Forestry Technician II - County Ranger

Ncagr; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 39,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

The North Carolina Forest Service is seeking a Forestry Technician II (S) in Jackson County, NC for a full-time role to support wildfire suppression planning, disaster response, and forest health initiatives. The position requires an associate degree in forest management and related experience, with strong communication and landowner relations skills.

Work hours are 8–5, Monday to Friday, with extended readiness during fire danger periods and occasional evenings, weekends, and overnight travel.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in forest management or environmental/natural science required.
• Experience in forestry services or related field preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills required.

Responsibilities

• Promote protection of the State’s natural resources through wildfire suppression planning.
• Respond in emergencies such as wildland fires and natural disasters as an initial attack incident commander or in ICS positions.
• Assist landowners with forestry services such as reforestation, forest health, or prescribed burning.

Skills

Forest management

Wildfire suppression

Landowner relations

Communication

Task prioritization

Teamwork

Education

Associate degree in forest management or environmental/natural science

Job description

## Forestry Technician II - County RangerApply: Jackson County, NC: Full time: Posted 5 Days Ago: End Date: October 6, 2026 (9 days left to apply): JR-124370**Agency**Dept of Agriculture , Consumer Services**Division**North Carolina Forest Service**Job Classification Title**Forestry Technician II (S)**Position Number**60032019**Grade**NC08**About Us**The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services provides services that promote and improve agriculture, agribusiness, and forests; protect consumers and businesses; and conserve farmland and natural resources for the prosperity of all North Carolinians. The Department employs approximately 2,000 employees.**Description of Work**\\*\\*\\* This is a readvertisement. All previous applicants MUST reapply to be considered. \\*\\*\\* Please note: Job postings close at 11:59:59 p.m. the night before the listed Posting End Date above. “If there are no qualified candidates remaining in the applicant pool who meet the minimum education and experience or knowledge, skills and abilities required for the position, then an applicant who does not meet the minimum requirements may be considered for hire as a trainee. Salary for a trainee may be set lower than the classification salary range and recruitment range that is listed in the posting. The salary is adjusted as the trainee obtains the additional education and experience to fully meet the position qualifications as outlined in the classification specification.” The North Carolina Forest Service is designated as an emergency response Division and is a team of professionals who provide forest protection, resource management, and environmental education to the residents and landowners of North Carolina through a variety of programs. The NC Forest Service provides services to the 100 counties in North Carolina. The County Ranger is the lead for NCFS services provided in the assigned work area. Position requires: • Promote the protection of the State’s natural resources through development of wildfire suppression planning • Respond in times of emergency such as wildland fires and natural disasters as an initial attack incident commander and/or in other ICS positions • Service landowner requests for forestry assistance, which may be reforestation, forest health, prescribed burning, etc. • Provide and promote forestry education through interaction with forestry partners, schools, civic groups, and school organizations such as Tree Farm, National Wild Turkey Federation, FFA, and 4-H • Assist the District Forester with development, management, and accountability of budget for the work unit Work hours are typically 8-5 M-F. Extended times of readiness will involve evening, holiday, and/or weekend work. Must be available after working hours during fire danger periods and times of emergency response. Overnight travel will be required. Residency requirements discussed at time of interview. Duty Station Location: 131 Glenn Cabe Road, Sylva, NC 28779 This position requires the successful completion of employer-provided Ranger Training.**Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences****Recruitment Range: $39,244 - $68,679*** Knowledge of forest management or wildfire suppression* Experience in dealing with non-industrial private landowners* Excellent written and verbal communication skills* Ability to organize and prioritize tasks to accomplish goals* Must be self-motivated, a team player, and able to remain calm under stressClick Here to Learn more about State Employee Benefits.**Any employment offer may be less than the maximum of the range due to salary equity with similarly situated employees or the selected candidate's related education and experience.** Please follow the instructions to apply online. **It is important that your application includes all your relevant education and experience. Text or attached resumes ARE NOT accepted as a substitution for a completed application.**Applicants seeking veteran's/National Guard preference should submit a copy of their Form DD-214, NGB 23A (RPAS), DD256 or NGB 22. All Law Enforcement positions, aviation safety-sensitive positions, and positions requiring a Pilot's License or a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) shall be subject to pre-employment drug testing. All positions requiring a Commercial Driver's License shall also be subject to pre-employment DMV physicals. Selected applicants must obtain a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) medical certificate prior to employment. If a CDL is listed as a preference and the selected applicant has a CDL at the time of hire, then the CDL will become a requirement for the position. \\* Note: When required, you must answer the question(s) for this position, or your application will be considered incomplete. \\* Questions regarding this posting? Contact 919-707-3201. **Minimum Education and Experience**Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details. Associate’s degree in forest management or an environmental or natural science curriculum from an appropriately accredited institution and three years of related experience in providing forestry services; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.**Necessary Special Qualification:** Possession of a valid North Carolina driver’s license required within 90 days of hire.