Presales Forester, Natural Resource Specialist 2 (NRS2)/NRS1 (In-Training)

State of Washington • Skagit County - Sedro Woolley, WA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has an exciting opportunity within our Northwest Region as a State Lands Presales Forester. The successful applicant will become part of a team of outstanding natural resources professionals dedicated to the sustainable management of DNR trust lands and our fiduciary responsibilities to the trust beneficiaries. This position provides forestry expertise on DNR uplands to achieve agency goals and deliverables. Sustaining long-term ecosystem protection and productivity is achieved through careful planning, diligent project management and active coordination of input from specialists and partners. The economic viability of these working forests will be maintained by robust communication and teamwork in order to maintain or enhance revenue generating activities on trust lands. This position helps Northwest Region achieve the mission through strong leadership, thoughtful decision making, and excellent planning. The incumbent plans, coordinates and manages timber sales and silvicultural activities on trust land, under the guidance of a unit forester. This position works in the office and in the field, implementing DNR policies and procedures including the Habitat Conservation Plan (1997), Policy for Sustainable Forests (2006), relevant WAC’s including the Forest Practices Rules, and the Multiple Use Concept (RCW 79.10.120). This position primarily works in the Deming Unit in Baker District, which is in the beautiful North Cascade Mountain foothills. Sedro Woolley is a growing community where logging and high tech come together, maintaining a robust economy and high quality of life. Bellingham is less than an hour away and Seattle is less than two hours away. Have the best of both worlds by enjoying the outdoors near the Salish Sea and the Cascade Mountains, while having all the options of larger cities close by.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources, environmental science, or similar area of study; OR a combination of education and/or experience equivalent (such as an Associate’s degree in a natural resource field).
• Bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources, environmental science, or similar area of study; AND 1 year of experience in a natural resource field; OR an equivalent combination of education and/or experience (such as an Associate’s degree in a natural resource field with additional relevant experience).
• Dedication to a Safe Workplace: Demonstrates leadership in the maintenance and development of a safe and healthy work environment.
• Communication Effectiveness.
• Team Leadership: Actively takes steps to build a cohesive and results-oriented team.
• Customer Focus: Builds and maintains internal and external customer satisfaction offered by the organization.
• Commitment to fostering and supporting an environment that honors diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice practices.
• Perform assigned duties in a manner consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and public records retention, and ensure requests are followed.
• Approximately 75% of time is spent in the field, 25% in the office.
• Fieldwork involves driving forest roads in a variety of conditions, working alone in remote areas, and working in all inclement weather conditions across a variety of steep and rugged terrain.
• Must be able to cover reasonable distances per day in the field on moderate to very difficult terrain.
• Must be willing to work alone and in remote terrain and in all weather conditions.
• Position requires a significant amount of time in the field traveling alone between timber sale or silviculture activities and a work center.
• Travel out of town overnight may be necessary to attend required trainings and meetings on an occasional basis.
• A current, valid driver’s license and two years of driving experience.
• DNR requires state drivers to possess a license that is not suspended, revoked, or restricted (for example, Occupational/Restricted Driver Licenses or requiring ignition interlock devices).
• This position requires driving as an essential function.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a WSDA Pesticide Applicators License.

Nice To Haves

• Understanding of the theory, policy, principles and practices of the forestry profession as applied to the Northwestern United States (Fundamentals of: silviculture of Northwest tree species, markets and economics, cruising methods, timber sale layout, logging methods, forest road engineering, plant nutrition, propagation and weed control, reforestation and intensive forest practices, recreation, multiple use, inventory, watershed management and basic principles of wildlife and fisheries habitat).
• Experience with timber harvesting systems (including cable systems) and forest road construction principles.
• Experience with timber sale and silvicultural contract administration.
• Experience implementing the Washington Forest Practices Rules.
• The ability to use GIS software to create maps and manage data.
• Proven ability in office computer applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Experience with facilitation and negotiation.

Responsibilities

• Research and analyze the operability and feasibility of harvest units.
• Develop a feasible timber harvest plan using GIS, LIDAR, logging system analysis software, aerial photos, field observations, and maps and consult with engineers, other foresters and the unit forester to implement good presales designs and logging road planning.
• Research and devise appropriate silvicultural prescriptions, review and analyze similar stand prescriptions and utilize GIS, department planning and database software, growth and yield models, department protocols, Forest Practice Rules, and field observations while consulting with the region silviculturist and, in some cases, the biologist to devise a plan to successfully regenerate harvested areas or plan habitat treatments that meet department policies.
• Foster good working relations with community members and adjacent external partners and be transparent about our operations.
• Communicate and negotiate with adjacent landowners and external partners through various means, including public meetings, field site visits, and use written and oral communication strategies to resolve property line discrepancies, cost share agreements and access for state lands projects.
• Present during education and information sharing opportunities.
• Implement Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) requirements and Policy for Sustainable Forest (PSF) requirements on state lands, such as legacy cohorts and sensitive area protections like potentially unstable slopes, riparian areas, old growth and cultural resources, all while maintaining a feasible harvest operation by coordinating site visits and consulting with biologists, geologists, archeologists and silviculturists.
• Assess, review and implement all applicable policies, rules and regulations and incorporate any specialist input into the presales design process and timber sales contract.
• Analyze and ensure all planned sale units are safe, meet economic and fiduciary requirements and complement long term watershed and landscape objectives and protect or mitigate environmental concerns.
• Assist in the development of landscape management plans (harvest plans) to ensure harvest volume deliverables (overall volume and volume by trust) and other landscape objectives are met (hydrologic maturity in ROS, NSO habitat requirements, etc.), while following all applicable policies, rules and regulations.
• Create a timber sale packet that complies with all state and federal regulations and department protocols.
• Using professional experience, complete all necessary permitting and paperwork (FPA, SEPA, HCP checklist, contract), while reviewing previously completed documents found on the department’s Timber Sale Document Center (TSDC).
• Clearly communicate contractual requirements and sale processes to the public, purchasers, and internal partners by showcasing excellent communication skills, including clearly written documents, meeting facilitation to internal and external partners, and public outreach.
• Reduce and mitigate the environmental impacts and unnecessary fiscal burden to the State by inspecting and recommending proposed changes in sale layout and design independently, while using professional experience and knowledge of logging systems and equipment limitations as well as contractual constraints to achieve required results.
• Ensure environmental, social, political, contractual, and fiscal objectives are met.
• Any disputes will be resolved to the full extent utilizing an understanding of contractual obligations, interpretation of Forest Practices Rules, clear written documentation and experience with prior compliance work.
• Accounting for large sums of money is required and reconciling any discrepancies necessary for audit purposes.
• Provide trust beneficiaries with required revenues by utilizing the full understanding of fiscal principles and economic analyses associated with log markets, log delivery schedules, harvest systems, and engineering road construction principles.
• Ensure harvest unit viability through on the ground observations, GIS, preliminary cruising, growth model runs, skyline analysis, GPS, past experience and local knowledge.
• Appropriately assess, classify, delineate and buffer all waters and wetlands within and adjacent to the harvest area.
• Use GPS to collect data for boundaries, streams, wetlands, leave trees, and road locations.
• Delineate a timber sale boundary that allows for feasible harvest operations that comply with all policies, rules, and regulations.
• Flag and traverse new forest road locations that comply with all rules and regulations.
• Create standardized final GIS maps for Forest Practices, purchasers and other external partners utilizing department mapping protocols and SUMA standards in consultation with GIS specialists and the region management forester.

Benefits

• Commitment to organizational health and wellness
• Work/life balance
• DNR Employee Resource Groups (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, Women’s Employee Resource Group, Veterans Employee Resource Group, etc.)
• Statewide Employee Business Resource Groups
• Professional development opportunities
• Educational and career development aid
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility
• Opportunities to participate in wildland fire suppression assignments
• A comprehensive benefits package includes employer contributions toward health insurance, paid holidays, retirement plans, sick leave, and vacation days.

What This Job Offers

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