Management Forester

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's mission is to help ensure that Montana's land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations.

The DNRC believes employees are their most important asset. The DNRC empowers employees to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. Employees are provided with the training and tools necessary to achieve the mission. Both team effort and individual employee expertise are supported and sustained.

Department Overview:

The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's (DNRC) mission is to help ensure Montana's land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations. The Department consists of the Director's Office; the Conservation and Resource Development, Forestry, Trust Lands Management, and Water Resources Divisions; the Reserved Water Rights Compact Commission; the Board of Oil and Gas; and an extensive network of 35 field offices. 

Job Overview:  

These positions perform advanced professional forest management activities under the general supervision of the Unit Forest Management Supervisor.

The incumbent independently plans, coordinates, and implements projects necessary to sell timber or related products from trust lands to provide income to the various trusts.  These projects are complex and must be designed on a case-by-case basis to conform to numerous constraints and respond to multiple issues.  Each project must be analyzed under Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) rules and will require the preparation of document(s) disclosing the adequate level of analysis for each project and may require preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement. This position would serve as the Project Leader for preparation of complex, large-volume forest product sales, timber permits, and other forest product sales.

Essential Functions (Major Duties or Responsibilities):  These job functions are the essential duties of the position and are not all-inclusive of all the duties that may be assigned to the incumbent.

A.    Trust Land Management    (80% of time)
Independently plan, coordinate and evaluate activities on state endowment trust lands and other state and federal lands to maximize net revenue, to provide for the sustainable use of the land and associated resources, and to ensure adherence to state and federal laws and regulations.
  

• Coordinate and perform inventory monitoring to identify and prioritize timber sales and maintain Trust Land databases by extracting reports, performing GIS analysis, and conducting fieldwork to verify and update records.
• Implement timber sales by serving as Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) project leader (documentation, public comment, assessment) and negotiating and administering contracts.
• Analyze data to develop permits, resource protection plans, resource improvement projects, or implement compliance actions.
• Establish project boundaries, negotiate access easements.
• Design specifications for aerial and/or ground-based logging systems.
• Design /maintain road systems, stream crossings and bridges or reconstruction specifications for state land and or/adjacent ownership.
• Supervise implementation of timber-volume cruise designs and marking with seasonal forestry technicians and supervise and participate in other sale layout activities
• Implement the habitat conservation plan and ensure compliance with silvicultural prescriptions.
• Inventory and monitor land resources to assess conditions, trends and concerns, and complete statistical analyses, technical research, and financial analyses to determine the highest returns.
• Prepare technical written reports concerning the impact of projects and prepare all sale-package documents for Land Office and Forest Management Bureau review and distribution.  These include the Silvicultural Prescription, MEPA documents, Timber Sale Contract, Prospectus, Notice of Sale, Summary of Actions and other summaries of timber values, cruise documentation, forest improvement appraisal, road and logging costs, and specifications.
• Review and evaluate plans and proposals for technical accuracy and make recommendations to management on the feasibility of proposals covering their area of expertise.
• Work within assigned allocation of budget and capital while ensuring harvest goals are met.
• Respond to inquiries or requests for technical assistance regarding the development, interpretation or implementation of rules, regulations and department programs.
• Coordinate and participate in public hearings, monitor input from industry, affected groups and the public, obtain data and recommend strategies or actions.
• Mitigate disputes with private landowners, contractors or general public, escalating when needed. 
• Determine and oversee forest improvement treatments on assigned parcels including thinning, timber stand improvement hazard and fuels reduction, weed spraying, road maintenance needs and planting after timber sales or as needed. 
• Perform activities in wildland-fire management that relate to the responsibilities of the Unit; coordinate non-complex burns with county and burn plans.

An essential function of the position is the ability to pass an arduous pack test as well as be capable of vigorous physical activity in all types of weather.  The position requires working alone in the field, including winter conditions (using tire chains) and navigating with a map and compass.

What are some benefits you can expect?

• Health Insurance
• Retirement
• Paid Vacation, Sick Leave and Holidays
  

Application Materials Required for this Position Are:

• State of Montana Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter

Special Information:
Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. A valid driver's license is required with less than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months.

First Review of Applications: December 11, 2023, Open Until Filled

Minimum Qualifications:

The required knowledge, skills and abilities are acquired through a bachelor's degree in Forest Management or a related resource management field and 3-4 years of progressively responsible job-related professional experience in forest management.

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities: 

The position requires extensive knowledge of forest management principles and practices; equipment and techniques used in forest management projects and operations; forest practices and hazard reduction laws, Administrative Rules, standards, guidelines, policies and procedures related to forest management operations and activities; and considerable knowledge of the Montana Environmental Policy Act and related laws and rules governing natural resource management.  Knowledge of the terminology, principles, methods and approaches used in silviculture, ecology, hydrology, wildlife and fisheries biology.  Specific knowledge of plant taxonomy, habitat typing, timber cruising, log scaling, harvesting systems, data collection and sampling techniques; road design and layout; fire behavior, fire suppression techniques, land surveying and timber appraisal procedures.  The position also requires knowledge of DNRC and State Personnel policies, procedures, precedents, organizational structures, employment law conflict resolution and program requirements. The position requires skill in the use and operation of tools, equipment and vehicles used in wildland fire control, forest management activities and field office operations; operation of 4-wheel drive vehicles, ATVs/UTVs and skill in the use of computer hardware and software related to forest management business operations (word processing, spreadsheets, internet, e-mail and smart devices) and specialized resource management software. 
 
The position requires the ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing to individuals, groups and representatives from other organizations; the ability to coordinate and direct multiple resources to complete work objectives, work on multiple projects simultaneously; work well with others and maintain a positive working environment.  The position often works independently and requires critical thinking skills as they work in remote work conditions and may encounter various hazards throughout a typical workday including wildlife, road conditions, hazardous terrain and encounters with the public in various high-tension settings that may require de-escalation and conflict resolution.