Natural Resources Forestry Technician

The MN DNR, Division of Forestry is hiring 11 full-time Forestry Technicians across the state to help manage our beautiful northern forests. Our foresters get a wide range of experiences from wildland fire suppression to timber management and implementing silvicultural practices. 

This posting will be used to fill vacancies in the following work areas: Aitkin, Cass Lake, Grand Marais, Grygla, Kelliher, Littlefork, Orr, Side Lake, Warroad, Minnesota. During the application process, applicants will choose their preferred location(s)

The Forestry Technician position exists to implement technical tasks across all Division of Forestry programs so that forest resources are protected, managed, and utilized in accordance with department policy and procedure. During periods of elevated wildfire danger, the Forestry Technician will be assigned to work weekends, evenings, and holidays. To support ongoing incidents, the Forestry Technician will also be assigned to travel throughout Minnesota on multiple-day assignments.

The Forestry Technician commonly performs the following work tasks:

• Evaluate the condition of forest stands and recommend silvicultural prescriptions and harvest methods to meet multiple resource goals.
• Estimate standing volume, appraise timber for sale, and administer state timber permits.
• Engage in wildfire prevention and suppression activities to minimize threats to life, property, and resources.
• Collect forest inventory data using common forestry tools and mobile data recorders.
• Propose planting projects with appropriate tree seedlings and stocking rates.
• Propose and implement tending and timber stand improvement projects.
• Identify tree, shrub, and plant species common to Minnesota.
• Use air photos, maps, GPS, and/or compass to navigate to forest stands and establish management boundaries.
• Operate and maintain various vehicles, equipment, and tools (pickup, trailer, fire engines, bulldozer, snowmobile, ATV, lawn mower, long-handled tools, etc.).
• Provide outreach to the public and external agency colleagues.
• Lead seasonal or intermittent employees and emergency-hire firefighters to meet assigned objectives.
• Review and approve, or deny, burn permit requests.

This position requires the ability to complete physically demanding tasks with or without accommodation and the ability to work independently in remote locations sufficient to accomplish work without immediate supervision. 

Minimum Qualifications

One year experience in forestry that demonstrates: 

• Knowledge of forest management, soils, hydrology, and ecology principles sufficient to evaluate stand conditions and recommend silvicultural prescriptions and harvesting regulations.
• Experience using common forestry tools (e.g., GPS, prism, clinometer, diameter tape) to accurately collect and record forest inventory data and appraise and scale timber.
• Plant identification skills sufficient to identify and record tree, shrub, and herbaceous species.
• Knowledge of cartography, navigation, land survey techniques, and the ability to use and interpret aerial photography and GIS software for mapping, species identification, and locating property lines.

OR:

An associate degree or higher in forestry or closely related field including coursework in: 

• Silviculture, forest management, or timber sale design.
• Forest measurements, forest inventory, or timber appraisal.
• Dendrology, plant physiology, or plant and tree identification.
• Cartography, geographic information systems, land survey, or navigation techniques.

In addition to the above experience or education, applicants must also have: 

• Ability to earn and maintain National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) basic wildland firefighter (FFT2) qualification within six months of hire.
• Ability to work weekends, evenings, holidays, and occasionally on multi-day assignments away from home during times of elevated fire danger to protect life, property, and natural resources from wildfires and other natural disasters in Minnesota.
• Knowledge of safety hazards prevalent in forestry and wildfire operations sufficient to prevent accidents, mitigate hazards, and instruct others in safe work habits.
• Knowledge of a wide variety of tools and machinery sufficient to safely and effectively operate and service equipment for wildfire suppression, forest development projects, and maintenance work.
• Computer skills sufficient to keep records, write reports, and communicate and collaborate with partners and colleagues using various applications (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, SharePoint, Adobe, ArcGIS).
• Communication and interpersonal skills sufficient to understand and carry out oral and written instructions, assist the public, provide direction to seasonal employees and contractors, and function as a productive member of a team.

Preferred Qualifications

• An associate degree or higher, accredited by the Society of American Foresters.
• Two or more years of forestry experience.
• Knowledge of Division of Forestry policies and procedures sufficient to implement assigned tasks safely and within legal and ethical guidelines.
• NWCG qualified as Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1), Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5), Faller Type 3 (FAL3), Track Vehicle Operator (TVOP), Engine Operator (ENOP), Fixed-wing Parking Tender (FWPT), or Initial Attack Dispatcher (IADP).
• Experience taking initiative and leading small groups to achieve common goals, objectives, and tasks.

Additional Requirements

The Orr position requires an unrestricted Class D Driver’s license with a clear driving record.

The positions at all other locations except for Orr require current possession of a valid Class A license or the ability to obtain one within the first 6 months of employment.  

The selected applicant will be required to pass a pre-employment drug screen and will be included in the ongoing DNR random drug and alcohol test program.