting to increase canopy cover, create species diversity, and improve retention through the development of infrastructure for long term care and maintenance.
• Coordinate with partner organizations, volunteer groups, educational institutions, tribes, communities, etc. to participate in Tree City USA programs.
• Provide guidance and oversight on fulfilling program requirements and community forestry goals, organizing and publicizing projects and ceremonial events.
• Provide educational assistance, marketing, and outreach; use various public engagement methods to promote and educate about urban forestry and related natural resource topics.
• Collect or participate in UCF tree inventories and development of tree care and management plans, canopy assessments, and green infrastructure analyses.
• Utilize GIS tools, mapping and software to provide statistics, visuals, reporting information and data regarding urban forest resource.
• Work with communities that are marginalized, overburdened by pollution, or face socioeconomic, public health and environmental justice challenges.
• Assist with the implementation of projects funded from the Disadvantaged Communities Grant and the Tree for Indigenous Communities Grant, both Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding.
• Serve as the UCF Volunteer/Partnership Coordinator and the Inventory Coordinator for the UCF program in respective regions: The Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for the statewide delivery of technical assistance to local governments, communities, and volunteer-based organizations and to extend external partnerships, leverage program support, and diversify stakeholder and citizen engagement in State UCF Programs. The Inventory Coordinator is responsible for the maintenance of the statewide urban forest inventory including GIS work, database, and online app management (with DNRC GIS staff), working with software application contractors, aggregating and scheduling inventory and management plan projects, assisting with statewide analysis and assessment, leading in field data collection, and providing inventory training to field and local personnel.
• Work with the UCF Program Manager on tracking and reporting of program accomplishments using automated data collection and reporting functions; communicate with field and local staff, program partners and clients; compare accomplishments with objectives.
• Work with the UCF Program Manager on efforts for outreach and education and delivery of information to stakeholders.
• Assist with the development and maintenance of informational and educational materials for print and online, such as brochures, magazine articles and web-based directory and maps to provide pertinent, current and technically accurate information for targeted audiences and the public.

Benefits

• Paid Vacation, Sick Leave and Holidays
• Health, Dental, Prescription, and Vision Coverage
• Retirement Plans
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) – Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF.  Look here, https\://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service to learn more and see if you may qualify!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees