Forester 1/2 Flex - Stewardship Forester (PCN 10-9814)

State of Alaska • Homer, AK

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, is recruiting for a Forester 1/2 Flex in Homer, Alaska, to join their Forest Stewardship Program. This position conducts public outreach and provides professional forestry assistance to non-industrial private forest landowners throughout Alaska. The role involves conducting field assessments to evaluate forest conditions, developing comprehensive Forest Stewardship Plans, and providing technical guidance on forest management, conservation, stewardship practices, and wildfire hazard mitigation. The position also implements Forest Stewardship Program projects, assists with program administration and reporting, and supports other activities that advance private forest stewardship and State Forest Action Plan objectives. The Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection protects lives and property from wildfire while managing forests for a sustainable supply of resources. The Division provides leadership in wildland fire management, forest management, forest practices, and Cooperative Forestry programs. Cooperative Forestry programs include the Forest Stewardship Program, Community Forestry Program, and Forest Health Program, which offer technical assistance, education, and expertise to private landowners, communities, and partners across Alaska. This position offers the opportunity to work in Alaska’s unique environment, assisting diverse forest landowners. Forest management activities include timber harvesting, firewood production, wildfire hazard mitigation, reforestation, and other stewardship practices. The role provides opportunities to apply innovative approaches to forest management and landowner assistance while addressing Alaska’s unique forestry challenges. Due to a lean staffing structure, employees gain broad exposure to forest resources, wildfire, and Cooperative Forestry programs. The Division supports career-long learning, professional development, and advancement opportunities within both forestry and fire management disciplines.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field that includes a minimum of 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in forestry or closely related curricula.
• An Associate's degree that includes a minimum of 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related curricula from an accredited college and two years of journey-level experience in the technical aspects of forest management and practices such as fire prevention, fire suppression, timber sales, reforestation, or inventory will substitute for the required bachelor's degree.
• Certification from an accredited vocational-technical school in forestry, natural resource management, or a closely related field and three years of journey-level experience in the technical aspects of forest management and practices such as fire prevention, fire suppression, timber sales, reforestation, or inventory may substitute for the required bachelor's degree.
• Certification via NWCG (National Wildfire Coordinating Group) Incident Qualification Card (AKA 'red card') within the preceding three (3) years in any of the following will substitute for the required education: Single Resource (CRWB, HEQB, HEMG, ENGB, FELB), or Field Observer (FOBS).
• For Forester 2: One year of professional entry-level forestry experience. The required experience is met by service as Forester 1 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent with another employer.
• For Forester 2: Three years of journey-level technical experience in fire or forest resources management. This experience includes work such as Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 3, Wildland Forestry Technician 2, or Wildland Fire Dispatcher 2 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent with another employer.
• For Forester 2: A master's degree from an accredited college in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field that includes a minimum of 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in forestry or closely related curricula will substitute for the entry-level experience.
• For Forester 2: Four years in any combination of post-secondary education from an accredited college that includes a minimum of 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field AND journey-level experience in the technical aspects of forest management and practices, such as fire prevention, suppression, timber sales, reforestation or inventory may substitute for the required bachelor's degree.
• For Forester 2: Certification from an accredited vocational-technical school in forestry, natural resource management, or a closely related field and three years of journey-level experience in the technical aspects of forest management and practices such as fire prevention, suppression, timber sales, reforestation, or inventory may substitute for the required bachelor's degree.
• For Forester 2: Certification via NWCG (National Wildfire Coordinating Group) Incident Qualification Card (AKA 'red card') within the preceding three (3) years in any of the following will substitute for the required education: Any Strike Team Leader Positions (STCR, STEQ, STEN), Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4), Any Unit Leader Position (TIME, PROC, COMP, GSUL, SPUL, PETL, INVL), Any Manager Position (EQPM, HMGB, SENG, HEB2, ATBM), or Aviation Position (ASGS, ATGS).
• Closely related curricula and work experience include fields such as geosciences, geography, natural resources, environmental sciences, soils, hydrology, wildlife habitat management, forest engineering, remote sensing, vegetation classification, natural resource bio-metrics, and wildland fire control.
• Valid driver's license.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of silviculture and forest ecology, forest use, management, harvesting, conducting inventories, regeneration, sustainability, and conservation; and the role of disturbances in timberland resources.
• Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of the interrelationships among organisms and their environment, including competition and predation, evolution and natural selection, population dynamics, and the impact of natural phenomena or human actions on natural systems, processes, and biota.
• Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and methods for describing the location and distribution of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical locations, relationships, characteristics, and what the land supports.
• Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral and written presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
• Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise.

Responsibilities

• Conducts public outreach and provides professional forestry assistance to non-industrial private forest landowners throughout Alaska in support of the Forest Stewardship Program.
• Conducts field assessments to evaluate forest conditions, including stand composition, timber volume, regeneration, wildlife habitat, riparian areas, recreation opportunities, and other forest values.
• Develops comprehensive Forest Stewardship Plans that document existing conditions, landowner objectives, and recommended management activities to guide sustainable forest management over a 10-year period.
• Provides technical guidance on forest management, conservation, stewardship practices, wildfire hazard mitigation, and connects landowners with cost-share opportunities.
• Implements Forest Stewardship Program projects and initiatives, assists with program administration and reporting requirements, and supports other activities that advance private forest stewardship and State Forest Action Plan objectives.

Benefits

• Opportunities for career-long learning, professional development, and advancement within both forestry and fire management disciplines.
• Broad exposure to forest resources, wildfire, and Cooperative Forestry programs due to a lean staffing structure.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level