Parks & Forest-Forester

Eau Claire County; Altoona (WI); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Eau Claire County in Wisconsin is seeking a Forestry Program Specialist to manage timber sale programs and forest resources for county lands. You will collaborate with DNR personnel, contractors, and the public to steward forest assets and recreational uses.

The role requires a forestry degree, field experience in timber sales, and the ability to oversee planting, inspections, and certification compliance. A valid driver's license and background check are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in forestry required.
• 1 year of forest management experience in timber sale establishment.
• 2 years of experience or training in timber types, diseases, silvicultural methods.
• Criminal background check required.
• Pre-employment physical exam required.
• Valid driver's license with acceptable driving record.
• Wisconsin pesticide license or ability to obtain within 1 year.

Responsibilities

• Maintain professional interactions with forestry personnel, contractors, the public and industry reps.
• Apply knowledge of timber sales from reconnaissance to sale layout and administration.
• Develop prospectus maps and administer field inspections for contract compliance.
• Plan forest roads/trails access and use best management practices for water quality.
• Establish cut lines with landowners and perform marketing contracts with contractors.
• Oversee planting operations and tree species selection; maintain planting records.
• Inspect plantations for mortality, pests and disease; determine replanting needs.
• Conduct cost analyses for long-range forest management planning and operations.
• Provide forest protection services and enforce ordinances; issue warnings or citations.
• Assist in pulpwood/log scaling and in Endangered Resources program activities.
• Ensure compliance with SFI and FSC forest certification.

Skills

Forest management

Stakeholder relationships

Compliance and reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in forestry

Commercial Pesticide License (or able to obtain within 1 year)

Job description

• Maintains professional working interaction with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources forestry personnel, logging contractors and their employees, the public, and wood product industry representatives regarding forestry and recreational uses of Parks and Forest resources.
• Applies knowledge of timber sales to establish and administer timber sales through reconnaissance, prescription development, and sale layout; determines volume through cruise design, timber marking, timber sale boundaries, and proper cutting methods; prepares timber sale documents as required by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; develops timber sale prospectus maps; administers field inspection of all sales for contract specification compliance; plans and recommends locations for development of forest roads and trails for access to timber sales; plans for and uses best management practices for water quality and other mandated regulations in establishing timber sales.
• Establishes effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders to maintain forest integrity; establishes agreed-upon cut lines between county and private land with landowners; performs marketing contracts with industry and private contractors.
• Utilizes expertise in forestry management, maintenance, and development for recreational and timber resource use; determines tree planting needs and methods; researches and designate tree planting areas; recommends proper tree species; directs and inspects planting operations and oversees contracted planting crews; maintains tree planting records to include mapping, acreage determination, and compartment computer reconnaissance update.
• Inspects plantations to determine mortality rates and causes exercising familiarity with invasive diseases and pests; determines needs for replanting.
• Applies cost analyses and calculations for long-range planning of forest management operations; plans, develops, and administers forestry cultural operations; designates project areas of thinning, release, and pruning of tree stands; maintains records to include acreages and costs.
• Provides forest protection services; monitors forest conditions; investigates and reports forest pest and disease problems; recommends and oversees necessary treatment; enforces Parks and Forest ordinances, evaluating circumstances of violations and issuing warnings or citations as appropriate.
• Assists in pulpwood and log scaling of harvested forest products.
• Implements the Endangered Resources program on the forest.
• Assures compliance for County Forest Certification through Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) organizations.
• Assists in the maintenance and inspection of various recreational trails in the county forest.
• Performs other related duties as required or assigned.

• Bachelor's degree in forestry.
• One (1) year of forest management experience involving timber sale establishment and administration, cultural prescriptions, and reforestation techniques.
• Two (2) years of experience or training giving knowledge of timber types and growth characteristics, disease and insect problems, and various silvicultural methods including timber stand improvement techniques.
• Appointment will be conditional upon successful completion of a criminal background check.
• Position will require a pre-employment physical exam.
• Must have valid driver’s license and an acceptable driving record.
• Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Commercial Pesticide License or ability to obtain license with one (1) year of hire and maintain thereafter during employment.

• Experience working in northern timber types.