Description

Natural Resource Specialist 2/NRS1 In-Training, Forest Health Forester
Recruitment #2022-12-7979
Full-time, Permanent, Represented position
Location: Northeast Region- Colville, WA
Relocation Compensation may be available and considered

Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?
The Northeast Region of the Washington Department of Natural Resources is looking to add a new employee to our team. Are you someone who loves the outdoors, and is passionate about becoming a natural resource forester working for Washington State? If you love working in the outdoors, appreciate a remote, natural environment, enjoy working with a professional staff, and have good practical forestry skills with a proven ability for working as part of a team, then this is the job for you.

This Natural Resources Specialist 2 position will be located out of our Colville location. This position performs professional level forest management under the direction of the Silviculture Unit Forester. This position works independently and has regular interaction with Foresters, Forest Engineers, other Natural Resource Professionals as well as other agency representatives, business partners and the general public. Responsibilities will include a combination of silviculture duties including: contract administration for herbicide applications, tree planting, pre commercial thinning, fuels reduction projects and forest surveys. This position is also responsible for timber sale planning, timber sales layout, and timber sale compliance. Occasional fire suppression duties may be available on a voluntary basis.

Duties

Responsibilities:

• Timber sale design, including stream type determination, identification of potentially sensitive areas, boundary location and marking, reserve and legacy tree identification and marking, identifying appropriate harvest systems and locating roads to access landing locations.
• Preparing documents, including SEPA, FPA and other permits, GIS maps, pre-cruise narratives, and contract documents
• Contract administration on regeneration harvests, thinnings, salvage sales, pre-commercial thinnings, plantings, and herbicide treatments.
• Forest survey inventories which includes: survival assessments, stocking, verify target, pre-commercial thinning and forest health.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

This may be filled as an in-training position. This is designated as a 12-24 month training plan that may be extended to a maximum of 36 months. If you complete all elements of the training steps in a shorter amount of time, we may waive the remainder of the time required. Candidates will be considered as Natural Resource Specialist 2 or Natural Resource Specialist 1 (In-Training), depending on qualifications.

Required Qualifications:
Natural Resource Specialist 1 (NRS2 In-Training) required qualifications
(Salary range: $3,558-$ 4,777 per month):

• AA degree or a combination of education and experience equivalent to two years.
• Basic knowledge of forest management objectives, timber management objectives and silvicultural practices.
• Knowledge of agency policies and Forest practices requirements for wetland and stream delineation for eastern Washington.
• Knowledge of GPS equipment and ESRI GIS program to map unit boundaries and road layouts.
• Knowledge of contracting procedures.
• Knowledge of logging and forest road layout.
• Experience working independently or as part of a team on assigned tasks, and adapt to changing needs.
• Proven experience in computer applications such as Arc GIS, Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team on assigned tasks, and adapt to changing needs.
• DNR Core Competencies:
  • Personal Accountability
  • Value Others
  • Compassionate Communication
  • Inspire Others
  • Commitment to Excellence

Natural Resource Specialist 2 required qualifications
(Salary range: $4,013-$5,399 per month):

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry or Natural Resource related field of study or; a combination of education and experience equivalent to four years.
• Experience with forest management objectives and Silviculture practices.
• Experience complying with forest practices requirements for wetland and stream delineation for eastern Washington.
• Experience using GPS equipment and ESRI GIS program to map unit boundaries and road layouts.
• Experience managing contracts.
• Experience with logging and forest road layout experience.
• Experience using Microsoft Word and Excel or similar software.
• Shown ability to work independently or as part of a team on assigned tasks, and adapt to changing needs.

Working Conditions:

• Position’s assigned duty station is the Armory work center in Colville, WA. The large majority (80%) of work is performed alone or with a small team in isolated unimproved natural areas. 20% of work is performed in an office setting. Incumbent must be able to traverse uneven terrain in all weather conditions.
• Position requires a large amount of time in the field traveling alone between timber sales, contract administration sites, fires, and work centers. Occasional travel throughout the region for meetings, temporary assignments, and training sessions.
• A valid driver’s license and have two years of driving experience. This position requires driving as an essential function. Finalists and/or interview candidates may be asked to provide a driving record from all states in which they have held a license during the past three years.
• Employees of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are required to complete their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines (be fully vaccinated against COVID-19) or be approved for a medical or religious exemption and accommodation as a condition of employment. Please note, any offer of employment is contingent upon you providing verification of your vaccine status or having an approved medical or religious exemption and accommodation. No start date will be approved until you have either verified your vaccine status or have an approved exemption and accommodation. “Fully vaccinated” means the following: An employee is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after they have received the second dose in a two-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine (e.g., Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Novavax) or a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine (e.g., Johnson &Johnson (J&J)/Janssen) authorized for emergency use, licensed, or otherwise approved by the FDA or listed for emergency use, or otherwise approved by the World Health Organization.

Our ideal candidate will also have the qualifications listed below:

• Contract Development and Administration for Timber Sales, Road Construction, Reforestation, Thinning or other Silviculture Practices.
• Previous wildland firefighting experience, prescribed fire implementation, burn plan development and hazardous fuels treatment prescription implementation.
• Knowledge of employment rules and regulations as they apply to permanent, seasonal career and seasonal DNR employees.
• Proven experience using Arc GIS.

Supplemental Information

About the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
At DNR we approach our work through the lens of making Washington a better place environmentally and are dedicated to serving Washington’s lands and communities through diversity, equity and inclusion. With nearly 1,500 employees in locations throughout Washington, we manage and protect more than 5 million acres of state-owned forest, range, commercial, agricultural and aquatic lands.
Our Vision – Our actions ensure a future where Washington’s lands, waters, and communities thrive.
Our Mission – Manage, sustain, and protect the health and productivity of Washington’s lands and waters to meet the needs of present and future generations.
Our Core Values:

• Safety and Well-Being —Our top priority is the safety of the public and our employees.
• Public Service —We value and respect the public we serve, and we value and respect the people of the Department of Natural Resources who step up to serve.
• Innovation and Creative Problem-Solving — We solve our state’s most pressing challenges through innovative thinking, dedication, and bold and creative vision.
• Leadership and Teamwork —We are committed to building leaders at all levels and building teams for success.

DNR provides excellent benefits, a few of those include:

• Commitment to organizational health and wellness
• Work/life balance
• DNR Employee Resource Groups (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, Women’s Employee Resource Group, Veterans Employee Resource Group, etc.)
• Statewide Employee Business Resource Groups, visit here to learn more
• Leadership that empowers and supports employees
• Professional development opportunities
• Educational and career development aid
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility
• Opportunities to participate in wildland fire suppression assignments
• A comprehensive benefit package that includes employer contributions toward health insurance, paid holidays, retirement plans, sick leave and vacation days. Visit http://careers.wa.gov/benefits.html for more information.

Application Requirements:

• To be considered you must apply online at www.careers.wa.gov (Click on the APPLY button above). You must complete the entire online application to be considered for the position.
• Attach a letter of interest describing how your experience and qualifications relate to the position profile and the position required, desired and special requirements.
• Attach a resume describing your experience and qualifications.
• Provide three to five professional references – you may attach a document, use the References text field in the online application, or include with resume.
• Complete all supplemental questions.

Additional Information:
This recruitment may be extended and may also be used to fill future similar vacancies for up to sixty (60) days.

Veterans wishing to claim Veteran’s preference please attach a copy of your DD-214, NGB-22 or other verification of military service. Please black out your social security number prior to attaching. We thank you and are grateful for your service!

The Department of Natural Resources is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Persons needing accommodation during the screening process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact DNR Recruiting staff at (360) 522-2500 or (360) 522-0143 or by email at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov. Those with a hearing impairment in need of accommodation are encouraged to contact the Washington State Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) at 1-800-833-6388 or www.washingtonrelay.com.

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Questions? Please contact Christopher Hosch at christopher.hosch@dnr.wa.gov, 509-675-2625 or e-mail us at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov

Once you submit your online application, you can check your status by logging into your account. If you experience technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application call NEOGOV toll-free at (855)524-5627 or email CareersHelp@des.wa.gov.