JOB
The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, is recruiting for a Forester 1/2/3 in Haines
This position is open to Alaska Residents only.
Please check our residency definition to determine if you qualify.
What You Will Be Doing:
This position supports the Area Forester in managing forest resources, including developing commercial timber sales by planning and implementing sale layouts, conducting timber cruising, and administering sales. The position works alone and in small teams in remote and rural forests. Resource support work in this position also includes sales administration; the forester is expected to document sale activity professionally, provide direction, and influence timber sale purchasers, contractors, and the public to protect the State's interests. Part of the position’s time may also focus on administering the Alaska Forest Practices Act on private land. The position will spend time in the office planning fieldwork, processing gathered information, and communicating subject matter in written and verbal forms to represent and resolve issues.
Mission and Values/Culture:
The mission of the Division of Forestry is to develop, conserve, and enhance Alaska’s forests to provide a sustainable supply of forest resources for Alaskans. We are leaders in forest management, forest practices, wildland fire management, and cooperative forestry programs across the state. Our influence crosses ownership boundaries through leadership of all-risk incident management teams, management of federal timber resources under the Good Neighbor Authority and Shared Stewardship Agreements, and up-to-date best management practices that apply to all commercial forests.
Benefits of Joining Our Team:
The work provides exposure to Alaska's unique physical and cultural environment. The Southeast Alaska Archipelago has abundant forest and aquatic resources. Island life and public land dominate the landscape. Forest management in the area is transitioning from old-growth to young-growth management. Work in this position and environment will provide many opportunities to adapt lessons learned elsewhere and to develop new approaches in contemporary forest management. Demand for active management by the forest industry from all land is significant. Staffing in the organization is lean, providing opportunities for broad exposure to our variety of missions; there are multiple options for long-term growth and advancement in both the resources and fire programs. Career-long training and innovation are building blocks of our culture. Work schedules vary with the season; summer tends to offer extended weather and long daylight hours for project work, which can, in turn, create blocks of time off to enjoy the location’s outdoor opportunities.
The Working Environment You Can Expect:
The job is based in the Haines office, together with the Area Forester, as the primary managers of the Haines State Forest. The amount of office time varies with the season and the ongoing operational needs. The balance of office to field work is approximately 50/50 over the span of the year. Most of the fieldwork is located in the Haines State Forest surrounding the communities of the Chilkat Valley and also requires travel to support mission work in other Area offices in the region and, to a lesser extent, the State. Time in the field will vary from one day to two weeks: travel out of the area for resource work typically ranges from 3 to 5 days and infrequently up to 10 days. Accommodation when traveling is typically at hotels, short-term rentals, and occasionally remote camps. Most accommodations are in small communities.
We are looking for a candidate who possesses the following position-specific competencies.
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Self-Management: Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve; demonstrates responsible behavior.
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Forest Management: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of silviculture and forest ecology, forest use, management, harvesting, conducting inventories, regeneration, sustainability, and conservation; and the role of disturbances in timberland resources.
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Geospatial Science: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and methods related to the collection, storage, analysis, visualization, and distribution of geographic based data and maps.
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Analytical Thinking/Problem Solving: Uses a logical, systematic, sequential approach to address problems or opportunities or manage a situation by drawing on one’s knowledge and experience base and calling on other references and resources as necessary.
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Oral and Written Communication: Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral and written presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
Click here to learn more about working for the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection.
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
Forester 1 – starting salary $1999.50 bi-weekly
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field that includes a minimum of 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in forestry or closely related curricula.
Substitution:
An Associate's degree that includes a minimum of 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related curricula from an accredited college and two years of journey-level experience in the technical aspects of forest management and practices such as fire prevention, fire suppression, timber sales, reforestation, or inventory will substitute for the required bachelor's degree. The required experience includes work such as a Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 3 or Wildland Fire Dispatcher 2 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.
Substitution:
Certification from an accredited vocational-technical school in forestry, natural resource management, or a closely related field and three years of journey-level experience in the technical aspects of forest management and practices such as fire prevention, fire suppression, timber sales, reforestation, or inventory may substitute for the required bachelor's degree. This experience includes work such as Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 3 or Wildland Fire Dispatcher 2 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.
Certification via NWCG (National Wildfire Coordinating Group) Incident Qualification Card (AKA 'red card') within the preceding three (3) years in any of the following will substitute for the required education:
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Single Resource (CRWB, HEQB, HEMG, ENGB, FELB), or
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Field Observer (FOBS)
For NWCG Incident Qualification Card certification information, see: National Incident Management System (NIMS).
Forester 2 – starting salary $2296.50 bi-weekly
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field that includes a minimum of 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in forestry or closely related curricula.
And Either
One year of professional entry-level forestry experience. The required experience is met by service as Forester 1 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent with another employer.
Or
Three years of journey-level technical experience in fire or forest resources management. This experience includes work such as Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 3, Wildland Forestry Technician 2, or Wildland Fire Dispatcher 2 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent with another employer.
Substitutions:
A master's degree from an accredited college in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field that includes a minimum of 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in forestry or closely related curricula will substitute for the entry-level experience.
Four years in any combination of post-secondary education from an accredited college that includes a minimum of 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field AND journey-level experience in the technical aspects of forest management and practices, such as fire prevention, suppression, timber sales, reforestation or inventory may substitute for the required bachelor's degree. (2.67 semester or 4 quarter hours of post-secondary education are equal to one month of experience). The experience includes work such as Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 3, Wildland Forestry Technician 2, or Wildland Fire Dispatcher 2 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent with another employer.
Certification from an accredited vocational-technical school in forestry, natural resource management, or a closely related field and three years of journey-level experience in the technical aspects of forest management and practices such as fire prevention, suppression, timber sales, reforestation, or inventory may substitute for the required bachelor's degree. This experience includes work such as Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 3, Wildland Forestry Technician 2, Wildland Fire Dispatcher 2 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.
Certification via NWCG (National Wildfire Coordinating Group) Incident Qualification Card (AKA 'red card') within the preceding three (3) years in any of the following will substitute for the required education:
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Any Strike Team Leader Positions (STCR, STEQ, STEN),
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Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4),
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Any Unit Leader Position (TIME, PROC, COMP, GSUL, SPUL, PETL, INVL),
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Any Manager Position (EQPM, HMGB, SENG, HEB2, ATBM), or
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Aviation Position (ASGS, ATGS)
For NWCG Incident Qualification Card certification information see: National Incident Management System (NIMS): Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide (PMS 310-1) or the NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations (PMS 508).
Forester 3 – starting salary $2646.00 bi-weekly
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field that includes a minimum of 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in forestry or closely related curricula.
And
One year of professional journey-level experience in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field. The required experience includes work such as Forester 2, Fire Management Officer, State Logistics Center Coordinator, or Natural Resource Specialist 2 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent with another employer.
Substitutions:
Four years in any combination of post-secondary education from an accredited college that includes a minimum of 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field AND journey-level experience in the technical aspects of forest management and practices, such as fire prevention, suppression, timber sales, reforestation, or inventory, may substitute for the required bachelor's degree. (2.67 semester or 4 quarter hours of post-secondary education are equal to one month of experience). The experience includes work such as Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 3, Wildland Forestry Technician 2, or Wildland Fire Dispatcher 2 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent with another employer.
Certification from an accredited vocational-technical school in forestry, natural resource management, or a closely related field and three years of journey-level experience in the technical aspects of forest management and practices such as fire prevention, suppression, timber sales, reforestation, or inventory may substitute for the required bachelor's degree. The experience includes work such as Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 3, Wildland Forestry Technician 2, or Wildland Fire Dispatcher 2 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent with another employer.
Certification via NWCG (National Wildfire Coordinating Group) Incident Qualification Card (AKA 'red card') within the preceding three (3) years in any of the following will substitute for the required education:
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Expanded Dispatcher Coordinator (CORD),
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Fire Behavioral Analyst (FBAN),
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Division/Group Supervisor (DIVS),
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Safety Officer Type 3 (SOF3),
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Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3),
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Planning Section Chief Type 3 (PSC3),
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Operations Section Chief Type 3 (OSC3),
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Logistics Section Chief Type 3 (LSC3), or
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Expanded Dispatch Supervisor (EDSP)
For NWCG Incident Qualification Card certification information, see: National Incident Management System (NIMS): Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide (PMS 310-1).
Special Note (applicable to all levels):
Closely related curricula and work experience include fields such as geosciences, geography, natural resources, environmental sciences, soils, hydrology, wildlife habitat management, forest engineering, remote sensing, vegetation classification, natural resource bio-metrics, and wildland fire control.
One year of work experience equals 12 months of seasonal work.
Positions may require travel both in and out-of-state for fire suppression assignments; may be on stand-by or recall status during the fire season; may be assigned work in and out of the area that requires the absence from the duty station for 14 to 21 days; may fly in small fixed wing aircraft or helicopters and handle hazardous materials.
Most positions require "Red Card" qualification under the Incident Command System.
Some positions may require a commercial driver's license with appropriate endorsements.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
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Workplace Alaska Application Questions & Assistance
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[email protected].
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For specific information about this position, please get in touch with the hiring manager at the following:
Greg Palmieri
Coastal Region Forester
Phone: 907-766-2120
