Forester II-Water Quality Forester

State of North Carolina

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The North Carolina Forest Service is a team of professionals who provide forest protection, emergency response, resource management and environmental education to the residents and landowners of North Carolina through a variety of programs. The NC Forest Service provides services to the 100 counties in North Carolina. The Water Quality Forester (WQF) will coordinate the water quality (WQ) program within their assigned areas of the Coastal Division (Region 1) and provide technical guidance to district personnel regarding the WQ program. Water Quality duties include, but are not limited to: coordinate Forest Practices Guidelines (FPG’s) program and Buffer Rule program within the area served; recommend measures to correct non-compliance of FPG’s; develop pre-harvest plans; educate landowners, loggers, timber buyers, contractors, and consultants on FPG’s and riparian buffer rules; make stream determinations; maintain the 4808 database for the area served; train other NCFS personnel in water quality issues; and perform general forest management duties as assigned. Position will also assist with forest management and prescribed burning within the region as requested. This position will require responding to wildland fires and other “all risk” incidents and the individual will be required to become a member of a NC Incident Management Team and serve on the Regional Fire Team. The individual will serve as a Regional Emergency Operations Center Officer on an as-needed basis that will require some extended hours at night and on weekends as well as being on-call for emergency response. Occasional heavy lifting is required. Environmental exposures are adverse weather, forest pests, hunters, intense heat, dust, smoke, and hazardous logging debris. Work hours are typically 8-5, Mon-Fri. Some work functions require evening, holiday, and/or weekend work. Wildfire and disaster/emergency response will be required. Some overnight travel will be required. NCFS is an Emergency Response Agency – work schedule may require extended hours and/or possible emergency callback.

Requirements

Must have telephone.
Must have or be able to obtain NC Forester Registration within 1 year of employment.
Must obtain a valid NC Driver's License within 90 days.
Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external customers, in both written and oral format.
Must be a self-motivated, team and service-oriented person with the ability to collect and process data and make sound recommendations.
Ability to operate basic forestry tools including, but not limited to the following: prism, diameter tape, clinometer, increment borer, and compass.
Must possess the ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds.
Bachelor’s degree in forestry from a Society of American Foresters (SAF) accredited institution and two years of related professional Forestry experience; or Registered by the NC Board of Registration for Foresters and two years of related professional post registration Forestry experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Those not registered at the time of hire must obtain registration as a Forester from the NC Board of Registration for Foresters within two years of employment.

Nice To Haves

Experience with NC Forest Practice Guidelines and other water quality regulations

Responsibilities

Coordinate the water quality (WQ) program within their assigned areas of the Coastal Division (Region 1) and provide technical guidance to district personnel regarding the WQ program.
Coordinate Forest Practices Guidelines (FPG’s) program and Buffer Rule program within the area served.
Recommend measures to correct non-compliance of FPG’s.
Develop pre-harvest plans.
Educate landowners, loggers, timber buyers, contractors, and consultants on FPG’s and riparian buffer rules.
Make stream determinations.
Maintain the 4808 database for the area served.
Train other NCFS personnel in water quality issues.
Perform general forest management duties as assigned.
Assist with forest management and prescribed burning within the region as requested.
Respond to wildland fires and other “all risk” incidents.
Become a member of a NC Incident Management Team and serve on the Regional Fire Team.
Serve as a Regional Emergency Operations Center Officer on an as-needed basis.
Be on-call for emergency response.