Idaho Department of Lands
The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) is seeking a full time Lands Resource Specialist – Private Forestry. This position will be located at our Pend Orielle Area (Sandpoint).
Applications will be accepted through 6/12/2026.
Description
To provide specialized technical assistance and consultation to department staff regarding management decisions; perform related work.
The Lands Resource Specialist position is used for training purposes for the Lands Resource Specialist, Senior. Through various types of on-the-job training, the employee will learn to carry out the duties of a Lands Resource Specialist, Senior including learning state laws and department policies and procedures.
After successful completion of the Lands Resource Specialist training plan (at least 6 months) the employee will advance to a Lands Resource Specialist, Senior. This advancement may include a pay increase. Starting rate of pay will be determined using the employees’ experience and educational levels.
Responsibilities:
Provide technical assistance to non-industrial and industrial landowners, logging contractors, and agencies in all aspects of forestry. Conduct inspections on state and private logging operations for compliance with the Idaho Forest Practices Act (FPA). Prescribe corrective actions to address non-compliant logging operations. Provide information and technical assistance to landowners on all aspects of private management. Conduct formal and informal presentations, lectures and discussions with loggers, landowners, and students. Represent IDL on committees and at public meetings. Participate in wildfire suppression response as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Good knowledge of: Best management practices for land management activities.
Experience:
- Researching, analyzing and monitoring land management issues in relation to existing federal, state and local laws, rules and practices and making recommendations.
- Serving as a technical resource within an organization on complex programmatic or technical issues, including preparing technical reports; providing guidance to co-workers, the public and other interested parties; and providing recommendations to upper management.
Desired Qualifications:
Timber sale layout and administration. Timber harvesting systems. Identification and management of forest pathogens. Delivery of technical forestry assistance to a variety of audiences. ESRI ArcPro GIS program. Implementation of forestry Best Management Practices (BMP’s). Some Knowledge: Idaho Forest Practices Act. Interpreting and understanding timber markets. Using and managing databases. Timber cruising. Possession of: Associate’s degree or higher in Forestry or a Natural Resource field. Excellent communication skills. Ability to work as a productive member of a group.
Nature and Scope
The Lands Program Specialist represents an individual fully competent in all aspects of a technical discipline requiring deep understanding of business or scientific theory, or a broad understanding of involved practices, precedents, facts and conditions. Incumbents are responsible for planning, researching, organizing and implementing program or program component activities. Incumbents may serve as team lead for a project or administer contracts. At this level, the position requires interaction with outside groups, serving as departmental liaison to industry or local jurisdictions, and interacting with the public to promote a variety of state endowment trust land and regulatory or public assistance functions, as appropriate to a particular Specialty Area. Incumbents may participate on department interdisciplinary teams to address complex land management and business issues.
Benefits:
The State of Idaho offers a robust total compensation package, including medical, vision, and dental insurance; PERSI retirement benefits; paid sick, vacation, and parental leave; and 11 paid holidays per year. For additional information related to benefits and/or State programs, please visit https://dhr.idaho.gov/StateEmployees/Benefits.html.*
EEO/ADA/Veteran:
The State of Idaho is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, political affiliation or belief, sex, national origin, genetics, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.
The State of Idaho is committed to access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, auxiliary aids and services are available upon request. If you require an accommodation at any step in our recruitment process, you are encouraged to contact (208) 334-2263 (TTY/TTD: 711), or email [email protected].
Preference may be given to veterans who qualify under state and federal laws and regulations.
About the Idaho Department of Lands:
Become part of an organization where you will work with dedicated people who are committed and skilled in managing and protecting Idaho's natural resources.
The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) believes in its employees and values stewardship, service, accountability and cohesiveness. Our goals emphasize our people and processes, financial stewardship, and customer focus. We strive for a culture in which leadership equips, entrusts and expects employees to make decisions in fulfillment of our mission. View our Strategic Plan here .
Under the direction of the Idaho State Board of Land Commissioners , IDL manages more than 2.5 million acres of state endowment trust land under a constitutional mandate to produce maximum long-term financial returns for public schools and several other State of Idaho institutions. Leases and other contracts are used to authorize revenue generating activities such as timber harvest, grazing, farming, mining, commercial use, residential use, and conservation in a prudent and sustainable manner.
Managing endowment trust lands is only part of our story. We also protect public resources such as water quality, fish, wildlife habitat, and recreation on navigable waterways , and ensure the protection of water quality and other resources by overseeing forestry and mining practices across all ownerships in the state. We also work to reclaim abandoned mines in Idaho. One of our most important resource protection responsibilities is fire prevention and suppression. We also aid landowners in managing their forest lands, work with communities to plant trees in urban settings, help keep working forests working through the Forest Legacy Program, and work with many partners to promote healthy forests on a landscape level. IDL also is the administrative arm of the Idaho Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.
