Forester

Arizona Department of Administration•Chino Valley, AZ

4d•$21 - $29•Onsite

About The Position

The Forester works on a team and manages the planning and implementation of forestry projects on private, state, and federal land in the assigned district. Projects include hazardous fuel reduction, forest health improvement, and watershed restoration. This position is 100% grant-funded, with funding reviewed annually. The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management works with local, county, state, and federal agencies to protect Arizona’s people through wildfire suppression and management coordination, prevention education, natural-resource management assistance, forest restoration, and fire and life safety services.

Requirements

Knowledge of forest planning, site-specific prescription development, and the elements of a well-written plan.
Knowledge of forest operations, including harvesting and methods used in the forest industry.
Knowledge of Arizona forest and fuel types and state and federal environmental compliance laws and regulations.
Computer skills with applications such as MS Word, Excel, and ArcGIS-related products.
Strong interpersonal skills to facilitate effective communication and teamwork.
Skill in training others in forestry-related subjects, safety practices, and protocols.
Skill in timber marking, cruising, and stand value estimation.
Ability to interact effectively with others to convey thoughts, ideas, and information.
Ability to track progress against goals and adjust to achieve results.
Ability to lead with a positive and productive attitude.
Ability to maintain written records and prepare documents and reports.
Ability to drive on State business.
Valid Arizona Driver’s License.
Employees driving on State business must maintain a current, valid, class-appropriate driver’s license, complete required training, pass applicable driving-record checks, and maintain an acceptable driving record. Employees using a personally owned vehicle for State business must maintain required liability insurance.
Newly hired State employees must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Nice To Haves

Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry or a related natural-resource program.
At least 2 years of experience developing forest planning documents and managing forestry operations.

Responsibilities

Identify projects and develop planning documents for forest and other natural-resource management concerns.
Interpret planning documents and implement projects on the ground.
Lead field staff; develop work plans for project oversight and monitoring; report outcomes and recommend management actions.
Coordinate with forestry and fire management staff to meet stakeholder needs and document concurrence; draft project task orders and manage contractors and internal crews implementing projects.
Provide technical assistance to landowners, internal staff, partners, and stakeholders, and conduct forest resource surveys.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans.
Retirement and long-term disability plans.
10 paid holidays per year.
Paid parental leave of up to 12 weeks per year for a newborn or newly placed foster or adopted child (pilot program).
Vacation accrual of 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years.
Sick time accrual of 3.70 hours bi-weekly.
Deferred compensation plan.
Wellness plans.
Tuition reimbursement eligibility after one year of employment.
Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) for eligible employees; enrollment eligibility begins after 27 weeks of employment. The stated contribution rate is 11.98%.