Area Forester-Tidewater District

Title: Area Forester-Tidewater District

State Role Title: Natural Resource Specialist III

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

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Department of Forestry

Location: Eastern Office Tappahannock

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 Tidewater Virginia, focused primarily on the Northern Neck including Westmoreland, Richmond (County), and Northumberland counties. VDOF 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 forest and wildlife habitat management 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.
• Conservation education and outreach to groups and individuals.
• Coordination with local governments, state agencies, conservation groups, and citizen organizations.
• Prevention and suppression of wildfires, inspection of timber harvests, and enforcing silvicultural water quality, timber theft, and wildland fire laws.
Location: This forester position is part of the DOF Tidewater District focused on serving the Northern Neck. Work area offices are in Bowling Green, Tappahannock, and Gloucester; however, this field position is 100% mobile. State vehicle, computer, and cell phone provided.
Within 6 months of hire, the incumbent must live within Westmoreland, Richmond (County), or Northumberland county or reasonable driving distance negotiable with the regional forester.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum requirements for this position:
1. Demonstrated knowledge of tree species identification, silvics of Virginia native tree species, forest soils, forest measurements/biometrics.
2. Knowledge and/or training on establishing riparian buffers and planting trees.
3. Experience or training in identifying forest health issues and implementing integrated pest management strategies, training or experience with pesticide use on forest land.
4. Demonstrated ability to develop scientific forest management plans
5. Ability to use standard forester's tools including increment borer, diameter tape, prism, & clinometer to cruise stands of timber.
6. Knowledge of or training related to forest harvesting systems and Virginia’s Silvicultural Best Management Practices for Water Quality.

In addition, DOF foresters must have the ability to work independently, have excellent organizational skills, have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with state and federal agencies, local planners, cooperators, and the public, have demonstrated excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, and have the ability to use a PC and Microsoft Office software.
DOF foresters spend much of their time working in the woods in all types of forested, rough, and muddy terrain in all weather conditions. Candidates must have the ability to negotiate different types of forested and rugged terrain on foot in all types of weather; ability to climb on and off equipment, ability to work in smoky environments; and have the able to travel around the state and stay overnight on occasion. Foresters use a variety of equipment including 4x4 pickups, UTVs, transport trucks, and bulldozers. Candidates must have a valid Virginia driver’s license or the ability to obtain one before starting with the agency.

Additional Considerations

Top candidates for this position should demonstrate the following qualifications in their application:
• Experience and/or training in wildland firefighting and/or prescribed burn management including Virginia Prescribed Burn Manager certif