Forester 4 - Good Neighbor Authority (PCN 10-9907)

State of Alaska; Ketchikan (AK); On-site; USD 81,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Year-round full-time employment

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

The State of Alaska is seeking a Forester 4 to lead the Good Neighbor Authority program across multiple Alaska locations, including Ketchikan, Juneau, Anchorage, and Fairbanks. The role emphasizes coordinating with federal partners and managing timber sale projects while advancing statewide forest objectives.

Qualified candidates will hold a forestry or natural resources degree and have 1 year of advanced forestry experience or 3 years at the journey level.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in forestry, natural resources, or closely related field with 24 semester hours (or 36 quarter hours) in forestry or related curricula.
• Either 1 year of professional advanced-level forestry experience OR 3 years of professional journey-level forestry experience with State of Alaska or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Manage statewide Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) program and implement forest management on federal lands.
• Develop and maintain cross-boundary partnerships with federal colleagues and state staff.
• Develop multi-year work plans and manage federal funds for land management and shared stewardship.
• Develop, prepare, and administer GNA timber sales from reconnaissance to contract closeout.
• Advise State Forester on GNA policy issues and provide policy recommendations.

Skills

Forest management

Project management

Teamwork

Federal funds processing

Oral and written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in forestry/natural resources

Job description

Forester 4

The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, is recruiting for a Forester 4 to be located in one of the following locations: Ketchikan, Juneau, Anchorage, Fairbanks.

What You Will Be Doing

In this role, you will manage DFFP’s statewide Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) program and implement forest management such as timber sales and restoration projects on federal lands, including the Tongass and Chugach National Forests. You will develop and maintain partnerships to increase the pace and scale of cross-boundary forest management, working closely with federal colleagues as well as collaborating with DFFP coworkers to ensure coordinated implementation of complementary projects on federal and state lands. You will strategically develop multi-year work plans and manage federal funds to support federal land management and shared stewardship priorities. You will develop, prepare, and administer GNA timber sales from initial reconnaissance through contract closeout. You’ll play a key leadership role as the State Forester's advisor on GNA policy issues and provide policy recommendations that support statewide forest management objectives.

Mission And Values/Culture

The mission of the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection’s forestry branch is to develop, conserve, and enhance Alaska’s forests to provide Alaskans with a sustainable supply of forest resources. 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

You will join a dynamic team overseeing a wide range of forestry operations, with opportunities for advancement and professional development, as well as year-round full-time employment. The work provides exposure to Alaska's unique physical and cultural environment. This position and environment will offer many opportunities to adapt lessons learned elsewhere and to develop new approaches in contemporary forest management. Demand for active management of all land by the forest industry is significant. Staffing in the organization is lean, offering broad exposure to our range of missions and multiple options for long-term growth and advancement. Career-long training and innovation are building blocks of our culture.

The Working Environment You Can Expect

This position may be filled in Ketchikan, Juneau, Anchorage, or Fairbanks. For the right fit, the position could potentially be relocated to another DFFP office. Regardless of duty station, this position requires significant multi-day and extended travel to project locations, many of which are remote in Southern Southeast Alaska. This role offers a blend of in-office and field work across Alaska’s remote landscapes and may involve travel by ATV, snowmachine, small aircraft, helicopter, or boat. Fieldwork can include rugged terrain, wildlife encounters, hazardous materials, and year-round work in challenging weather conditions.

Key Competencies

• 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.
• Project Management: Knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring and inspecting costs, work, and contractor performance.
• Teamwork: Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
• Federal Funds Processing: Knowledge of methods and procedures for processing direct and reimbursable program funds (for example, automatic and funded reimbursements, interagency agreements, transfer appropriations), grants, loans, and credit programs.
• 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 year 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).

Special Note

• Closely related curricula and work experience include fields such as: geosciences, geography, natural resources, environmental sciences, soils, hydrology, wildlife habitat management, forest engineering, remote sensing, vegetation classification, natural resource biometrics, 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.

Starting Salaries

• Anchorage/Ketchikan – $3119.25 biweekly
• Fairbanks – $3213.00 biweekly
• Juneau – $3275.25 biweekly

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 & Pilot' s
• 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

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.

Driver's License Requirement

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

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.