Forester

Wiregrass Ecological Associates; Hayward (WI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Paid Holidays

Vacation Time

Sick Leave

Parental Leave

Retirement

Training

Personally Assigned Vehicle

Bonus-eligible

Job summary

Wiregrass Ecological Associates seeks a full-time forester to implement forestry and ecology work in Northern Wisconsin or the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The role involves managing projects, coordinating with NDA and USFS, and assisting with various conservation tasks across multiple land ownerships.

Strong teamwork and field adaptability are essential. Ideal candidates have a forestry or wildlife science background and prefer 3+ years of forestr y experience, with emphasis on timber

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in forestry and/or wildlife science from an accredited university.
• Minimum 3 years of practical forestry experience preferred.
• Experience with timber sale management and BMPs preferred.
• Self-motivated with strong organizational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Perform and oversee timber inventory, cruising, marking, and layout for appraisals and USFS Common Stand Examinations.
• Provide administrative oversight to contractors for timber sales, hand crews, road work, and site prep.
• Conduct herbicide treatments of invasive species to promote forest health.
• Assist in stewardship projects on public and private lands and coordinate with USFS.
• Assist biologists with management activities for threatened and endangered species.
• Travel to other parts of the US to support projects and share knowledge.
• Ensure accurate records and reports.

Education

Bachelor's degree in forestry and/or wildlife science

Job description

Location:

Northern Wisconsin/Western Upper Peninsula (exact location negotiable)

Application Deadline:

April 1, 2026, or until filled - tentative starting date is April 20, 2026

Wiregrass Ecological Associates (WEA) is seeking qualified candidates for a full-time forester position in Northern Wisconsin or the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This position will implement forestry and ecology work, manage clients, projects, contractors, and manage the shared stewardship goals of our partner National Deer Association (NDA) in the region. This position will require candidates to oversee existing projects through their life cycle while coordinating with various stakeholders and landowners, especially the United States Forest Service (USFS). In addition to forestry-related tasks, this position will include assisting fellow team members in other projects including urban tree management, red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) management, gopher tortoise relocation, and other threatened and endangered species management as time allows. We are looking for candidates who possess a high level of intrinsic motivation and demonstrate excellent analytical skills. An ideal applicant should be flexible and adaptive to changing conditions and challenges in the field. The ability to work effectively within a team-oriented environment is essential for success in this position, as collaboration and communication are key to achieving our conservation goals. If you are passionate about forest management, conservation, and ecosystem restoration and have the qualifications we seek, we encourage you to apply.

Primary Duties:

• Perform and oversee timber inventory/cruising, marking, and layout for appraisals, timber sales, and USFS Common Stand Exams (CSEs).
• Provide administrative oversight to contractors (timber sales, hand crews, road work, site preparations)
• Conduct herbicide treatments of invasive/undesirable species, aiming to promote the health of the forest and reduce competition.
• Assist in identifying and developing the scope for stewardship and conservation projects on the Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest and other projects which occur across various land ownerships and land uses.
• Assist biologists in various management activities associated with Threatened and Endangered species.
• Flexibility to travel (sometimes extended or frequent) to other parts of the US to assist foresters and biologists in the completion of their projects, cross-training skill development, and information exchanges within a team-oriented group.
• Ensure accurate records and reports.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in forestry and/or wildlife science from an accredited university is preferred.
• Minimum 3 years of practical forestry experience is preferred.
• Preference will be given to candidates with experience in timber sale management including:
• Understand basic silvicultural practices and techniques.
• Logging crew oversight.
• Understanding/enforcing BMPs & SMZs.
• Ability to visually determine timber products on the stump and loading deck.
• Conducting forest surveys and tree measurements.
• Timber marking.
• Best Management Practices (BMP) compliance oversight.
• Assessing potential environmental impacts of a harvest and identifying/addressing forest management challenges.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with the flora, fauna, and forested ecosystems of the Midwest, is required.
• Preference will be given to applicants with demonstrated experience with technical writings such as NEPA reporting, biological diversity reports, or environmental impact assessments.
• Applicants must be self-motivated, responsible, and have the ability to solve problems. The position requires excellent organizational skills, the capability to work independently with little direct supervision, networking and communication skills, and project management experience.
• Applicant must have a valid driver's license and experience using and operating common forestry field equipment and ATVs.
• Candidates must be able to work in challenging field conditions, including workable hard weather conditions, insects, wildlife, and dense brush.

Salary/Benefits:

Salary commensurate with experience. Benefits include Personally Assigned Vehicle, Health Insurance, Paid Holidays, Vacation Time, Sick Leave, Parental Leave, Bonus-eligible, Retirement, and Training.