Forester, State Lands

Delphi Unit Manager and Elbe Unit Manager, Natural Resource Specialist 3 (NRS3)
Location: South Puget Sound Region: Tumwater and Mineral, WA 
Work Hours and Partial Telework flexibility may be available and considered
Salary: $4,865.00 – $6,539.00 Monthly

Review of applications is ongoing. We reserve the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment at any time after 2/3/26. It is in your best interest to submit materials as soon as possible.

Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has an exciting opportunity within our South Puget Sound Region as a Unit Forester. 

Are you someone who loves the outdoors and is passionate about becoming a Unit Forester working for Washington State? If you love working outdoors, appreciate a remote natural environment, have good forest management skills, a working knowledge of timber harvesting methods, and enjoy being a part of a high-functioning team, then this job might be for you. The Department of Natural Resources, South Puget Sound Region, is looking for a Unit Forester to join our Delphi Unit or Elbe Unit.

What we will trust you with: 

This position is responsible for forest management planning, presales, and contract administration in the Delphi or Elbe unit, including the following duties:

• Representing the DNR’s interests to private operators, business, governmental officials, and the public where there is involvement in complex, sensitive issues affecting the Unit;
• Act as the project manager in the implementation of the dynamic 5-year forest management plan for the Unit;
• Supervising/having responsibility for a total of 3 to 4 permanent professional staff, including hiring, training, and disciplinary action;
• Responsible for all field operations in the Uni,t including:
  • Local government coordination, public outreach, and communications
  • Managing the Unit staff to achieve a timber sale cut of approximately 13 million board feet in the Elbe Unit or 25.5 million board feet in the Delphi Unit of timber annually, and the administration of 4-6 timber sales annually.
  • Manage an engineer to ensure all existing and newly constructed roads are maintained and built to Forest Practice Standards

Required Qualifications: 

• A bachelor’s degree in forestry or other closely related field; AND two years of professional forestry experience;
  OR an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Experience in applying theory, policy, principles, and practices of the forestry profession as applied to Northwestern States (i.e. fundamentals of silviculture of Northwest species, markets and economics, cruising methods, sales layout, logging methods, engineering, plant nutrition, propagation and weed control, reforestation and intensive forest practices, recreation, multiple use, inventory, water quality, watershed management and basic principles of fisheries management).
• Professional experience in the application of forest management objectives and timber management planning.
• Experience preparing and/or managing timber sales contracts.
• Experience with ground and cable logging systems and forest road construction.
• Experience with, and understanding of, Forest Practice rules, natural resource law, and practices.
• Experience with computer applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Experience with GPS technology and GIS mapping products.
• Demonstrated regard for safety in all aspects of the working environment.
• Understanding of current forest management plans, Habitat Conservation Plan, and associated agency policies and procedures.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong Facilitation and negotiation skills.
• Ability to assign work and set performance standards and expectations.
• Ability to provide performance feedback and coaching.
• Ability to foster employee motivation and performance-based recognition.
• Ability to provide training and development.
• Dedication to a Safe Workplace: Demonstrates leadership in the maintenance and development of a safe and healthy work environment.
• Communications Effectiveness.
• Team Leadership.
• Customer Focus.
• Commitment to fostering and supporting an environment that honors diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice practices.