Forestry Technician 2 (2 Positions) - NY HELPS

State of New York•Saratoga Springs, NY

42d•$53,413 - $65,061•Onsite

About The Position

The Forestry Technician 2 serves as the primary field position for the Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery, carrying out a variety of essential duties to produce, maintain and distribute millions of tree and shrub seedlings annually. The Forestry Technician 2 works under the direction of a Forestry Technician 3 or a Forester 1. Duties will include: Operation of various medium to heavy-duty sized equipment, including trucks, farm tractors, front end loaders and forklifts. Application of pesticides, chemical fertilizers and soil amendments as part of an Integrated Pest Management program to maintain and improve seedling health and soil quality. Assistance in the harvesting, grading and shipping of tree and shrub seedlings in support of the Nursery's annual Tree and Shrub sale and School Seedling Program. Participation in public outreach at fairs, conservation field days and various other educational events to promote the critical importance of tree and shrub planting in New York State. Perform required tasks to maintain and establish seed orchards and seed production areas, involving the use of chainsaws, pole saws, forestry mowers and various other tools and equipment. Collection, processing and storage of seeds and fruit for current and future propagation of conifer, hardwood and shrub seedlings in support of New York's ambitious seedling production goals. Supervision and training of Forestry Technician 1's, laborers and seasonal Nursery employees. Operation of a Geographic Information System (GIS). Operation and light maintenance of an extensive irrigation system in forest nursery production beds. Assist and oversee seedling inventory activities, and prepare reports documenting current quantities, general quality and location of seedling growing stock in nursery production beds. This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS). For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. At a future date, it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

Requirements

An associate's or higher-level degree in forestry, forest biology, forest resource management, or forest technology, AND one year of diversified, technical forestry experience in two or more of the following areas: forest health, forest inventory, forest management, or timber sale marking including administration.
Must have a valid driver's license or demonstrate the ability to meet the transportation needs of the position.
Use of personal protection equipment, including a respirator, will be required.
Must be able to negotiate difficult terrain.
Must be able to work in remote areas.
Must be able to work in adverse weather conditions.
Must be able to lift and move objects up to 50 pounds.

Responsibilities

Operation of various medium to heavy-duty sized equipment, including trucks, farm tractors, front end loaders and forklifts.
Application of pesticides, chemical fertilizers and soil amendments as part of an Integrated Pest Management program to maintain and improve seedling health and soil quality.
Assistance in the harvesting, grading and shipping of tree and shrub seedlings in support of the Nursery's annual Tree and Shrub sale and School Seedling Program.
Participation in public outreach at fairs, conservation field days and various other educational events to promote the critical importance of tree and shrub planting in New York State.
Perform required tasks to maintain and establish seed orchards and seed production areas, involving the use of chainsaws, pole saws, forestry mowers and various other tools and equipment.
Collection, processing and storage of seeds and fruit for current and future propagation of conifer, hardwood and shrub seedlings in support of New York's ambitious seedling production goals.
Supervision and training of Forestry Technician 1's, laborers and seasonal Nursery employees.
Operation of a Geographic Information System (GIS).
Operation and light maintenance of an extensive irrigation system in forest nursery production beds.
Assist and oversee seedling inventory activities, and prepare reports documenting current quantities, general quality and location of seedling growing stock in nursery production beds.