Project Forester (EMNRD #5334)

$22.40 – $35.84 Hourly

$46,591 – $74,545 Annually

This position is a Pay Band 65

Posting Details

THIS POSTING WILL BE USED FOR ONGOING RECRUITMENT AND MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME. APPLICANT LISTS MAY BE SCREENED MORE THAN ONCE.

Why does the job exist?

The position functions as the Project Forester for the Chama District with encompasses San Juan County, Rio Arriba County and the western half of Taos County from the Rio Grande. This is a professional forestry position requiring advanced knowledge, skills and abilities to provide assistance to private landowners and tribes, local governments, and state and federal land management partner agencies in the management of forests and watersheds. The position exists to assist landowners and partners to meet their goals and objectives which may include improving forest health and wildlife habitat, generating income, restoring forest and watershed conditions, reducing wildfire risk, utilizing prescribed fire, and sequestering carbon. The position provides technical assistance for climate change adaptation including adjustments for longer fire season, higher temperatures and greater variability in precipitation including prolonged drought and high-intensity storm events. This position acts as an agent to negotiate timber sale contracts, inspect timber harvests for compliance with state regulations, develop projects and procure funding for projects, establish partner collaboration for the implementation and oversight of projects and associated funding sources. Further, the position coordinates the procurement of contractors for forest restoration and treatment services. The position is also responsible for assisting local economies and statewide resources and considering the environmental impact on natural resources as a result of future climate change and mitigation of these impacts. The position consults on fire suppression, fire prevention and prescribed burning through education; considering the effect of forest pathology and entomology on natural resources and implications of climate change impacts. Lastly the position will assist with training of partner organizations in forest management, wood product utilization, and spatial forest and fire management planning.

How does it get done?

This position is responsible for programs such as Timber Harvest Program and assists the District Forester with Wildland – Urban Interface (WUI). The duties include writing stewardship plans, drafting and releasing requests for proposal (RFP), issuing timber permits, and reviewing timber harvest applications. As the Project Forester they will be required to enforce state forest practice regulations with uncooperative private landowners, maintaining a safe work environment during fire suppression activities and assist in resolving disputes between forestry thinning contractors and private forest landowners. All of this is done while assuring that the Division stays in compliance with the applicable State Laws and Regulations. The position will also work with 19 of the 23 Tribes, Nations and Pueblos to implement forest and watershed management, collaboration and consultation.

1. Develop, coordinate and manage forest management projects by overseeing the timber harvest permit
program, promoting forest and watershed management best practices, and providing technical assistance
to landowners, tribes, local government and state and federal land managers with goals of achieving
multiple benefits for the public, keeping these forested lands in a productive and healthy condition for
future and present generations, and increasing the economic and environmental benefits for the public
and landowners. (25%)
2. Coordinate and manage Forest and Watershed Restoration Projects across the district (50%)
3. Support the District’s Fire Program and New Mexico Prescribed Fire Act activities in the district (25%)

Who are the customers?

Primary customers are private forest landowners, cooperating natural resource agencies, local governments, tribal nations, and non-federal forest landowners.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have experience in the following:

* Bachelor’s in forestry and associated field work experience.
* Grant, agreement, contract, plan, and report writing experience.
* Excels in both written and oral communication with diverse groups.
* Working knowledge of Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and data collection.
* Certifications in wildland fire management.

Minimum Qualification

Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Range Management, or Ecology and three (3) years of experience in Forestry, Range Management, Forest Management, Natural Resources, Wildlife Science, Fire Science or Ecology. Seven (7) years of active duty service in the Armed Forces will substitute for the required education and experience. Substitutions Apply. See Substitution Table below.

Substitution Table

These combinations of education and experience qualify you for the position:
Education Experience Education Experience 1 High School Diploma or Equivalent AND 7 years of experience OR High School Diploma or Equivalent AND 7 years of experience 2 Associate’s degree in the field(s) specified in the minimum qualification AND 5 years of experience Associate’s degree or higher in any field AND 7 years of experience 3 Bachelor’s degree in the field(s) specified in the minimum qualification AND 3 years of experience 4 Master’s degree or higher in the field(s) specified in the minimum qualification AND 1 year of experience 5 PhD degree in the field(s) specified in the minimum qualification AND 0 years of experience
• Education and years of experience must be related to the purpose of the position.
• If Minimum Qualification requires a specific number of “semester hours” in a field (e.g. 6 semester hours in Accounting), applicants MUST have those semester hours in order to meet the minimum qualifications. No substitutions apply for semester hours.

Employment Requirements

Must maintain and possess a current New Mexico Driver’s License

Working Conditions

Work is preformed both in office and field setting. Employee may be exposed to inclement weather conditions and required to walk in steep rugged and remote terrain. Employee may be exposed to excessive noise from power equipment and fire suppression apparatus. Employee may be required to work with supervised minimum security inmates. May be required to work evenings, weekends and holidays.

Supplemental Information

Benefits:

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Agency Contact Information:Jose “Joe” Carrillo Email

For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.

Bargaining Unit Position

This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

Job Category
Farming and Outdoors
Job Type
Full Time/Permanent
Salary
USD 46,591.00 - 74,545.00 per year
Country
United States
City
Tierra Amarilla
Career Level
unspecified
Company
State of New Mexico
JOB SOURCE
https://careers.share.state.nm.us/psc/hprdcg/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=137712&PostingSeq=1