Soil Health Forester

COMPANY OVERVIEW

The Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District’s (SWCD) mission is to promote healthy lands and clean water through voluntary conservation efforts. As a local government entity, our vision is to cultivate a vibrant community with clean water and productive lands in the Brainerd Lakes Area.

Join a team that is passionate about making a difference and helping people make conservation improvements on their land. We offer excellent benefits, including 13 paid holidays, health and dental insurance, various retirement plan options, flexible work schedules, remote work, an employee assistance program for work-life support, a supportive team culture, and numerous leadership development, training, networking opportunities, and career advancement opportunities through a tiered payscale. Starting salary may vary depending on experience, knowledge, and skills.   

JOB SUMMARY

The Forestry Technician coordinates private forest management programs with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR), and the Board of Water Soil Resources (BWSR). To do this, the technician works with individual private landowners, groups of landowners, nonprofits, and associations to provide recommendations on how people can manage their woods and terrestrial invasive species for improved water quality or soil benefits.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinate SWCD Area’s private woodland management program.
  • Visit landowners’ properties to assess forest health and terrestrial invasive species and make recommendations for improvements.
  • Write and implement private woodland management plans.
  • Maintain MN DNR Stewardship Plan Writer Certification.
  • Write forest best management practices project plans and oversee practice implementation.
• Administer our annual bare-root seedling Tree Sale Program.
  • Organize the bare-root trees and shrubs for pickup.
  • Answer general questions from interested landowners on trees, tree planting, and how to plant trees.
• Develop and maintain community partnerships with private consultant woodland stewardship plan writers, state agencies, nonprofits, and local government units.
• Establish and coordinate agroforestry and soil health programs for forestry.
• Complete grant reporting, annual reporting, and other administrative tasks.

Required Qualifications:

Four college-level courses are required for this position (see course list below). Transcripts will be required. After the posting close date, applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will receive instructions for sending their transcripts to the SWCD.

Transcript Requirements:

• One qualifying plant course: Dendrology, Botany, or Plant Taxonomy.
• Three qualifying classes: Silviculture, Ecology, and Wildlife

Required Qualifications Continued:

• Two more years of related natural resources professional experience.
• Experience with GPS, GIS, and other data collection tools.
• Knowledge of forbs, grasses, and trees for identification.
• Computer skills, including Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• Possess a valid MN driver’s license and a good driving record.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to communicate and build relationships effectively with a diverse group of individuals.
• Able to effectively conduct presentations to the public, including large and small groups, conservation groups, schools, and churches.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Able to plan, prioritize, coordinate, and manage work in an organized manner.
• Applicants must be able to meet the physical requirements and work in the environmental conditions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of Adobe Acrobat Reader and Canva software.
• Advanced understanding of forest ecology and soil health and agroforestry principles.
• Bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources management, wildlife, or soils.
• Four or more years of experience in related natural resources professional experience

The Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation (SWCD) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All SWCD’s programs and services are available without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, gender, religion, disability, age, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, familial status, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other protected classes.