Job Summary

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources—Division of Forestry (DOF) seeks a dynamic leader to fill the Resource Assessment Program Supervisor position, located in Grand Rapids, MN. The primary responsibilities of this position are to provide strategic policy and operational direction in the planning, management, and administration of the Resource Assessment Program (RAP), and the products and services it offers to help the State of Minnesota, its residents, and collaborative partners manage, conserve, and sustain natural resources.

With its skilled team of professionals, RAP provides high-quality data and information for public agencies, local municipalities, tribal nations, private industry, non-profit organizations, private landowners, and external customers. RAP’s programs include fieldwork, aerial photography, mapping, reports and recommendations, spatial data analyses, and lidar processing and derived product creation.

Job Responsibilities:

• To advocate for the program by developing, communicating, and disseminating information about RAP products and services.
• To develop and manage budgets so that RAP maintains staff and technological expertise to meet current and future needs.
• Perform supervising functions so that staff are developed and inspired to complete projects and meet current and future customer expectations in an efficient and timely manner.
• To develop and implement quality control procedures and standards for RAP products and services.
• To supervise statewide program leaders, such as the Minnesota Guideline Monitoring Program (GMP) Consultant, State Biometrician, and others to assist them in managing their programs.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Forest Science/Management (or a closely related field of academic study).
• Five years of experience as a professional forester with at least two years coordinating forestry work across multiple local units (equivalent to the NR Forestry Regional Specialist class), or four years leading/directing work at a field office (equivalent to the NR Forestry Specialist Senior), or above.  
• Lead work experience and training that incorporates directing work, performance management, coaching, addressing complex and confidential human resource issues, and resolving conflicts.
• Communication skills to effectively convey complex concepts and principles to other resource professionals and the public. Create and deliver effective presentations to a wide variety of audiences by identifying their level of understanding.
• Knowledge of government budgeting and financial management processes sufficient to coordinate and articulate budget proposals, prioritize and manage budgets, monitor revenue, administer, and interpret budget reports.
• Ability to apply knowledge to plan and administer forestry programs; establish program strategies and policies; review and advise on remote sensing strategies, inventory methodologies, and the use of technology to enhance DNR’s data collection abilities. 
• Ability to prepare and edit high quality technical reports, management plans, research and interpret scientific literature sufficient to solve problems, educate others, and increase expertise in a specialty area.
• Ability to apply broad knowledge of complex issues sufficient to anticipate trends, analyze data, and find solutions that balance long-term resource conservation demands.
• Ability to develop schedules, studies, research projects, and work assignments sufficient to efficiently and effectively accomplish Forestry program objectives and implement forestry science.
• Demonstrated leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills to direct, develop, engage staff, motivate people, and obtain program commitment from division personnel, and work as a productive member of teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Forest Science/Management (or a closely related field of academic study) from a university program accredited by the Society of American Foresters, or comparable accrediting institution, or current Society of American Foresters Certified Forester status.
• Two years of experience supervising a significant number of professional and support staff, developing spending plans, and/or managing a complex budget.
• Knowledge of department and division policy, procedure and operating guidelines; State of Minnesota statutes pertaining to natural resources management; and statistically sound survey techniques.
• Broad range of experiences with programs administered by the Division of Forestry statewide with an emphasis on the major field operations programs: state and private land management and resource protection, with an emphasis on forest inventory, data collection, modelling and communicating results.
• Completion of a Leadership Development Program.
• Completion of supervisory skill training in the areas of basic supervision, advanced supervision, communication, performance management, interpersonal skills, and leadership.
• Project management skills sufficient to manage many concurrent activities, coordinate and organize the work of others, identify critical paths, perform project risk assessments, and identify, define, sequence, prioritize, schedule, and assign resources.