SENIOR FORESTER - 42002491

State of Florida • Hilliard, FL

4d • $56,049 - $66,950

About The Position

The Florida Forest Service, part of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, is hiring a Senior Forester through an open competitive opportunity. The position provides forestry and natural-resource expertise to private landowners, communities, public agencies, and schools. The role also supports wildfire and emergency response, forest conservation, and public education. Occasional to moderate travel is required, and the position may respond to emergencies or incidents requiring travel. A valid driver license is required. Other related work may be assigned, including handling revenue.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Forestry or a related field from a Society of American Foresters-accredited college or university and two years of professional forestry or natural-resource experience; or a master’s degree in Forestry or a related field from such an accredited institution and one year of professional forestry or natural-resource experience.
• For a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Forestry or a related field obtained outside the United States, the degree must be from a Society of American Foresters-accredited college or university, or the curriculum must include at least two of these courses: Silviculture, Dendrology, Forest Mensuration, or Forest Management. Applicable professional experience is also required.
• Applicants with a degree obtained outside the United States must provide a U.S.-obtained academic equivalency evaluation showing the required courses.
• Possess a valid driver license.
• Pass a background screening, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment.
• Occasional to moderate travel is required; the position may require travel in response to emergencies or other incidents.

Responsibilities

• Provide forest-management technical assistance to rural private forest landowners to support landowner goals, including timber revenue, sustained yield, ecological management, and wildlife management.
• Advise on timber marking and volume estimation, forest-product sales, federal cost-share programs, site preparation and tree planting, investment analysis, timber stand improvement, and diagnosis of forest insect and disease outbreaks.
• Prepare Stewardship and other management plans, and advise on tree selection and planting procedures.
• Provide technical assistance for Urban and Community Forestry grants, Tree City USA and Champion Tree designations, and related forestry matters.
• Respond to homeowners’ requests for analysis of shade-tree and ornamental-tree diseases and provide prevention and control information.
• Use newspapers, radio, television, and other mass media to inform the public about forestry and conservation developments.
• Conduct forest-management information and education workshops for private forest landowners.
• Provide schools with environmental-education information and assistance through teacher workshops and instruction at environmental education centers.
• Provide wildfire and emergency-response support as directed.
• Assist in developing smoke-management, wildfire-prevention, prescribed-fire, pre-suppression burning, and hazardous-fuels mitigation plans.
• Assist with enforcement of Florida open-burning laws and regulations.
• Provide technical assistance to county commissions, municipalities, and other county and city agencies on environmental studies and practices related to land-use planning, zoning, and development.
• Support conservation and environmental planning, recreation and open-space planning, vegetation-related zoning variances, drafting ordinances for tree protection, landscaping, reclamation and natural-area preservation, and establishment of conservation and scenic easements.
• Perform other related work as assigned, which may include handling revenue.

Benefits

• Annual boot allotment
• Annual uniform allotment
• Annual and sick leave
• Nine paid holidays and one personal holiday each year
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance
• Retirement plan options with employer contributions
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition waivers

What This Job Offers

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