Forest Legacy Projects Coordinator

Job Summary:

The DNR is hiring a Forest Legacy Projects Coordinator to assist in statewide strategic and administrative leadership to the Division of Forestry’s Forest Legacy Program (FLP).

Responsibilities include: 

• Developing, maintaining, and providing technical expertise and resources to increase the Division’s ability to maintain a monitoring program for Forest Legacy easements.
• Assisting in the development of program funding including fiscal accounting, and grant reporting to federal and state grants.
• Developing and coordinating management of policies and planning.
• Maintaining knowledge of Minnesota’s private forests, private forest landowners, threats of conversion to non-forest uses, and strategies to prevent forest conversion and fragmentation as they pertain to the FLP in Minnesota.
• Assisting in the project selection process, acquisition process and ongoing FLP project activities within the Department for the Forest Legacy Program.

• Taking the primary lead in conducting stewardship activities with easement holders.
• Delivering outreach and education of the two Legacy programs.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Science/Management (or a closely related field of academic study) from a university program accredited by the Society of American Foresters or comparable accrediting institution, or current Society of American Foresters Certified Forester status.
• Two (2) years journey level professional forest management with experience providing leadership in supporting program such as forest inventory, terrestrial invasive species, forest road administration, etc. (e.g. NR Forestry Specialist Intermediate class) OR three (3) years of entry-level professional forest management experience (e.g. NR Forestry Specialist class).
• Knowledge of Forest management theory and techniques sufficient to plan and organize the management activities and act as lead worker for professional employees and contractors.
• Leadership skills sufficient to motivate people and obtain program commitment from area personnel.
• Communication skills sufficient to orally convey complex ideas in understandable terms, and write effective letters, memos, and reports
• Human relations skills sufficient to assign and monitor the work of staff; resolve problems with loggers, clients, the public, and other employees; conduct training classes; and represent the division on committees and task forces.
• Organizational and interpersonal skills sufficient to work as a productive member of a team.
• Conflict resolution/human relation skills sufficient to negotiate, resolve issues, read situations, and settle disputes equitably by finding common ground and cooperation.
• Ability to clearly communicate complex concepts and principles to other resource professionals and the public in verbal and written format.
• Ability to use ESRI products sufficiently.
• Ability to create forest management plans for individual private landowners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of Department and Division policies, procedures and operating guidelines and State of Minnesota statutes pertaining to natural resources management.
• Successful completion of the Division of Forestry Entry Level Professional Forester Development Program.
• Knowledge of state policies and procedures for contract administration sufficient to write technical specifications and oversee contract work.
• Background or coursework in soil science, forest soils or hydrology.
• Completion of a Leadership Development Program.
• Experience in writing forest management plans (Forest Stewardship plans or baseline property reports) for individual private landowners.