Forest Technician

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Oil City (Venango County); On-site; USD 36,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is hiring a Forest Technician to support forestry staff in the Northwest Region. This role focuses on fieldwork, data collection, mapping, and habitat maintenance on State Game Lands.

You will gain hands-on experience in boundary marking, timber work, GPS mapping, and data entry while supporting habitat management and stand analysis. The position is full-time, with standard daytime hours and no telework option.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in forest technology or equivalent forestry education.
• Applicants may be considered eligible if within 3 months of graduation.
• Educational requirements may be met within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Responsibilities

• Boundary marking for timber sales, herbicide areas, and other treatments by forester instructions.
• Timber work: examine trees, mark timber, and compute volumes according to prescriptions.
• Field data collection for stand analysis, sale layout, and similar forestry projects.
• Data entry into designated computer programs for recordkeeping and analysis.
• GPS mapping: collect data and produce maps for forester review and approval.
• Habitat maintenance: assist with herbicide application, equipment upkeep, and related tasks.

Education

Associate’s degree in forest technology

Completion of equivalent formal education in forestry

Job description

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is looking to hire a Forest Technician to work in the Northwest Region. This position with the Pennsylvania Game Commission offers you the chance to protect and enhance important forest habitats across our state. This role allows you to develop valuable field skills while supporting long-term conservation goals. You will work outdoors, learn from experienced forestry staff, and help make a real difference in habitat management. Join the Commission and build a rewarding future in natural resource stewardship.

This role focuses on supporting forestry staff in managing young forest habitat conditions on State Game Lands in the Northwest Region. You will assist in fieldwork, data collection, mapping, and general forest habitat maintenance. As a Forest Technician, you will perform the following duties:

• Boundary Marking: Mark boundaries for timber sales, herbicide areas, and other treatments by following forester instructions
• Timber Work: Examine trees, mark timber, and complete volume computations according to established prescriptions
• Field Data Collection: Gather information for stand analysis, sale layout, and similar forestry projects
• Data Entry: Enter forestry data into designated computer programs for recordkeeping and analysis
• GPS Mapping: Collect GPS data and produce maps for forester review and approval
• Habitat Maintenance: Assist with herbicide application, equipment upkeep, and other habitat management tasks

Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 40 hours per week
• Work hours are 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday - Friday, with 30-minute lunch.
• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• An associate’s degree in forest technology; or
• Completion of equivalent formal education in forestry.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Other Requirements:

• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.