Management Forester – Forester 2

State of Montana; Town of Montana (WI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Vacation

Health, Dental, Vision Coverage

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Retirement Plans

Job summary

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation seeks an experienced forest management professional to lead complex timber sale and trust land projects. You will plan, coordinate, and implement activities to maximize revenue while complying with MEPA and related regulations.

The role requires substantial fieldwork, strong analytical skills, and the ability to supervise timber cruise design, road systems, and habitat considerations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Forest Management or related resource management field.
• 3-4 years of progressively responsible professional experience in forest management.
• Knowledge of MEPA and related forest management policies and procedures.
• Ability to design and supervise forest management projects and timber sales.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate and evaluate activities on state trust lands to maximize net revenue.
• Serve as MEPA project leader for timber sales and related documents.
• Prepare sale package documents including MEPA, Timber Sale Contracts and related reports.
• Oversee forest improvement treatments, road design and timber cruising activities.
• Coordinate public hearings and engage with stakeholders on forest management plans.
• Assist with initial attack, prescribed fire and other duties as needed.

Skills

Critical thinking

Communication

Fieldwork

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Forest Management or related field

Tools

GIS analysis

Forest management software

Job description

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s mission is to help ensure that Montana’s land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations.

The DNRC believes employees are their most important asset. The DNRC empowers employees to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. Employees are provided with the training and tools necessary to achieve the mission. Both team effort and individual employee expertise are supported and sustained.

Core Values:

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Forestry and Trust Land Division recognizes that building a collaborative, professional, and inclusive work environment is critical to fulfilling our mission of managing, protecting, and promoting stewardship of Montana’s forests and lands for the benefit of current and future generations and our trust beneficiaries. We hold ourselves to these high standards as we are accountable to the people of Montana.

• We value and respect each other.
• We create collaborative work environments.
• We build and maintain strong relationships.
• We practice accountability.
• We celebrate our successes and take pride in our work

Work Unit Overview:

The mission of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) is to ensure that State and private lands and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations.

Position Summary:

These positions perform advanced professional forest management activities under the general supervision of the Unit Forest Management Supervisor. The incumbent independently plans, coordinates, and implements projects necessary to sell timber or related products from trust lands to provide income to the various trusts. These projects are complex and must be designed on a case-by-case basis to conform to numerous constraints and respond to multiple issues. Each project must be analyzed under Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) rules and will require the preparation of document(s) disclosing the adequate level of analysis for each project and may require preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement. This position would serve as the Project Leader for preparation of complex, large-volume forest product sales, timber permits, and other forest product sales.

Essential Functions (Major Duties and Responsibilities):

These job functions are the essential duties of the position and are not inclusive of all the duties that may be assigned to the incumbent.

Trust Land Management — 80% of time

Independently plan, coordinate and evaluate activities on state endowment trust lands and other state and federal lands to maximize net revenue, to provide for the sustainable use of the land and associated resources, and to ensure adherence to state and federal laws and regulations.

• Coordinate and perform inventory monitoring to identify and prioritize timber sales and maintain Trust Land databases by extracting reports, performing GIS analysis, and conducting fieldwork to verify and update records.
• Implement timber sales by serving as Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) project leader (documentation, public comment, assessment) and negotiating and administering contracts.
• Analyze data to develop permits, resource protection plans, resource improvement projects, or implement compliance actions.
• Establish project boundaries, negotiate access easements.
• Design specifications for aerial and/or ground-based logging systems.
• Design /maintain road systems, stream crossings and bridges or reconstruction specifications for state land and or/adjacent ownership.
• Supervise implementation of timber-volume cruise designs and marking with seasonal forestry technicians and supervise and participate in other sale layout activities.
• Implement the habitat conservation plan and ensure compliance with silvicultural prescriptions.
• Inventory and monitor land resources to assess conditions, trends and concerns, and complete statistical analyses, technical research, and financial analyses to determine the highest returns.
• Prepare technical written reports concerning the impact of projects and prepare all sale-package documents for Land Office and Forest Management Bureau review and distribution. These include the Silvicultural Prescription, MEPA documents, Timber Sale Contract, Prospectus, Notice of Sale, Summary of Actions and other summaries of timber values, cruise documentation, forest improvement appraisal, road and logging costs, and specifications.
• Review and evaluate plans and proposals for technical accuracy and make recommendations to management on the feasibility of proposals covering their area of expertise.
• Work within assigned allocation of budget and capital while ensuring harvest goals are met.
• Respond to inquiries or requests for technical assistance regarding the development, interpretation or implementation of rules, regulations and department programs.
• Coordinate and participate in public hearings, monitor input from industry, affected groups and the public, obtain data and recommend strategies or actions.
• Mitigate disputes with private landowners, contractors or general public, escalating when needed.
• Determine and oversee forest improvement treatments on assigned parcels including thinning, timber stand improvement hazard and fuels reduction, weed spraying, road maintenance needs and planting after timber sales or as needed.
• Perform activities in wildland-fire management that relate to the responsibilities of the Unit; coordinate non-complex burns with county and burn plans.

Other Duties – 20% of time

This position performs a variety of other duties in support of ongoing Division and Department operations including assisting with initial attack and other fire suppression, prescribed fire, and other non-trust Forestry Program as needed.

Work Environment:

The position often works independently and requires critical thinking skills as they work in remote work conditions and may encounter various hazards throughout a typical workday including wildlife, road conditions, hazardous terrain and encounters with the public in various high-tension settings that may require de‑escalation and conflict resolution. The position requires working alone in the field, including winter conditions (using tire chains) and navigating with a map and compass.

Minimum Physical Requirements:

• Ability to pass an arduous pack test as well as be capable of vigorous physical activity in all types of weather.
• The position requires working alone in the field, including winter conditions (using tire chains) and navigating with a map and compass.

APPLICATION MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION ARE:

• Online State of Montana application
• Resume
• Cover Letter

HELPFUL HINT

You must check the “relevant document” box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application.

Benefits:

• Paid Vacation, Sick Leave and Holidays
• Health, Dental, Prescription, and Vision Coverage
• Retirement Plans
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) — Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF. Look here, https://studentaid.gov/pslf/ to learn more and see if you may qualify!

SPECIAL INFORMATION:

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. A valid driver’s license is required with less than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months.

ELIGIBILITY TO WORK:

In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the person selected must produce within three days of hire documents that show authorization to work in the United States. Examples of such documentation include a birth certificate or Social Security card along with a driver’s license or other picture I.D., or a U.S. passport, or a “green card”. Effective May 4, 2026, this agency is participating in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After accepting a job offer and completing Form I‑9, your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration for verification.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Forest Management or a related resource management field.
• 3-4 years of progressively responsible job-related professional experience in forest management.

Knowledge of:

• Forest management principles and practices.
• Equipment and techniques used in forest management projects and operations.
• Forest practices and hazard reduction laws, Administrative Rules, standards, guidelines, policies and procedures related to forest management operations and activities.
• The Montana Environmental Policy Act and related laws and rules governing natural resource management.
• Knowledge of the terminology, principles, methods and approaches used in silviculture, ecology, hydrology, wildlife and fisheries biology.
• Specific knowledge of plant taxonomy, habitat typing, timber cruising, log scaling, harvesting systems, data collection and sampling techniques.
• Road design and layout.
• Fire behavior, fire suppression techniques, land surveying and timber appraisal procedures.
• DNRC and State Personnel policies, procedures, precedents, organizational structures, employment law conflict resolution and program requirements.

Skill in:

• The use and operation of tools, equipment and vehicles used in wildland fire control, forest management activities and field office operations.
• Operation of 4-wheel drive vehicles, ATVs/UTVs.
• Use of computer hardware and software related to forest management business operations (word processing, spreadsheets, internet, e-mail and smart devices) and specialized resource management software.

Ability to:

• Pass an arduous pack test as well as be capable of vigorous physical activity in all types of weather.
• Navigate using a map and compass.
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing to individuals, groups and representatives from other organizations.
• Coordinate and direct multiple resources to complete work objectives, work on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Work well with others and maintain a positive working environment.
• Critical thinking skills as duties can be in remote work conditions and may encounter various hazards throughout a typical workday including wildlife, road conditions, hazardous terrain and encounters with the public in various high-tension settings that may require de‑escalation and conflict resolution.