District Forester

INTRODUCTION:

The Forester provides technical services directly to landowners who wish to manage forested land in northern St. Louis County along with the partner organizations that serve them.

The District Forester is a regular, full-time position and may work at the Virginia, Minnesota office and remotely. Working hours will occasionally include evenings and weekends.

Candidates who are DNR Plan Writer Certified, have a Master’s degree in forestry OR a Bachelor’s degree in forestry from a Society of American Foresters accredited program are strongly preferred.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Outreach

• Seeks out and provides education to citizens and landowners regarding the relationship between healthy forests and good water quality, both individually and in group settings
• Develops and maintains network of various contacts with partner agencies, consulting foresters and logging contractors
• Identifies and communicates with landowners who may be interested in managing their forested land

Forestry plans

• Conducts field visits of private lands to evaluate wooded acreage and learn about the landowner’s desires for their property. Provides recommendations and options to the landowner(s). Advises and helps landowners implement Best Management Practices for woodland management with a focus on protecting and improving local water quality
• Writes or updates site-specific forest management plans and/or practice plans for private lands using USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) practice standards
• Completes EQIP application and facilitates the landowner through NRCS EQIP funding process
• Certifies project/practice completion to fulfill the needs of NRCS policy
• Develops woodland stewardship plans for landowners, in accordance with the MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR) forest stewardship program

Connects landowners with funding

• Assist landowners enrolling in the Sustainable Forest Incentive Act (SFIA) and/or Property Tax Category 2C managed forest land.
• Assist landowners applying for DNR cost share.
• Assist landowners with other cost share and incentive programs, as they become available, such as USDA EQIP, Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA), Soil Health, and Watershed Based Implementation funding.
• Layout and/or mark project areas for forestry-related conservation practices
• Use all available GIS and technical data to identify potential forestry program participants; develop accurate, thorough forest plans; and advise on current forestry issues, policies, and conditions.
• Lead annual tree/plant sale: recommend species, manage orders, update inventory, answer questions, coordinate tree delivery and sale pickup days, etc.
• Attend workshops, meetings, conventions, etc. to develop and enhance professional skills
• Assist with a variety of plans, reports, and grants; tracks activities to achieve grant objectives; fulfills all reporting requirements
• Complete monthly report for the Board of Supervisors that summarizes the job-related activities and accomplishments since the previous board meeting
• Other duties as assigned

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Has good rapport with landowners and encourages sustainable forest management
• Develops and maintains professional relationships with landowners, staff, partner agencies and funding sources
• Works with little direction, handles multiple projects and maintains a high level of productivity with integrity to accomplish job tasks
• Documents work time in 15-minute increments by funding sources
• Ability to work outside in all weather, on rough terrain, and with biting insects
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds on a regular basis; occasionally may need to lift more than that
• Ability to pass criminal background check(s)
• Maintains valid Driver’s License with clean driving record or has ability to get to various locations with reliable transportation
• Has and maintains or can obtain Job Approval Authority for relevant forestry practices through USDA NRCS and Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR)
• Has or can obtain woodland stewardship plan writer certification from the MN DNR. Maintains sufficient continuing education credits for recertification.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in forestry or natural resources field OR equivalent experience. Extensive knowledge of forest stand improvement and management practices and plans. Utilizes forest inventory protocols and tools to assess and devise forest management practices to include in forest management plans. Knowledgeable about forest insects, diseases, and invasive species of the upper Midwest, including diagnosis and treatment.
• Familiarity with federal and state landowner incentive programs.
• Computer skills that include Microsoft Office suite of programs, ArcGIS, Web Soil Survey, other mapping programs and data systems etc.
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Works well independently and with a team

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Has current USDA NRCS Job Approval Authority in multiple forestry practices
• Has current MN DNR woodland stewardship plan writer status
• Master’s degree in forestry from any university or Bachelor’s degree in Forestry from a Society of American Foresters accredited forestry program

SUPERVISION:

This position is under the direct supervision of the Conservation Manager and will work closely with the Regional Farm Bill Foresters.

OVERTIME STATUS  

This position is classified as a non-exempt employee and as a result is eligible to earn overtime after 40 hours worked in a week.   

 HOURS, WAGE & BENEFITS:    

This 40-hour per week position has an anticipated wage of $25.50 per hour. Current benefits include: a $1200 monthly cash stipend which can be used to 1) purchase health/dental/life insurances, 2) contribute to a medical savings account and/or 3) taken as taxable income; a Section 125 Cafeteria plan; 401(a) tax-deferred retirement through Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) with employer match; voluntary deferred compensation plan (457(b)); paid holidays, paid time off (PTO), Work from the office and at home. Flexible scheduling.  

VETERANS PREFERENCE POINTS:      

The SWCD gives veterans preference points to eligible applicants during the screening process. Please include a copy of your DD214 if you are applying for Veteran’s preference points.     

E-mail RESUME, COVER LETTER & DD214, if applicable, to:     

Miranda Frenning, Accounting & Human Resources Specialist  

North St. Louis Soil & Water Conservation District

miranda@nslswcd.org  

Please title the subject as: District Forester 

ANTICIPATED TIMELINE:     

Apply By – 6/15/25, at 11:59PM CST   

Interviews – 6/26/25 

Start date – As soon as mutually agreed   

DATA PRIVACY:     

Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13 requires that you be informed of the following about private data requested in the application process. Name, home address, telephone numbers, and email address are used to identify you and to contact you about potential job opportunities. If your name is not provided, we won’t be able to process your application. If your contact information is not provided, we will not be able to contact you and may reject your application. If you are a finalist for a vacancy, your name becomes public data and is available to anyone.     

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, familial status, age, sexual orientation, status with regard to public assistance, disability, genetic information, veteran status or activity in a local Human Rights Commission or any other characteristic protected by law. North St. Louis Soil & Water Conservation District is an equal opportunity and veteran friendly employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the SWCD may provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities during the application and selection process and upon employment.    

You are not legally required to provide any of the private data listed above. SWCD employees and board supervisors involved in the selection process may have access to your private data if their work assignments reasonably require access. Others who may legally access the above data are individuals or agencies to whom we are required to release the data by law, rule, or court order.