Area Forester-Blackwater District

Title: Area Forester-Blackwater District

State Role Title: Natural Resource Spec III

Hiring Range: Starting at $44,192.00+ DOE with state benefits

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Department of Forestry

Location: Eastern Office Southampton

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 Blackwater District to work in Southampton County and the 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 timber harvests, and enforcing silvicultural water quality, timber theft, and wildland fire laws.

Location: This forester position is part of the DOF Blackwater District in southeast Virginia serving: Sussex, Surry, Southampton, Isle of Wight, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Accomack, & Northampton Counties.
A DOF area office is in Courtland; 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 Southampton, Sussex, Isle of Wight or Suffolk (west of state route 32 & 10 in Suffolk, & east of state route 40 & 301 in Sussex)

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 12 months of employment. As a first responder on wildfires, must be willing and able to be on-call thoughout the year.

Must pass moderate physical fitness test, per Federal guidel