Natural Resources Forestry Technician

The MN DNR, Division of Forestry is hiring 17 full-time forestry technicians 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 multiple current vacancies. One (1) at each of the following locations, unless otherwise indicated: Duluth, Eveleth, Finland, Grand Marais, Grand Rapids, Grygla, Hibbing, International Falls, Kelliher, Nimrod, Orr, Side Lake (2), Tower, Wannaska, and Warroad (2). During the application process, applicants will be able to choose their preferred location(s).

These positions exist to implement the Division of Forestry program tasks so that the state’s forest resources are managed, protected, and utilized in accordance with Department policies and procedures. Responsibilities include implementing program tasks in the following: timber management,  wildland fire suppression, silviculture, private and cooperative forest management, roads, and land administration.

Normal working hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. These are subject to change based on work needs, seasonal needs and local fire danger. Working evenings, weekends, and holidays during these conditions is required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in a natural resource management technical program accredited by the Society of American Foresters OR an associate’s degree with an emphasis in Forestry, which includes coursework in forest management, silviculture, dendrology, forest measurements, and forest inventory.
• Knowledge of wildfire detection and suppression techniques sufficient to prepare fire fighters and equipment for firefighting and to effectively and safely suppress wildfires.
• Knowledge of forest resource measurement and appraisal techniques sufficient to collect forest resource information and apply this information to evaluate harvest areas and recommend harvesting regulations.
• Knowledge of the capability, suitability, service, and operation requirements of a wide variety of equipment sufficient to safely and effectively make use of the equipment in the control of wildfires, complete forest development projects and maintain buildings, grounds and property.
• Knowledge of forest inventory, appraisal, and scaling techniques sufficient to obtain and record detailed and accurate data.
• Knowledge of soils sufficient to identify sustainability and limitations by broad classification.
• Knowledge of cartography sufficient to understand topographical, political, survey and other maps and/or to produce maps for timber sales and forest development.
• Knowledge of land survey techniques sufficient to apply general practices of surveying in field applications.
• Ability to interpret aerial photography sufficient to accurately use photos for mapping, species identification and locating corners and property lines.
• Ability to identify trees, shrubs and plants.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Lead work skills sufficient to provide critical communication efficiently and effectively.
• Customer Service/Communication Skills sufficient to provide information and assistance to the public and staff in a courteous manner.
• Writing skills sufficient to write incident reports, maintain log records accurate and consistently.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• One-year technical-level experience equivalent to the NR Forestry Technician class.
• General knowledge of Division of Forestry policies and procedures sufficient to implement assigned tasks safely and within legal and ethical guidelines.
• Knowledge of safety hazards prevalent in forestry and wildfire operations sufficient to cope with them or avoid them, prevent accidents, mitigate hazards and instruct others in safe work habits.
• Qualified as ICT4, ENGB, FAL3, FIRB, MNRXB2, HEQB, FAL2.
• Lead worker experience.

Additional Requirements

The Tower and Orr positions require an unrestricted Class D Driver’s license with a clear driving record.

The positions at all other locations except for Tower and Orr require current possession of a valid Class A license or the ability to obtain one in 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.