Environmental Protection Forester 1 (35 Hour)

Eligibility Requirement: 

Incumbents sin 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*.

*Note - 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. 

Applicants not currently certified as a Forester must take this certification exam within six months of employment. Additional information may be found here or by calling 860-424-3630. 

Please note: 

All State employees shall follow the guidelines as listed in Executive Orders 13F (3a) and 13G (3a) .

In the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Division of Forestry this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in planning and coordinating forest resource management and protection activities primarily involving the preparation of comprehensive land management plans.
May be assigned to assist in the administration of the State Nursery Program and/or the Cooperative Forest management program.

Works independently for the State Lands Program coordinating with the State Lands Management Supervisor, Wildlife Habitat Program Supervisor and agency staff developing forest management plans that implement sustainable forestry practices including collecting, compiling, and analyzing forest data for estimating volume of wooded acres and recommending species and volume to be removed in order to improve State forest land resiliency and productivity, implement and plan habitat improvement projects on Wildlife Management Areas, writing reports and keeping woodlot records current in order to maintain and develop forest management plans and educating and informing interested groups and the public concerning sustainable forest management on Agency lands. The position also assesses forest health issues associated with potential discovery of damaging invasive insects and encroachment issues on State forests and Wildlife Management Areas and State Forests.

Prepares reports, writes correspondence, educational and informative materials; leads and performs boundary marking; leads and assists in fire prevention and control activities including the training and directing fire wardens and crews; may be required to assist other states or federal agencies on emergency assignments.

Performs miscellaneous administrative duties: uses personal computer (write reports, databases, GIS); responds (e.g. written & orally) to correspondence & inquiries; provides recommendations to the State Lands Management Supervisor, Wildlife Habitat Program Supervisor & staff on assessment of projects to improve efficiency. Administers timber sales contracts, ensuring contractor compliance with all terms, conditions, and payments schedules.

For a full list of duties related to this job classification, click here.

Considerable knowledge of 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 insects and diseases; some knowledge of forest fire prevention and control; interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; ability to read and interpret laws and regulations pertaining to forest lands and related resources; ability to develop short and long range forest management plans; some supervisory ability; ability to utilize computer software.

Six (6) 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 aboriculture 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.

The preferred candidate will possess: 

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 certifications 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 Operator Certificate for the use 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 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 injury or personal harm from on site field conditions and a moderate 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.