Forester 2 - Management Forester

Montana Historical Society; Plains (MT); On-site; USD 45,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Vacation

Sick Leave and Holidays

Health Insurance

Dental Coverage

Vision Coverage

Job summary

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation is seeking an experienced forestry professional to lead complex timber sale projects on state and trust lands. The role requires planning, coordination, and MEPA documentation to support sustainable use of Montana’s forest resources.

Responsibilities include supervising field activities, analyzing data for permits and compliance, and ensuring adherence to state and federal laws.

Job description

Position Title:

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's mission is to help ensure that Montana's land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations.

The DNRC believes employees are their most important asset. The DNRC empowers employees to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. Employees are provided with the training and tools necessary to achieve the mission. Both team effort and individual employee expertise are supported and sustained.

Core Values

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Forestry and Trust Land Division recognizes that building a collaborative, professional, and inclusive work environment is critical to fulfilling our mission of managing, protecting, and promoting stewardship of Montana’s forests and lands for the benefit of current and future generations and our trust beneficiaries. We hold ourselves to these high standards as we are accountable to the people of Montana.

• We value and respect each other.
• We create collaborative work environments.
• We build and maintain strong relationships.
• We celebrate our successes and take pride in our work

Position Overview

This position perform advanced professional forest management activities under the general supervision of the Unit Forest Management Supervisor.

The incumbent independently plans, coordinates, and implements projects necessary to sell timber or related products from trust lands to provide income to the various trusts. These projects are complex and must be designed on a case-by-case basis to conform to numerous constraints and respond to multiple issues. Each project must be analyzed under Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) rules and will require the preparation of document(s) disclosing the adequate level of analysis for each project and may require preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement. This position would serve as the Project Leader for preparation of complex, large-volume forest product sales, timber permits, and other forest product sales .

What You'll Do

Independently plan, coordinate and evaluate activities on state endowment trust lands and other state and federal lands to maximize net revenue, to provide for the sustainable use of the land and associated resources, and to ensure adherence to state and federal laws and regulations.

Coordinate and perform inventory monitoring to identify and prioritize timber sales and maintain Trust Land databases by extracting reports, performing GIS analysis, and conducting fieldwork to verify and update records.

Implement timber sales by serving as Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) project leader (documentation, public comment, assessment) and negotiating and administering contracts.

Analyze data to develop permits, resource protection plans, resource improvement projects, or implement compliance actions.

Establish project boundaries, negotiate access easements.

Design specifications for aerial and/or ground-based logging systems.

Design /maintain road systems, stream crossings and bridges or reconstruction specifications for state land and or/adjacent ownership.

Supervise implementation of timber-volume cruise designs and marking with seasonal forestry technicians and supervise and participate in other sale layout activities.

Implement the habitat conservation plan and ensure compliance with silvicultural prescriptions

I nventory and monitor land resources to assess conditions, trends and concerns, and complete statistical analyses, technical research, and financial analyses to determine the highest returns.

Manages and evaluates Ag & Grazing, minerals and recreation leases/projects on state trust lands.

• Paid Vacation, Sick Leave and Holidays
• Health, Dental, Prescription, and Vision Coverage
• Bachelor's degree in Forest Management or a relation resource management field.
• 3-4 years of progressively responsible job-related professional experience in forest management.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of:

• Forest management principles and practices .
• Equipment and techniques used in forest management projects and operations.

Forest practices and hazard reduction laws, Administrative Rules, standards, guidelines, policies and procedures related to forest management operations and activities .

Skills in:

• The use and operation of tools, equipment and vehicles used in wildland fire control, forest management activities and field office operations .
• Operation of 4-wheel drive vehicles, ATVs/UTVs.
• Use of computer hardware and software related to forest management business operations (word processing, spreadsheets, internet, e-mail and smart devices) and specialized resource management software.

Ability to:

• Pass an arduous pack test as well as be capable of vigorous physical activity in all types of weather .
• Navigate using a map and compass.
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing to individuals, groups and representatives from other organizations.
• Coordinate and direct multiple resources to complete work objectives, work on multiple projects simultaneously .

Special Information

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. A valid driver's license is required with less than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months

Eligibility to Work

Effective May 4, 2026, this agency is participating in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After accepting a job offer and completing Form I-9, your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration for verification. For more information about E-Verify, please visit the E-Verify website found here: E-Verify Website .

Applicant Pool Statement : If another department vacancy occurs in this job title within six months, the same applicant pool may be used for the selection. Training Assignment : Not Applicable

Salary: $

33.74 - 33.74 Hourly Telework Eligibility : Telework Eligible (Full-time telework is not available. Telework schedule must be supervisor approved.) Benefits Package Eligibility : Health Insurance, Paid Leave & Holidays, Retirement Plan

Number of Openings

1 Employee Status : Regular Schedule : Full-Time

Job Type

Standard

Shift

Day Job

Travel

Yes, 10 % of the Time

Primary Location

Plains Agency : Department of Natural Resources & Conservation Union : 000 - None

Posting Date

Sep 25, 2026, 4:54:02 PM Closing Date (based on your computer's timezone) : Oct 26, 2026, 5:59:00 AM

Contact Name : Lysandra Badilla | Contact Email : [e-mail] | Contact Phone : [phone] Anyone who needs to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the HR staff identified on the job listing or by dialing the Montana Relay at 711. Montana Job Service Offices also offer services including assistance with submitting an online application. State government does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, creed, political beliefs or affiliation, veteran status, military service, retaliation, or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant.