FORESTER - 42002070 1

State of Florida; Florida; On-site; USD 51,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Uniform Allotment

Annual Boot Allotment

Job summary

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is seeking a forestry program professional to manage plans on the Kissimmee Bend State Forest, including timber sales, planting, prescribed burning, and wildlife management. The role includes providing wildfire response, media liaison, and public education on forestry practices.

Applicants must have SAF-accredited forestry degrees or equivalent; a valid driver license is required, and some travel/incident response is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s (4 years) and/or master’s (6 years) degree in forestry or related field from a SAF-accredited college or university.
• Anticipated receipt of a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in forestry or related field within six months of the closing date.
• A valid driver license is required.
• Degrees earned outside the United States must be SAF-accredited or qualify via coursework as listed.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, coordinate, and implement management plans on the Kissimmee Bend State Forest, including timber sales, planting, prescribed fire, exotic species control, and recreational activities.
• Provide wildfire and emergency response support; act as information officer during incidents and coordinate media relations.
• Develop and deliver public education workshops; work with local fire services and agencies to reduce fire risk; utilize ArcGIS Pro for mapping and data analysis.

Job description

Salary: $51,000.30 - $62,000.12

This position’s headquarters is negotiable between Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie County.

OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY***

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services values and supports employment of individuals with disabilities. Qualified individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

To be considered for a position with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:

Minimum Requirements

A bachelor’s (4 years) and/or master’s (6 years) degree in forestry or a related field from a Society of American Foresters accredited college or university; or

Anticipated receipt of a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in forestry or a related field from a Society of American Foresters accredited college or university within six (6) months of the closing date of this advertisement.

NOTE: Applicants in this category will not be appointed until they have acquired and provide final proof of receiving the required degree.

A bachelor’s and/or master’s degrees in forestry or a related field obtained outside the United States must either:

• be obtained from a Society of American Foresters accredited college or university;
• curriculum must include at least two (2) of the following four (4) courses: Silviculture, Dendrology, Forest Mensuration or Forest Management.

NOTE: Applicants will provide an academic equivalency evaluation obtained in the United States showing the required courses.

NOTE: ALL POSITIONS WITHIN THIS CLASS REQUIRE POSSESSION OF A VALID DRIVER LICENSE.

ATTENTION CANDIDATES***

• All fields in the Candidate Profile must be completed (an attached resume is not a substitution for the information required on the candidate profile).
• Work history, duties and responsibilities, hours worked, supervisor, and formal education fields, etc. must be filled out to determine qualifications for this position.
• Responses to Qualifying Questions must be verifiable in the Candidate Profile.

Job Duties

Responsible for the preparation, coordination, and implementation of management plans on the Kissimmee Bend State Forest. This includes such activities as timber sales, tree plantings, prescribed burning, exotic species control, recreational activities, tracking research studies, road maintenance and repairs, and managing wildlife species. Assists landowners and communities with the implementation of federal cost-share programs, proper tree selection and tree planting procedures, UCF Grants, Stewardship and other management plans, Tree City USA and Champion Tree designations. Responds to homeowners’ requests for analysis of shade tree and ornamental tree diseases and provides information on methods of prevention and control. Provides training to interested groups on tree planting, pruning and maintenance, and other forestry related issues.

Provides wildfire and emergency response support as directed. During ongoing incidents this position will act as information Officer. This individual will prepare a copy for news release services, utilizing computer software, either via electronic mail or hardcopy print, of the fire danger, special occurrences, and other items which help in the flow of information to protect the health, welfare, and safety of the affected citizens. Acts as point of contact for media related to wildfire issues, gives interviews, and coordinates incident visits for the media and VIPs. Coordinates activities with the State Office Information Coordinator as requested. Utilizes ArcGis Pro to create maps and analyze data.

Utilizes mass media systems such as newspapers, radio, and television to keep public informed of developments in the forestry and conservation fields. Conducts educational workshops for Community groups and urban forest landowners. Provides local schools with information and assistance pertinent to environmental education through teacher workshops and instruction at environmental education centers.

This position will work with local fire services and other agencies to establish a mechanism to decrease man-caused fires. This may include the use of Arson Task Force Committees, joint planning, and other programs which lower the fire starts in the field unit. Develops Incident Action Plans that will enhance emergency response and reduce damage potential during wildland/urban interface fires. Assists in the development of smoke management, wildfire prevention, prescribed fire, pre-suppression burning plans and hazardous fuels mitigation.

Provides technical assistance to county commissions, municipalities, and other county and city agencies in the development and implementation of effective environment studies and practices relating to land-use planning, zoning, and development. This includes conservation and environmental planning as well as recreation and open-space planning.

Performs related duties as required.

Special Benefits For This Position Include

• Annual Uniform Allotment
• Annual Boot Allotment

Benefits

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please visit www.myfrs.com ;)
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

For an estimate of the total compensation package for this position, please visit the “Total Compensation Estimator Tool” located above under the “Posting Closing Date.”

Additional Requirements

Occasional to moderate travel required.

Position may respond to emergencies, including natural disasters or other type incidents requiring travel, as needed.

To maintain fairness and integrity, applicants are required to provide honest and authentic responses during all stages of the evaluation and selection process. Applicants must rely on their own personal knowledge, thoughts, and impressions. A candidate’s use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to answer qualifying questions or participate in interviews will be taken into consideration when determining qualification for the position.

Successful applicant must pass a background screening, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment.

Special Notes

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.

Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here . All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.