Forester 4 Area Forester Southern Southeast Area (PCN 10-9245)

State of Alaska; Ketchikan (AK); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Alaska is seeking a Forester 4 to work in Southeast Alaska communities (Ketchikan, Craig, Klawock, Thorne Bay). The role involves fieldwork and office duties, focusing on forest management, silviculture, and geospatial analysis, with opportunities for growth and advancement within the Division of Forestry.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in forestry, natural resources, or closely related field with 24 semester hours in forestry or related areas.
• One year of professional advanced level forestry experience or three years at journey level within Alaska or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Accountability for results, objectives, and delegation of work.
• Knowledge of silviculture, forest ecology, timber management, inventories, regeneration, and conservation.
• Geospatial data collection, storage, analysis, visualization, and distribution.

Skills

Forestry knowledge

Geospatial analysis

Decision making

Oral & written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in forestry or natural resources

Job description

Job Description

The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, is recruiting for a Forester 4 to be located in one of the following Alaska Communities: Ketchikan, Craig, Klawock, or Thorne Bay.

What You Will Be Doing

The State of Alaska seeks a professional forester to join our team focused on Alaska’s forest management responsibilities in the temperate rainforest of Southeast Alaska; the organization operates in Alaska's dynamic and diverse geographic setting and the many opportunities it offers. A forester in the position can expect to be involved in a variety of projects. The work requires a robust presence in the field that the incumbent supports with similar time in the office. The Division seeks individuals interested in growth or advancement in our organization.

Mission And Values/Culture

The mission of the Division of Forestry is to develop, conserve, and enhance Alaska’s forests to provide a sustainable supply of forest resources for Alaskans. We are leaders in forest management, forest practices, wildland fire management, and cooperative forestry programs across the state. Our influence crosses ownership boundaries through leadership of all-risk incident management teams, management of federal timber resources under the Good Neighbor Authority and Shared Stewardship Agreements, and up-to-date best management practices that apply to all commercial forests.

Benefits Of Joining Our Team

The work provides exposure to Alaska's unique physical and cultural environment. The Southeast Alaska Archipelago has abundant forest and aquatic resources. Island life and public land dominate the landscape. Forest management in the area is transitioning from old-growth to young-growth management. This position and environment will offer many opportunities to adapt lessons learned elsewhere and develop new approaches in contemporary forest management. Demand for active management by the forest industry from all land is significant. Staffing is lean, offering broad exposure to our various missions; there are multiple options for long-term growth and advancement in both the resources and fire programs. Career-long training and innovation are a building block of our culture. Work schedules vary with the season; summer tends to provide extended weather and long daylight opportunities for project work, which can in turn provide blocks of time off to enjoy the location’s outdoor opportunities.

The Working Environment You Can Expect

The job is based in the Ketchikan office, composed of a team of four people. Office time varies with the season and ongoing operational needs. The balance of office to field work is approximately 50/50 over the span of the year. Most of the fieldwork is located on other islands and requires periods of travel. Field time will vary from one day to two weeks; most trips last less than a week. When traveling, accommodation is typically at hotels, short-term rentals, and occasionally remote camps. Most accommodations are in small communities.

Responsibilities

• Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for measurable, high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for own actions and decisions. Complies with established control systems and rules.
• Forest Management: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of silviculture and forest ecology, forest use, management, harvesting, conducting inventories, regeneration, sustainability, and conservation; and the role of disturbances in timberland resources.
• Geospatial Science: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and methods related to the collection, storage, analysis, visualization, and distribution of geographic-based data and maps.
• Decision Making: Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
• Oral and Written Communication: Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral and written presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field that includes a minimum of 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in forestry or closely related curricula.

AND EITHER

One years of professional advanced level experience in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field. The required experience includes work such as Forester 3 or Natural Resource Specialist 3 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent with another employer.

OR

Three years of professional journey level experience in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field. The required experience includes work such as Forester 2, Fire Management Officer, State Logistics Center Coordinator, or Natural Resource Specialist 2 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent with another employer.

Substitution

Four years in any combination of post secondary education from an accredited college that includes a minimum of 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field AND journey level experience in the technical aspects of forest management and practices such as fire prevention, suppression, timber sales, reforestation or inventory may substitute for the required bachelor's degree. (2.67 semester or 4 quarter hours of post-secondary education are equal to one month of experience). The experience includes work such as Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 3, Wildland Forestry Technician 2, or Wildland Fire Dispatcher with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent with another employer.

Certification from an accredited vocational technical school in forestry, natural resource management, or a closely related field and three years of experience in the technical aspects of forest management and practices such as fire prevention, suppression, timber sales, reforestation or inventory may substitute for the required bachelor's degree. The experience includes work such as Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 3, Wildland Forestry Technician 2, or Wildland Fire Dispatcher 2 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent with another employer.

Certification Via NWCG (National Wildfire Coordinating Group) Incident Qualification Card (AKA "red Card") Within The Preceding Three (3) Years In Any Of The Following Will Substitute For The Required Education

• Incident Commander Type 2 (ICT2),
• Planning Section Chief Type 2 (PSC2),
• Operations Section Chief Type 2 (OSC2), or
• Logistics Section Chief Type 2 (LSC2)

For NWCG Incident Qualification Card certification information see: National Incident Management System (NIMS): Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide (PMS 310-1).

Special Note

Closely related curricula and work experience includes fields such as: geosciences, geography, natural resources, environmental sciences, soils, hydrology, wildlife habitat management, forest engineering, remote sensing, vegetation classification, natural resource bio-metrics, and wildland fire control.

One year of work experience equals 12 months of seasonal work.

Positions may require travel both in and out-of-state for fire suppression assignments; may be on stand-by or recall status during the fire season; may be assigned work in and out of the area that requires the absence from the duty station for 14 to 21 days; may fly in small fixed wing aircraft or helicopters and handle hazardous materials.

Most positions require "Red Card" qualification under the Incident Command System.

Some positions may require a commercial driver's license with appropriate endorsements.

Driver’s License Requirement

Applicants must possess a valid driver's license. Proof of licensure will be required prior to reporting to duty.

Firearms

This position requires the use or possession of a firearm or ammunition. In accordance with the federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 (PL 104-208), if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you may not hold this position.

A "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" is an offense that is (1) a misdemeanor under Federal or state law and (2) has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.

If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, do NOT apply for this position.

EEO STATEMENT

The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities who require accommodation, auxiliary aids or services, or alternative communication formats should call 1-800-587-0430 or [phone] in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.

Contact Information

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Workplace Alaska Application Questions & Assistance

Please direct questions about application submission or system errors to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll-free) or [phone] if you are in the Juneau area. You may also email requests for information to [e-mail].

For password assistance, please visit the password reset page.

For specific information about this position, please get in touch with the hiring manager at the following:

Greg Palmieri

Coastal Region Forester

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Careers With The State Of Alaska Offer MANY Benefits

The following information describes typical benefits available to employees of the State of Alaska. Actual benefits received may differ by bargaining unit or branch of government, position type, or be prorated for other than full time work.

For a quick breakdown of the insurance, health, and retirement benefits available for State Employees you can view an orientation video from Division of Retirement and Benefits. (Please note this video is specifically designed for new State Employees.)

Insurance Benefits

• Health insurance, which includes employer contributions toward medical/vision/dental
  • The following employee groups are under AlaskaCare Benefits administered by the State: See https://drb.alaska.gov/help/plans.html for additional information.
  • AVTEC
  • Confidential
  • Correctional Officers
  • Marine Engineers
  • Mt. Edgecumbe Teachers
  • Supervisory
  • Unlicensed Vessel Personnel/Inland Boatman's Union
  • Exempt employees (not covered by collective bargaining)
• The following employee groups are covered by Union health trusts. Contact the appropriate Union for additional information.
  • General Government
  • Labor, Trades and Crafts
  • Public Safety Employees Association
  • Masters, Mates & Pilots
• Employer paid Basic Life insurance with additional coverage available (amount depends on Bargaining Unit)

Optional Insurance Benefits

• Group-based insurance premiums for
  • Term life (employee, spouse or qualified same sex partner, and dependents)
  • Long-term and short-term disability
  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment
  • Long-term care (self and eligible family members)
  • Supplemental Survivor Benefits
• Employee-funded flexible spending accounts for tax savings on eligible health care or dependent care expenses

Retirement Benefits

• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Teachers' Retirement System (TRS)
• Matching employer contribution into a defined contribution program (new employees)
• Employer contribution into a defined benefit or defined contribution program (current employees)
• Contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan in lieu of contributions to Social Security
• Option to enroll in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program
• Note: The Defined Contribution Plan, Supplemental Annuity Plan and Deferred Compensation Program offer a variety of investment options

Paid Leave & Other Benefits

• Personal leave with an accrual rate increase based on time served
• Twelve (12) paid holidays a year