Teanaway Forester, Natural Resource Specialist 2 (NRS2)

Teanaway Forester, Natural Resource Specialist 2 (NRS2)
Recruitment #2024-1-7633
Full-time, Permanent, Represented position
Location flexibility may be available and considered: Southeast Region- Cle Elum or Ellensburg, WA 
Relocation Compensation may be available and considered
Salary: $4,174.00 – $5,615.00 Monthly 

Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?
Are you a natural resource professional who is looking to be on the cutting edge of Washington State’s forest health initiatives? Do you want to work in one of the most beloved watersheds in WA, and are motivated by making positive impacts on the local community? The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is looking for a natural resources professional to step into the Teanaway Forester role.

The Teanaway Forester is responsible for project management and planning of fuels treatments, timber harvest, silvicultural projects, and cattle grazing in the Teanaway Community Forest (TCF).  This position also helps out with other projects as needed within Southeast Region state uplands. The TCF is one of two Community Forests managed by the State of Washington. It is co-managed with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and requires one to interact and collaborate with a diverse group of stakeholders.

Responsibilities:

• Creates silvicultural prescriptions by reviewing and analyzing similar stand prescriptions and utilizing GIS, LRM, forest practice rules, and field observations while consulting with silviculture specialists to devise a plan to successfully manage stands for long-term sustainability.
• Ensures both operability and feasibility of harvest units by developing a logging plan using GIS, LIDAR, aerial photos, field observations, and maps through consultation with engineers, other foresters, and the unit forester for the purpose of presales, road layout, and harvest plan implementation.
• Produces professional documentation that complies with all state and federal regulations and completes all necessary project permitting and paperwork (FPA, SEPA), for review by supervisor, management, and/or Responsible Official, by utilizing excellent technical writing skills and review of previously completed documents.
• Analyzes data from models and inventory to evaluate proper silviculture treatments including reforestation and timely vegetation management to achieve acceptable survival, site occupancy, and maximum tree growth rates.
• Uses professional experience, judgment, and knowledge of silvicultural prescriptions, plant biology, tree growth and physiology, site productivity, forest stand dynamics, and forest health, to plan and execute proper plot and sample design and measurement techniques for the collection of accurate survey data.
• Achieves habitat goals of the Teanaway Community Forest Management Plan through planning, assessment, and implementation of treatments that will incorporate long-term forest health, multi-rotational timelines, enduring stand resiliency, and potential future use.
• Communicates contractual requirements, notes and corrects any deficiencies observed or recorded, and addresses any concerns expressed by the public, co-workers, contractors, internal and external stakeholders, and regulators by utilizing clear written and oral communication, interpersonal skills, meeting facilitation, and public outreach.
• Builds and maintains public/private partnerships with the TCF user groups, and regional recreational and outdoor interest groups.
• Ensures contractors and compliance staff understand contractual obligations and have reasonable and achievable results.

Required Qualifications: 

• An associate degree in forest management or related natural resource field; AND one year of forestry experience at the entry level.
  OR a combination of equivalent education and/or experience.
• Experience in general forest management theory (timber management planning, silviculture, appraisal techniques, timber sales, contract preparation, and administration, forest fire prevention and suppression, logging and forest road construction, reforestation methods, public relations, and statistical analysis).
• Experience using forest measurement instruments such as clinometer, GPS, laser rangefinder, compass, etc.
• Experience using software including ArcGIS, standard office (Word, Excel, etc.) programs and mobile devices.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.