Area Forester - MTT

City of Lincoln; Kalispell (MT); On-site; USD 62,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonus

Medical & dental insurance

401(k) with match

Paid time off

Company vehicle

Job summary

Green Diamond is seeking an operational forester to support planning and execution of harvest and silviculture operations in northwest Montana, based in Libby or Kalispell. You’ll work in a forest with a close-knit team focused on safe, responsible forest management and sustainable resource use.

This field-based role emphasizes identifying opportunities, laying out harvest units and haul roads, administering contracts, and ensuring compliance with SFI, Forest Practices, and state/federal

Qualifications

• This position requires a bachelor’s degree in forest management or related field and 3–7 years of operational forestry experience.
• Experience with road maintenance, Forest Practices laws, and GIS is preferred.
• Montana licensing is a plus; self-directed, organised, and able to manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Actively support a safe workplace and participate in the company safety program.
• Identify timber harvest opportunities and silvicultural investment areas.
• Assist with the layout of harvest units and haul roads to support productive operations while minimizing environmental impacts.
• Help plan harvest operations to reduce moves, maximize capacity, and provide accurate production information and log sales forecasts.
• Administer and oversee contract logging, road construction, and road maintenance work; conduct timely field checks to confirm compliance with contracts and harvest plans.
• Oversee site preparation, planting, and other silviculture projects.
• Represent Green Diamond at public meetings and community events as needed.

Skills

Operational forestry

Harvest planning

Silviculture

Safety-minded

Contract supervision

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Forest Management

Tools

GIS

MS Office

Job description

• Job Category FORESTRY
• Employee Type Full Time

Contact information

• Name Ursula Walters
• Phone [phone]

Description

This is an in-person role based out of our office located in Libby or Kalispell, MT

Who You Are:

You’re an operational forester who likes seeing plans turn into well-run work in the field. You understand harvest and silviculture operations, can balance productivity with safety and environmental responsibility, and take pride in work that meets a high professional and ethical standard.

You’re comfortable working independently in remote areas, making sound decisions, and building strong relationships with contractors, agencies, and community members. You’re safety-minded, practical, organized, and willing to step in wherever needed—from unit layout and road assessments to overseeing planting, pile burning, or responding during a wildfire.

What the Job Is

This position supports the planning and execution of harvest and silviculture operations in northwest Montana, based in either Libby or Kalispell. You’ll work in a beautiful forest alongside a close-knit group of experienced team members who care deeply about safe, responsible forest management and natural resource use.

The work centers on identifying harvest and investment opportunities; laying out harvest units, pre-commercial thinning units, haul roads, and related infrastructure; administering contracts; and ensuring operations comply with company standards, regulations, the Native Fish Habitat Conservation Plan, Best Management Practices, and Sustainable Forestry Initiative requirements. A portion of the job will be working with rock pit and grazing leases.

This is primarily a field-based role. You’ll spend most of your time on the ground supporting active forestry operations, checking work performed by contractors, assessing roads and stream crossings, and helping ensure projects are completed safely, efficiently, and responsibly.

What the Department Is Like

You’ll be part of a forestry team responsible for managing almost 300,0000 acres of working forestlands with a focus on safe, productive, and sustainable operations. The work is collaborative, but it also calls for someone who can take ownership of projects, manage competing priorities, and work independently without immediate supervision.

You’ll work regularly with foresters, logging and road contractors, regulatory agencies, leaseholders, and members of the community. Some days will involve planning and administration; others will have you traveling woods roads, walking units, inspecting operations, or working in rugged terrain and changing weather conditions.

What You’ll Do

• Actively support a safe workplace and participate in the company safety program.


• Identify timber harvest opportunities and silvicultural investment areas.


• Assist with the layout of harvest units and haul roads to support productive operations while minimizing environmental impacts.


• Help plan harvest operations to reduce moves, maximize capacity, and provide accurate production information and log sales forecasts.


• Administer and oversee contract logging, road construction, and road maintenance work; conduct timely field checks to confirm compliance with contracts and harvest plans.


• Oversee site preparation, planting, and other silviculture projects.


• Serve as the primary contact for rock pit leases, permitting, and compliance, and help manage grazing leases and other minor forest product agreements.


• Conduct ownership-wide road and stream-crossing assessments.


• Plan, coordinate, and implement pile burning and hazard-abatement activities with attention to smoke, public concerns, and operational impacts.


• Ensure operations comply with SFI policies, Forest Practices requirements, local ordinances, and applicable state and federal regulations.


• Communicate clearly and professionally with coworkers, contractors, agencies, community members, and other stakeholders.


• Represent Green Diamond at public meetings and community events as needed.

What You’ll Bring

A bachelor’s degree in Forest Management, Natural Resource Management, or a related field, along with approximately three to seven years of operational forestry experience, is preferred. Equivalent industry experience may be considered in place of a degree.

You’ll need a valid driver’s license, strong Microsoft Office skills, and the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team. Experience with road maintenance, Forest Practices laws, and GIS. Those with a Montana Private Applicator License or UAG License—is preferred.

Most importantly, we’re looking for someone who is self-directed, dependable, organized, and comfortable managing multiple priorities in a changing field environment. You bring good judgment, strong communication and leadership skills, a positive problem-solving approach, and a genuine commitment to safe, responsible forestry.

Compensation Details:

The wage for this position is $62,056.00 to $93,084.00 and isbased on your experience and demonstrated skill level. The wage is just one part of Green Diamond’s total compensation package. Other rewards include eligibility to receive an annual company financial bonus and a bonus based on your own performance.

In addition, Green Diamond offers a generous benefit package to include medical/vision and dental, life and disability insurance, 401(k) plan with match and profit sharing. Paid time off includes 9 designated and up to 2 personal holidays, 10 vacation days, 10 sick days, 30 days parental leave, 3 days bereavement, an extra 2 days bereavement unpaid, jury duty, 1 volunteer day, and 5 days family care. Also provided is a company vehicle for business use. More information about benefits can be viewed on our website: www.greendiamond.com/people/career-opportunities

Who Green Diamond is:

We grow and nurture forests, a renewable resource to build homes, schools, and household necessities; sequestering and storing carbon every single day we operate. We’re a 6 th generation family-owned company that is guided by our values of environmental stewardship and supporting our local communities. The history of our Company spans over 130 years. We do what’s right, even when it is the harder path to follow. We focus on the health and safety of our people first – by taking care of all our resources, we plan to be here for another 130 years.