Forestry Technician I - Area 15

State of Mississippi; Mississippi; On-site; USD 37,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Mississippi, Lafayette County, is hiring Forestry Technician I within the Mississippi Forestry Commission. The role involves protecting, reforesting, and managing timberlands on public and private property, using maps, GPS, and field tools to monitor forest health and growth.

You must typically have an Associate’s Degree with 0–2 years’ experience, pass a walking fitness test, pre-employment drug screen, and obtain a CDL within the first year.

Qualifications

• Forestry knowledge and field skills related to timberland management.
• Willingness to operate outdoors in varying conditions.
• Basic data collection and record-keeping abilities.

Responsibilities

• Protect, reforest, and manage timberlands per regulations.
• Monitor forest conditions and identify disease or damage.
• Maintain fire lanes and assist wildfire risk reduction.
• Prepare land, plant trees, and evaluate seedling survival.

Skills

Ecological knowledge

Forest inventory

Measurement

Fire management

Effective communication

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Adaptability

Empathy

Education

Associate’s Degree

Tools

GPS

Maps

Field tools

Job description

Forestry Technician I - Area 15 in 36 - LAFAYETTE COUNTY, MS | GovernmentJobs.com page has loaded.

State of Mississippi

$37,000.00 - $50,161.32 Annually

Location

36 - LAFAYETTE COUNTY, MS

Full-Time

Job Number

9391-0451-20261006LAF

0451 - FORESTRY COMMISSION

Opening Date

10/12/2026

10/26/2026 at 11:59 PM Central Time (US & Canada)

Agency Minimum Salary

$37,000.00

$50,161.32

About the Agency

This position is with the Mississippi Forestry Commission, with duties and responsibilities in Lafayette, Calhoun, and Yalobusha Counties. If you have any additional questions about this position, please contact Ben Vanderford at [e-mail].

A forestry technician’s work duties include protecting, reforesting, and managing timberlands on both private and public property in accordance with Mississippi Forestry Commission regulations. In this role, the technician monitors forest conditions, identifies signs of disease or storm damage, and helps maintain fire lanes to reduce wildfire risk. They also participate in reforestation efforts by preparing land, planting trees, and evaluating seedling survival. The job requires conducting timber inventories, measuring tree species and growth, and documenting forest health using maps, GPS, and field tools. Forestry Technicians frequently collaborate with federal agencies on land designations, conservation planning, and critical-area mapping. Another major responsibility is assisting private landowners by guiding proper forestry management practices, including tree planting, timber stand improvement, pest control, and sustainable harvesting. In addition, they may support forest fire suppression crews by clearing brush, operating equipment, or helping contain fires. The role also involves maintaining tools and equipment, completing field reports, and adhering to all safety protocols while working outdoors under various conditions.

What you'll need to be Successful

To succeed in forestry, one needs hard and soft skills, including ecological knowledge, technological proficiency, forest inventory and measurement, fire management, effective communication, analytical thinking, problem-solving, adaptability, and empathy. These skills are crucial for navigating forestry challenges and contributing to forest preservation and management.

Preferred Qualifications

Typically requires an Associate’s Degree and 0-2 years of experience.— Hiring Agency Qualifications: Additionally, candidates must pass a walking fitness test and a pre-employment drug screening. Employees must possess or obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) within the first year of employment.

See MSPB Careers for information regarding this classifications

Employer State of Mississippi

Address 210 East Capitol Street
Suite 800
Jackson, Mississippi, 39201