Forester 3

State of West Virginia; Charleston (WV); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

State of West Virginia, Division of Forestry, seeks a training-level forester specializing in forest management across Morgan, Berkeley, and Jefferson Counties, with fire prevention, preparedness, and suppression duties.

Minimum: Associate degree in Forest Technology or Bachelor’s in Forestry; three years of forestry experience; current professional licensure or in progress; valid driver’s license; ability to pass medical exams and obtain required police commission.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Forest Technology or Bachelor's degree in Forestry required.
• Three years of forestry experience.
• Current professional licensure as a registered forester or forestry technician, or in process.
• Valid driver's license.
• Must pass physical examination within six months and annual follow-ups.
• Must become (or already be) a Special Natural Resources Police Officer during employment.

Responsibilities

• Forest management across Morgan, Berkeley, and Jefferson Counties.
• Fire prevention, preparedness, and suppression; deliver prevention messages to media, groups, schools, and individuals.
• Recruit, train and check equipping of forest fire wardens, patrollers, and firefighters.
• Supervise suppression efforts and investigate forest fires.
• Perform spot checks and investigations on logging operations; assist landowners with technical advice and stewardship planning.

Job description

Nature of Work

Under direct supervision, works at a training level with specialization in the performance of technical and field work. Primary responsibility will be forest management in the areas of Morgan, Berkeley, and Jefferson Counties. Fire prevention, preparedness, and suppression; fire prevention message to media, groups, schools, and individuals; recruits, trains and checks equipping of forest fire wardens, patrollers, and firefighters; supervises and directs forest fire suppression efforts and investigates forest fires. Conduct spot checks and complaint investigation on logging operation, helps in logger training, and in logger assistance regarding the logging sediment control act. Assists landowners by providing technical advice and assistance, prepares stewardship plans, and checks reports of insect and disease. Help other agencies and employees as required. Performs other duties as requested. As a condition of employment, an inquiry into job-related information will be completed, which may include, but is not limited to, criminal records, abuse registry records, driving records, employment history, and education and training. Failing to cooperate with this process, providing false or incomplete information, or discovery of disqualifying information will result in denial irrespective of when discovered.

Minimum Qualifications

The minimum qualifications for this job title are:

• Training: Associate degree in a Forest Technology program recognized by the Society of American Foresters
• OR a Bachelor's degree in a forestry program accredited by the Society of American Foresters.
• Experience: Three years of full-time or equivalent part-time paid experience in the field of forestry.
• Special Requirement: Must have a current license as a registered professional forester or a registered forestry technician or in the process of obtaining professional licensure. Must have a valid driver's license.
• Must take and pass a physical examination within the first six months of employment and submit to annual follow-up examinations. Failure to pass the initial examination will result in termination of employment. Failure to pass a subsequent examination may result in reassignment.
• Positions must meet the qualifications for and become a Special Natural Resources Police Officer at the earliest opportunity following employment and maintain this commission throughout the period of employment in the position. This requirement may be waived at the discretion of the State Forester.

State employment offers a variety of benefits.