Forestry Crew Specialist 1-2 (Wildland Firefighter)

State of Louisiana; Minden (LA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Hazardous duty pay

Job summary

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry seeks a Forestry Crew Specialist to protect forest resources in Webster Parish. You will support fire prevention and suppression, assist in forest management activities, enforce timber laws, and participate in educational outreach.

This full-time, probationary position offers leadership pathways, potential CDL upgrade, and eligibility for the Hazardous Duty Retirement Plan.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Current Louisiana driver's license required or encouraged; CDL optional with training.
• Possession of a Class A or B CDL encouraged; one year to obtain after hire.

Responsibilities

• Make reports of forest fires including location and acres.
• Assist in forest management activities: cruising, detecting, and controlling pests and diseases.
• Participate in Information & Education programs related to forestry.
• Monitor and maintain transport trucks, dozers, fire suppression equipment, and hand tools.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Louisiana Class A or B CDL encouraged; one year to obtain

Tools

Driver's license

Job description

About This Job

This position is located within the Office of Forestry in Webster Parish. The Office of Forestry's primary responsibilities include suppressing timberland wildfires; promoting sound forest management practices, disseminating information; facilitating educational programs; producing reforestation seedlings; enforcing timber-related laws; investigating timber theft; and assisting community urban forestry programs.

The incumbent of this position is responsible for performing duties related to fire prevention and suppression of wildfires in the forestlands of Louisiana. Supervision for this position is received from the Forestry Parish Supervisor.

Ready to make a difference in protecting Louisiana's forests? Join the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry as a Forestry Crew Specialist! Play a vital role in wildfire prevention and suppression, promote sound forest management, enforce timber laws, and support community forestry programs.

Advance your career with leadership opportunities and CDL options. This position offers eligibility for the Hazardous Duty Services Retirement Plan at all levels of the CPG.

Why Join Us

• Work in breathtaking natural settings
• Enjoy competitive pay and great benefits
• Make a real impact on the environment
• Be part of a passionate, supportive team

LDAF cares about the well-being of its employees! We offer a fully employer-funded Employee Assistance Program (EAP), providing valuable support and resources to help you and your household members thrive at work and at home. The EAP is also free for all members of your household.

Job Duties

• Responsible for making reports of forest fires, including gathering data such as location and number of acres involved.
• Assist the Forestry Crew Specialist Leader in the performance of forest management activities, including cruising, detecting, and controlling forest insects and diseases.
• Participates in Information & Education programs related to all forestry fields as required.
• Responsible for monitoring and/or performing the repair and maintenance of transport trucks, dozer tractors, various fire suppression equipment, and a variety of hand and power tools.
• Performs other duties as may be assigned.

Functional Requirements

• Moderate light lifting, 30 pounds, with occasional lifting of up to 50+ pounds
• Reaching above the shoulders and carrying specialized equipment needed to perform duties
• Occasional demands may be required for moderately strenuous activities in emergencies over long periods of time
• Climbing on and off the transport and tractor

Environmental Factors

• Working indoors and outdoors
• Excessive smoke, heat, humidity, cold, wet, and extremely dry conditions
• Walking on irregular ground for long distances
• Working around neighborhood/residential and wildland hazards
• Will be required to wear appropriate safety protection/clothing

Position-Specific Details

Appointment Type: Full-time, Probational

Career Progression: This position may be filled as a Forestry Crew Specialist 1 or 2, depending on the level of experience of the selected applicant(s).

Compensation

• Forestry Crew Specialist 1 has an SER of $1,616.00 biweekly.
• Forestry Crew Specialist 2 has an SER of $1,728.80 biweekly.
• On-call compensation: $1.00/hour when the employee is required to be available for work status at times outside of the regular work schedule.
• Hazardous duty pay: $1.73/hour for all hours worked in addition to base salary.

Longevity-Based Premium Pay Schedule (per hour for hours worked):

• 0-2 Years - $2.00
• 2-4 Years - $3.00
• 4-6 Years - $4.00
• 6-8 Years - $5.00
• 8+ Years - $6.00

Minimum Qualifications

Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent.

Special Requirement

Possession of a current Louisiana driver's license.

Other Important Information

Candidates who hold a current Louisiana Class A or B CDL are encouraged to apply. New hires selected for these positions will have one year from their hire date to obtain a Louisiana Class B or higher CDL. The Department will provide training before the required testing date. Once a CDL is obtained, employees must remain with LDAF for at least one additional year or reimburse the Department for any CDL-related expenses incurred.

Louisiana is a State as a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.

Eligibility & Application Requirements

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

All candidates for hire must undergo drug screening.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry strictly prohibits workplace harassment and discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, religion, national origin, military service, sickle cell trait, protected genetic information or other non-merit factors. LDAF also strictly prohibits employment decisions based upon or influenced by such factors.

E-Verify

This agency participates in the E-Verify system for verification of citizenship and employment authorization.

Contact Information

Jennifer Ginn
Human Resources Supervisor
Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry
5825 Florida Blvd., Suite 1001
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
[e-mail]

Insurance Coverage

More information can be found at https://info.groupbenefits.org/

Parental Leave

Up to six weeks paid parental leave. More information can be found at https://www.civilservice.louisiana.gov/Parental-Leave/Default.aspx

Holidays and Leave

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Mardi Gras
• Good Friday
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veteran's Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day
• Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor

State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.

Retirement

• Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (www.lasersonline.org). LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system
• Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (www.trsl.org)
• Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (www.lsers.net), among others

Location

This position is located within the Office of Forestry in Webster Parish.