Title: Area Forester-Five Forks District

State Role Title: Natural Resource Specialist III

Hiring Range: Starting at $43,888.00+ DOE with state benefits

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Department of Forestry

Location: Eastern Office Dinwiddie

Agency Website: www.dof.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) is seeking a field forester in the DOF Five Forks District, working primarily in Amelia, Brunswick, Nottoway, and surrounding counties.
DOF foresters spend most of their time in the woods providing professional forestry assistance and advice to Virginia's forest landowners to support the DOF mission of protecting and developing healthy, sustainable forest resources for Virginians.

Duties include but are not limited to:
• Assisting forest landowners with management of their forestland through technical assistance and forest management plans.
• Evaluating forestland and harvested sites to provide scientific forest management and regeneration guidance.
• Promoting and assisting with the development of riparian buffer projects.
• Connecting private forest landowners to state and federal cost share programs that support forestry projects.
• Responding to and identifying forest health issues, including invasive pests and plants, and providing management advice to protect & improve forest health.
• Promoting conservation of the forest land base to landowners and local governments
• Coordinating with local governments, state agencies, and conservation groups.
• Preventing and suppressing of wildfires, inspecting of timber harvests, and enforcing silvicultural water quality, timber theft, and wildland fire laws.

Location: This forester position serves Amelia, Nottoway, & Brunswick Counties and will also support nearby counties within the DOF Five Forks District.
DOF offices are in Amelia & Dinwiddie; however, this field position is 100% mobile. State vehicle, laptop, mobile printer, and cell phone provided.

Within 6 months of hire, the incumbent must live within Amelia, Greensville, Brunswick, Dinwiddie (south of RT 40), or Nottoway County or reasonable driving distance negotiable with the Regional Forester.

All state employee benefits are provided including paid holidays and vacation, healthcare, and a state retirement plan. For more information visit: https://www.dhrm.virginia.gov/employeebenefits

Minimum Qualifications

•Knowledge of the principles and practices of forest management.
•Ability to identify native and invasive tree species common to southern forests.
•Knowledge of forest inventory techniques and measurement tools such as clinometers, diameter tapes, and increment borers.
•Knowledge of common forest health issues and concerns in Virginia.
•Knowledge of forestry best management practices for water quality.
•Knowledge of forested watershed management practices.
•Experience and/or training writing forest management plans.
•Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate in both oral and written formats.
•Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with cooperating agencies, the private sector, and the general public.
•Ability to work independently and in remote locations.
•Ability to negotiate different types of forested and rough terrain on foot in all types of weather.
•Experience with and ability to use a PC and Microsoft Office software.
•Possession of valid Virginia Driver’s License or equivalent.

Additional Considerations

Experience using Geographic information systems, GPS units, and digital mapping tools.
Experience in technical and professional forest management work.
Experience and/or NWCG training in wildland firefighting and prescribed burn management.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Must be able to obtain Commercial Drivers License and Commercial Pesticide Applicators Permit within twelve months of employment (training provided). As a responder on wildfires, must be willing and able to be on-call during Spring and Fall fire seasons. Must pass moderate physical fitness test, per Federal guidelines, each year of employment. The test consists of walking 2 miles in 30 minutes carrying a 25-pound pack.
Selected candidate is required to pass a criminal background check and a drug test.

Contact Information

Name: Kristina Clore

Phone: 434-529-7244

Email: kristina.clore@dof.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor within the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their Certificate of Disability. If you need to get a Certificate of Disability, use this link: Career Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities, or call DARS at 800-552-5019, or DBVI at 800-622-2155.