Environmental Protection Forester 2 (35 Hour)

   

At the State of  Connecticut, Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP), we are dedicated to conserving, improving and protecting our natural resources and the environment- and increasing the availability of cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy.  The mission of the Bureau of Natural Resources is to conserve and enhance Connecticut’s fish, wildlife and forest resources and to enhance opportunities for public use and appreciation. The Bureau of Natural Resources is made up of three Divisions (Fisheries, Forestry and Wildlife) and a central office.  

DEEP's Forestry Division encourages the long term practice of responsible and sustainable forest management. We accomplish this by;

1. Protecting Connecticut's forest resources from the effects of fire, insects, disease, and misuse. 
2. Providing accurate and timely information about Connecticut's forest resources.
3. Certifying forest practitioners.
4. Managing the State Forests, in which exist many large blocks of unfragmented forest land.
5. Engaging municipalities and citizens in the work of urban forestry.
6. Providing guidance to private forestland owners.

With approximately 70% of forest land in Connecticut owned by private landowners, Service Forestry seeks to assist these woodland owners to take an active interest in what occurs in their forest, and implement a program of forest management. Collectively private woodland owners have an enormous influence over the quality and extent of our forests.

The Forestry Division is currently seeking to hire an EP Forester 2 within the Cooperative Forest Management Program. In this role, you will  provide technical forestry assistance to private and municipal woodland owners.

This position is based out of Harwinton, CT. This position covers the western one-third of Connecticut and is one of three service forestry positions covering the entire state.

This position is 35 hours per week, Mon through Fri. Some evening and weekends may be required.

Applicants must include a resume within the "Resume Tab" of their application.

Questions regarding this position should be directed to the hiring agency's human resources office:  DEEP.HumanResources@ct.gov or (860) 424-3006. 

This position is non-examined. Open to the public.

Eligibility Requirement - SPECIAL Notice: Incumbents in this class will be required to possess and retain certification as a Forester in accordance with Section 23-65h of the Connecticut General Statutes unless already certified by another reciprocating state. Applicants not currently certified as a Forester must take the certification exam on October 7, 2020. Exam pre-registration is required by September 2, 2020.

Note – Reciprocity: Forester certification or licensure from another state under a law which provides substantially similar qualifications for certification and which grants similar privileges of certification without examination to residents of Connecticut certified under the provisions of Connecticut General Statute 23-65h.

In the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Division of Forestry this class is accountable for acting as a working lead and/or for performing the most complex tasks in forest resource management and protection activities.

When used as a working lead: As assigned by a supervisor: may distribute, prioritize, oversee and review office unit work; may provide staff training and assistance; may conduct or assist in conducting performance evaluations; may act as liaison with operating units, agencies, consultant staffs and other outside officials regarding unit office policies and standards; performs related duties as required.

Provides forest resource management activities on assigned areas of State owned lands; leads the work of foresters and other forest workers including review of completed land management and cutting plans; writes and implements land management and cutting plans; provides professional services to private land owners, primary processors of forest products and towns regarding most effective use of forest land and products; promotes use of lands with consideration to conservation and urban forest resource management principles; writes and reviews reports, environmental impact statements, correspondence, bids and contract specifications as required; maintains records; develops and implements forest management and related programs; may be assigned to direct and coordinate special projects related to forestry; coordinates or directs fire fighting, protection and control activities when required; coordinates and may oversee the work of logging and construction contractors; speaks before interested groups and may plan and conduct workshops, programs, informational meetings or tours; may develop educational and informational materials for public or private groups; performs related duties as required.

This specific position:

• Works independently providing technical assistance to private and municipal woodland owners for the Division of Forestry;
• Develops and implements USDA Forest Stewardship, Urban and Community Forestry plans. Prepares and inputs grant narrative accomplishments;
• Coordinates and conducts educational workshops for interested groups regarding various aspects of forest management, current-use woodland taxation, forest insects and disease, and other natural resource issues;
• Acts as a Department representative at technical and professional meetings;
• Provides statewide coverage to the USDA Forest Stewardship Program through the collection and reporting of forest management plans written to USDA Forest Stewardship Plan writing standards in SMART, the USDA national reporting database;
• Assists managing USDA Forest Legacy program including public outreach, technical assistance, and annual easement monitoring;
• May assist Land Acquisition Division and Forest Planner with natural resource assessments and resolution of easement violations;
• May lead and assist in fire prevention and control activities including the training and direction of fire wardens and crews; may be required to assist other states or federal agencies on emergency assignments; performs related duties as required;
• Performs miscellaneous administrative duties: uses personal computer (write reports, databases, GIS);
• Responds (e.g., written & orally) to correspondence & inquiries;
• Provides recommendations to supervisor & staff on assessment of programs to improve efficiency; reviews plans & documents prepared by others;
• Applicants must have and maintain the agility, endurance and physical ability to perform the required work. A physical examination may be required prior to and/or during employment in this class;
• Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some risk of injury or personal harm from on-site field conditions and a moderate degree of discomfort from year round weather conditions;
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of silviculture and forest resource management, silvics, forest mensuration, aerial photogrammetry, forest products marketing and utilization, forest surveys and type-mapping, forest recreation, forest diseases and insects; knowledge of laws and regulations pertaining to forest lands, arboriculture, and related resources; knowledge of forest land tax classification laws; interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; ability to develop short and long range forest management plans and programs; considerable ability to keep records and make reports; ability to review and evaluate forest management plans; ability to coordinate and oversee forest fire prevention and control; ability to utilize computer software; some lead ability.

Seven (7) years of experience performing technical analysis in forest management.

Forest management is defined as professional level forestry work requiring a knowledge of such scientific fields as dendrology, silvics and silviculture, engineering, forest economics, forest influences, and forest pathology and entomology and the application of their principles to the production of goods and services.

1. College training in forestry, forest management as defined or arboriculture may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years.
2. A Master's degree in forestry or forest management as defined may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge of principles and practices silvics, silviculture, forest mensuration, private forestland management, forest products marketing and the ability to develop and implement short and long term forest management plans.
• Ability to interpret laws pertaining to forest lands including forest land tax classification laws
• Considerable oral and written communication skills including adult education experience.
• Ability to utilize computer software, forestry related phone apps, geographic information systems and electronic field data collection.

1. Incumbents in this class must be willing to accept assignment or transfer to any area of the State.
2. Incumbents in this class may be required by the appointing authority to possess and retain appropriate current licenses, permits and/or certification including a standard first aid certificate. Incumbents may be required to perform emergency first aid as needed.
3. Incumbents in this class must obtain a Commercial Supervisory Certificate for the application of pesticides issued by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection within one (1) year of appointment.
4. Incumbents in this class will be required by the appointing authority to possess and retain certification as a Forester in accordance with Section 23-65h of the Connecticut General Statutes.
5. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
6. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.

1. Incumbents in this class must have and maintain adequate physical strength, stamina, physical agility, and visual and auditory acuity, and must maintain such physical fitness as to be able to perform the duties.
2. A physical examination may be required .

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some risk of personal injury or physical harm from on site, field conditions and to some degree of discomfort from year-round weather conditions.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.