Job Summary:

The Forestry Specialist Intermediate position exists to perform forest resource management work by administering one or two forestry sub-programs at the Area administrative level under limited supervision. Sub-programs include: land administration, state forest recreation, state forest roads, forest development, timber sales, private forest management, utilization and marketing, forest soils and ecological classification system, forest health, community forestry, fire management, and natural resources assessment.

The Forestry Specialist Intermediate also performs field assignments across all Division programs so that forest resources are protected, managed, and utilized in accordance with department policy and procedure. Forestry Specialist Intermediates also occasionally functions as a lead worker to Forestry Specialists, Forestry Technicians, interns, emergency firefighters, temporary crews, and volunteers.

This posting will be used to fill multiple current vacancies, one at each of the following locations: Backus, Bagley. Baudette, Caledonia, Detroit Lakes, Little Falls, Littlefork, Mankato or New Ulm, McGregor, Nimrod, Park Rapids, and Williams, MN. Additionally, there are two Forestry Specialist Intermediate openings in Warroad, MN. 

Job Responsibilities:

• Plan, implement, assign, and analyze Forestry Sub-program tasks within the Area.
• Complete annual sub-program accomplishment reporting.
• Interact and collaborate with other sub-program and program staff at the Area, Region, and Statewide levels.
• Visit forest stands, collect data, and apply knowledge of forest management science to develop silviculture prescriptions that meet forest plans, wildlife habitat goals, and department policy.
• Administer active timber sales, provide direction or corrective action to loggers, and scale cut forest products.
• Develop and implement silviculture case studies to monitor short- and long-term impacts of management activities on state forest lands.
• Use GIS and 4Trees systems to input forest data, perform analysis, manage databases, and create maps.
• Engage in wildfire prevention and suppression activities to minimize threats to life, property, and resources.
• Perform actions as a Forest Officer to enforce fire and timber statutes.
• Receive and review burn permit requests from landowners and prescribed burn practitioners. Approve or deny requests based on knowledge of fire weather and fire science principles.
• Provide fire training to other foresters, emergency firefighters, and fire departments.
• Meet with private forest landowners, share management recommendations, and approve cost-share requests.
• Participate in outreach events to promote sustainable forestry and wildfire prevention to community or school groups.
• Operate various vehicles, equipment, and tools (pickup, trailer, ATV, snowmobile, fire engine, long-handled tools, etc.).
• Perform site coordinator duties at assigned field stations by implementing Buildings and Facilities policy.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Applicants must have related forestry experience, which may be met through one of the following: 3 years (36 months) of forestry experience conducting fieldwork using GIS in any of the following: collecting forest inventory, regeneration, and native plant community data; designing, appraising, administering, and scaling timber sales; applying silviculture techniques (reforestation, release, stand improvement); and/or aerial photography for mapping, surveys, and data collection, and/or application of methods to prevent or suppress wildfires.

OR

• 2 years (24 months) of the above experience conducting forestry fieldwork and 1 year (12 months) of forestry experience performing program-level or lead worker duties such as administering forestry programs, preparing reports/proposals, monitoring outcomes, or assigning work.
• An associate’s degree may substitute 6 months of fieldwork experience. 
• A bachelor’s degree may substitute 1 year (or 12 months) of fieldwork experience.

In addition, applicants must also have:

• The ability to earn National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) basic firefighter (FFT2) qualification within 6 months of hire.
• Planning skills sufficient to manage a forestry sub-program; make schedules, assign job tasks, lead Area teams, track and report progress, make programmatic decisions, and exercise discretion under limited supervision.
• Human relations skills sufficient to assign and monitor work progress of others, resolve task conflicts with loggers, contractors, the public, and other employees, and represent the division on committees or work groups.
• An ability to communicate orally and in written form sufficient to clearly teach or train others and convey complex forest management practices or policy to coworkers, contractors, special interest groups, or the public.
• Knowledge of multi-use forestry concepts sufficient to plan, conduct, and evaluate management activities that benefit wildlife species, ecosystem health, recreational opportunities, and wood marketing and utilization.
• Computer skills sufficient to keep records, analyze data, manage databases, write reports, and communicate and collaborate with partners and colleagues using various applications (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, SharePoint, Adobe, ArcGIS).

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, or higher, in a forestry program accredited by the Society of American Foresters.
• Leadership skills or training (such as L-280,“Followership to Leadership”) sufficient to collaborate, make decisions, give direction, motivate, and influence others.
• Experience completing tasks in programs administered by the Division of Forestry including Wildfire Prevention and Suppression, Cooperative Forest Management, Ecological Classification System, Timber Sales, Silviculture, Forest Inventory, Forest Health, Terrestrial Invasive Species, State Forest Roads, and State Lands & Leases.
• Qualified as a National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Fire Fighter Type 1 (FFT1), Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5), Engine Operator (ENOP), Tracked Vehicle Operator (TVOP), or Basic Faller (FAL3).
• Current licensures or certificates related to the position, which may include pesticide applicator, forest officer, fire investigator, or certified blaster.
• Knowledge of Division of Forestry policies and procedures sufficient to implement assigned tasks safely and within legal and ethical guidelines.
• Successful completion of the Division of Forestry's training program for forestry technicians and forestry specialists.