Title: Community Forester-Rappahannock District
State Role Title: Natural Resource Specialist III
Hiring Range: $51,227.00-$69,552.00
Pay Band: 4
Agency: Department of Forestry
Location: Central Office Fairfax
Agency Website: www.dof.virginia.gov
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) is seeking to hire a Community Forester for our Rappahannock District in the Central Region. This position will focus mainly on supporting urban & community forestry projects and programs in Northern Virginia. DOF community foresters provide professional assistance, direction, and outreach to private citizens, local governments, cooperating agencies, and non-government organizations regarding the DOF's urban and community forestry (U&CF) program. The U&CF program includes but is not limited to technical assistance, education, and outreach to expand, maintain, and enhance urban and community forests. In addition to U&CF duties, the Community Forester will also support departmental rural forest operations including forest management planning, conservation, water quality protection, and wildfire protection.
The Community Forester position reports to the District Forester and implements the agency's forest management program at the local level.
Duties include, but are not limited to:
- Fostering activities that promote the importance of trees and forests to an urban audience
- Providing professional forest management advice to forest landowners in both urban and rural settings through technical assistance and forest management plan development
- Developing and utilizing partnerships with local governments, nongovernmental organizations, partner agencies, and other community groups to deliver forestry education and conservation information
- Promoting and administering state and federal cost-share programs to support forest management projects
- Assessing and addressing forest health concerns
- Representing DOF at events including presentations, meetings, and media events
- Promoting green infrastructure planning, and supporting DOF Riparian Buffer work
- Preventing and suppressing wildland fires, including enforcing Virginia's fire laws
- Inspecting logging jobs for compliance with Virginia's Silvicultural Water Quality Law
Location: This Community Forester will be focused on providing services in Fairfax and Arlington County as well as the city of Alexandria. This position is part of the Rappahannock District, which includes the counties of Arlington, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange, Prince William, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, and Stafford, and the cities of Manassas, Manassas Park, Fredericksburg, Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church.
Within 6 months of hire, the chosen candidate must reside in Northern Virginia (approval by the Regional Forester).
This position is classified as having a home-based duty location, however there are designated DOF offices located in Fairfax and Warrenton that can be used as needed. A take home state-owned vehicle, laptop, smartphone, and mobile printer will be provided.
Salary reflects the 12% cost-of-living adjustment applicable to Northern Virginia.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience in technical and professional forestry work, arboricultural, or horticulture; demonstrated knowledge of tree identification, silviculture, forest measurements, wildfire suppression, prescribed burning, watershed protection, and forest health; experience planting trees and riparian buffers; experience or training in developing forest management plans including planting, site preparation, invasive species control; knowledge and experience developing and leading educational programs for youth and adults; ability to work independently; excellent organizational skills; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with personnel from various state and federal agencies, local planners, cooperators, and the public; public speaking skills and experience; demonstrated excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills; valid driver’s license; ability to negotiate different types of forested terrain on foot; ability to travel around the state and stay overnight on occasion; and experience with and ability to use a PC and Microsoft Office software required.
Additional Considerations
Experience in technical or professional urban based natural resource management work; experience using Geographic Information Systems, GPS units, and digital mapping tools; ISA certified arborist
Special Instructions
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
Must be able to obtain a Virginia Commercial Pesticide Applicator's License within 6 months of employment. Must be able to obtain Commercial Driver’s License within 12 months of employment. As a responder for wildfires, must be willing and able to be on call during Spring and Fall fire seasons. Must pass moderate physical fitness test, per Federal guidelines. The test consists of walking 2 miles in 30 minutes carrying a 25-pound pack. Selected candidate is required to be drug tested and pass a criminal background check.
The Virginia Department of Forestry is an Emergency Response agency, as such, all employees may be required to provide support during emergency situations; this may include nights, weekends or holidays as the need arises.
Contact Information
Name: Kristina Estep
Phone: 434-529-7244
Email: [email protected]
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.
Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.
