STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Environmental Protection Forester 2 (35 Hour)

Recruitment #230922-7616EE-001

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Introduction


Are you a forestry professional, looking to grow your career? If so, read below and apply today!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), has an exciting opportunity for a Partnership Coordinator (Environmental Protection Forester 2), with Connecticut's Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Program, housed in the Private and Municipal Lands Unit of the Forestry Division.
  

What we can offer you
  • The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule.
  • A Platinum Healthcare Plan, the nation’s best for state employees and dependents, according to a report by Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reform and article by Ellen Andrews, Ph.D., along with comprehensive benefit offerings.
  • State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service.  Click here for more information.
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings;
  • Paid time off - including 13 paid holidays per calendar year;
  • Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities; and
  • A healthy work-life balance for all employees! 
Position highlights
The Partnership Coordinator will oversee and coordinate technical assistance and outreach on behalf of CT DEEP's UCF program and will support other aspects of the UCF program as needed. Specifically, this role will help build capacity in Connecticut's 169 municipalities to grow and maintain healthy, resilient, and equitably distributed urban and community forests. This position will work statewide but will place particular focus on environmental justice communities and historically underrepresented communities to help them develop urban forestry programs and increase their access to statewide grant programs. 

Some of the outreach tasks you will be expected to perform in this role, include: 
  • Attend and present at local tree board/commission meetings.
  • Attend and present at local, regional, and national conferences.
  • Lead and organize virtual and in-person workshops.
  • Host and organize community visioning sessions in close collaboration with local organizations and community members.
  • Create and maintain contact lists for the UCF program and provide regular e-blasts and program updates to these contact lists. 
Examples of the technical assistance you will provide include helping communities:
  • Develop urban and community forestry-focused outreach campaigns.
  • Identify where and how to plant trees. 
  • Identify how to maintain and steward trees throughout their life cycle.
  • Develop tree ordinances.
  • Form urban and community forestry stakeholder groups.
  • Develop management plans, tree inventories and other tools that can be used to inform long-term urban forest management and planning.
  • Participate in national and statewide programs such as Tree City USA and Sustainable CT.
This position is also responsible for creating and maintaining internal and front-facing geospatial databases. These databases may include local and statewide tree inventories, tree canopy assessments, and stakeholder mapping. You will use these data to help the UCF program form program goals and track accomplishments.  You will also liaise with other non-profit and educational groups throughout the State (e.g., University of Connecticut, CT Urban Forest Council, Tree Warden’s Association, Sustainable CT, CT Forest and Parks Association, CT Tree Protective Association) and nationally (e.g. Arbor Day Foundation, US Forest Service) to connect stewardship groups with educational resources and facilitate collaborations between groups.       

This is a hybrid position based in Hartford, CT.

About us
At 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;
  • Protecting Connecticut's forest resources from the effects of fire, insects, disease, and misuse. 
  • Providing accurate and timely information about Connecticut's forest resources.
  • Certifying forest practitioners.
  • Managing the State Forests, in which exist many large blocks of unfragmented forest land.
  • Engaging municipalities and citizens in the work of urban forestry.
  • Providing guidance and technical support to private forestland owners.
The Forestry Division has several units of focus, each specializing in achieving these goals as relevant to their programs. These units include State Lands Management, Private & Municipal Lands, Forest Protection, Forest Planning, Forest Practices Act, and Utilization and Marketing.
              
  

Selection Plan

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 If not already a licensed practitioner, the Partnership Coordinator must take the certification exam on March 6, 2024. Exam pre-registration is required by February 6, 2024.

Before you apply:
  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
  • The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
  • All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
Important information for after you apply:
  • This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
  • Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
  • Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
Questions about this position should be directed to Mackenzie Robinson at mackenzie.robinson@ct.gov

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

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.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Will advance strategies and recommendations identified in the 2020 CT Forest Action Plan, GC3 Working and Natural Lands Forests Subgroup Report, and Policy on Resilient Forests for Connecticut’s Future (PRFCT Future) report. Specifically, the Partnership Coordinator will help the State to accomplish Strategy #3: Describe and Promote the Elements of a Successful Municipal Urban Forestry Program and Strategy #5: Embrace Diversity and Encourage Cooperation and Inclusion Throughout Urban Forestry, as stated in the CT Forest Action Plan. 
  • Will work independently and cooperatively to provide technical assistance and build capacity for Connecticut’s urban and community forest stakeholders.
  • Works independently and collaboratively to develop digital and printed publications, webinars, and in-person instruction on a variety of urban and community forest management technical subjects, including but not limited to the impacts of climate change and the role trees and forests play in climate change mitigation, environmental justice and community health benefits of urban trees, forest pests and diseases, and benefits of management interventions to improve resiliency in the face of climate change. 
  • Coordinates education, outreach, and communication strategies with the Division’s Private & Municipal Lands Unit and other Division Units as guided and necessary. 
  • Develops and conducts adult educational workshops, hybrid/online program content, and instruction for interested groups regarding various aspects of urban and community tree and forest management and community grant opportunities.  
  • Establishes, maintains, and liaises with key stakeholders, nonprofits, and educational groups.
  • Maintains a UCF contact list and uses this list to promote and share new and upcoming grant programs, conferences, and other urban forestry resources. 
  • Acts as a Department representative at technical and professional meetings.
  • Performs miscellaneous administrative duties: attends staff meetings and program partner meetings; develops and processes program surveys, manages databases, uses geographical information systems; responds (written & orally) to correspondence and inquiries; tracks project status and coordinates to ensure timely completion, provides recommendations to supervisor & staff to improve efficiency; reviews plans & documents prepared by others.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • 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; 
    • forest land tax classification laws; 
  • Skills
    • interpersonal skills; 
    • oral and written communication skills; 
  • Considerable ability to keep records and make reports; 
  • Ability to
    • develop short and long range forest management plans and programs; 
    • review and evaluate forest management plans; 
    • coordinate and oversee forest fire prevention and control; 
    • utilize computer software; 
    • lead.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

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

NOTE: 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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

  • 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 for a Bachelor's degree.
  • A Master's degree in forestry or forest management as defined may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience coordinating and communicating with stakeholders including municipal land managers, non-profit organizations, tree wardens, tree commissions, advocacy groups, and volunteer groups.
  • Experience conducting outreach in and leading educational events for environmental justice communities. 
  • Experience and coursework in silviculture.
  • Experience and coursework in urban forestry. 
  • Experience developing and delivering presentations.
  • Experience providing urban forestry technical assistance. 
  • Experience running technical analyses using Geographic Information System.
  • Experience with tree inventory data and software(s).
  • Experience working independently and as part of a team. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Incumbents in this class must be willing to accept assignment or transfer to any area of the state.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

  • 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.
  • A physical examination may be required.

WORKING CONDITIONS

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.

Conclusion

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.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.




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