November 14, 2024

State of Montana

Miles City

FULL TIME

Forester 2 - Forest Action Plan Forester

Forester 2 - Forest Action Plan Forester - (24143070)

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.
Core Values:
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Forestry and Trust Land Division recognizes that building a collaborative, professional, and inclusive work environment is critical to fulfilling our mission of managing, protecting, and promoting stewardship of Montana’s forests and lands for the benefit of current and future generations and our trust beneficiaries. We hold ourselves to these high standards as we are accountable to the people of Montana.

We value and respect each other.
We create collaborative work environments.
We build and maintain strong relationships.
We practice accountability.
We celebrate our successes and take pride in our work.

Job Overview:
This position will serve as a resource to help DNRC and cross-boundary practitioners address opportunities to create fire adapted communities, implement the Montana Forest Action Plan (FAP) and address issues arising from landscape scale cooperative management. The FAP Specialist will provide on-the ground assistance to private landowners and partner organizations, as well as provide information, resources and capacity to partners and Area staff. Position is responsible for project implementation work, performing public relations, program outreach, education initiatives and opportunities related to fire adapted communities and cross-boundary priorities and projects. The FAP specialist will build and strengthen inter-agency partnerships to enhance and expand cross-boundary work on the ground, regardless of jurisdiction. The Position will work to increase the current limited capacity to meet the increasing opportunities to get work done across all ownerships as well as conduct that on-the-ground work. Greater coordination, intentionality, and allocation of resources is crucial to see projects through. The position’s role will be dedicated to the increasing needs of cross-boundary partnerships in Montana and accomplishing that work on-the-ground.
This FAP Specialist works for the Eastern Land Office in partnership with a multitude of agencies and organizations including Local Government, the US Forest Service, BLM and NRCS.
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.

Responsible for coordination, implementation, and administration of grant-based projects, within the Land Office. Collaborate, suggest, and assist with project selection and implementation for fuels reduction, restoration, and forest management on Private, State, and Federal Land in Montana.
Serve as a resource to help DNRC Area staff and our partners address opportunities and issues, coordinate funding and work to create fire adapted communities and expand landscape scale cooperative management. Establish and maintain relationships with local coordinating partners. Provide information, operational guidance, and resources on issues and opportunities specific to geographic conditions and locally identified priorities to DNRC, cross boundary groups, and others.
Coordinate with local partners to expand the scale and impact of their work. Plan and coordinate field activities, train, develop, and mentor stakeholders on appropriate authorities and tools to use for their specific project in cooperation with partners.

Supervision: *It is not expected that this position will supervise staff.
APPLICATION MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION ARE:

State Application
Cover Letter
Resume

HELPFUL HINT: You must check the “relevant document” box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application.
Benefits:

Paid Vacation, Sick Leave and Holidays
Health, Dental, Prescription, and Vision Coverage
Retirement Plans
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) – Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF. Look here, https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service to learn more and see if you may qualify!

If you are interested in a complete job description, please contact HR at Makayla.Mangold@mt.gov

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):
The position requires education or experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Science, or a related field and four (4) years progressively responsible experience in collaborative land management. Considerable knowledge of forest practices and hazard reduction laws, Administrative Rules, legislative intent, standards, guidelines, policies and procedures preferred. Considerable knowledge of State laws relating to forest practices (including the Montana Environmental Policy Act) is preferred. Must have knowledge of the development and legislative intent of forest practices laws and be able to apply that knowledge to diverse, site specific and unprecedented situations.
Professional level forestry, wildfire, and grant administration knowledge and skills are required. Also required is the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within the agency, with individuals from other agencies and industries, and with the general public, as well as the ability to work independently. Exercise professional judgement and objectivity in evaluating situations and making decisions. The incumbent's professional background should also include work in the wildland fire management field.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
The applicant should be able to comfortably speak with stakeholders and partners individually and in large groups, enjoy working with various partners to align them toward a common goal, and be able to represent the priorities and programs of the DNRC. The breadth and complexity of the cross-boundary program requires demonstratable project management skills as well as the participation in complex, high profile, or politically sensitive projects. Past internal and external collaborative experience is valuable.
The position involves considerable travel in the region involving overnight stays of up to several days at a time. Regular field and office duties include the following working conditions and physical demands: driving frequently over long distances and on rough forest roads, occasional lifting, and extensive walking over rough forest terrain. Fire duties involve risk of injury and exposure to heat, flame, smoke, dust, and fumes.
Considerable skill in negotiation, persuasion, and written and oral communication are essential to carry out the duties. Ability to synthesize and apply agency mission, programs, legislative intent, complex resource protection needs, standards and guidelines. Considerable knowledge of administrative practices is required, including the ability to establish and maintain accurate record-keeping systems. Expert knowledge in training and public education techniques is essential.
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.

ELIGIBILITY TO WORK:
In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the person selected must produce within three days of hire documents that show authorization to work in the United States. Examples of such documentation include a birth certificate or Social Security card along with a driver’s license or other picture I.D., or a U.S. passport, or a "green card".

Applicant Pool Statement: If another department vacancy occurs in this job title within six months, the same applicant pool may be used for the selection.

Training Assignment: This agency may use a training assignment. Employees in training assignments may be paid below the base pay established by the agency pay rules. Conditions of the training assignment will be stated in writing at the time of hire.

Salary: $ 31.74 - 31.74 Hourly

Telework Eligibility: Telework Eligible (Full-time telework is not available. Telework schedule must be supervisor approved.)

Benefits Package Eligibility: Health Insurance, Paid Leave & Holidays, Retirement Plan

Number of Openings: 1

Employee Status: Regular

Schedule: Full-Time

Job Type: Standard

Shift: Day Job

Travel: Yes, 25 % of the Time

Primary Location: Miles City

Agency: Department of Natural Resources & Conservation

Union: 000 - None