STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Forest Protection Program Supervisor

Environmental Protection Supervising Forester (35 Hour)

Recruitment #240223-2870EE-001

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Introduction


Are you an experienced forestry professional with a desire to work in fire prevention and control? If so, read below and apply today!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), has an exciting opportunity for a Fire Protection Program Supervisor with the Division of Forestry. 

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
As the Forest Protection Program Supervisor, you will oversee our forest Fire Prevention and Control program and training for the State. 

The Forest Protection Program is within the Division of Forestry. Forest Protection Program staff maintain an active forest fire prevention program and a specially trained force of firefighting personnel to combat fires that burn an average of 500 acres of woodland per year in Connecticut. The Program Supervisor oversees Fire Control Officers who train and mobilize crews and individuals to assist the US Forest Service in controlling large fires across the nation. Fire Departments depend on Program staff for wildland fire training, equipment, assistance, and expertise. 

This position has statewide personnel supervisory responsibilities with an office location based in Hartford. Part-time telework is possible. This position is 35 hours with typical hours from 8am-4pm, Monday through Friday. Occasional evenings and weekends may be necessary. 

About us
Our Mission at DEEP's Forestry Division is to advance the health, use, conservation, and appreciation of Connecticut's forest resource.

We are a part of the Bureau of Natural Resources within the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). The Bureau is charged with managing the State’s natural resources (particularly fish, wildlife, and forests) through a program of research, management, public education, and regulation. The Forestry Division is comprised of several important programs that work together to conserve and manage forests.

Connecticut's state foresters and their partners protect our forest resources by:

  • Encouraging private land owners to practice responsible long-term forest management (private landowners own 73% of Connecticut's forest, with more than two-thirds of that owned by families or individuals),
  • 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, and
  • Promoting the local forest industry.
The Connecticut DEEP is charged with conserving, improving and protecting the natural resources and the environment of the state of Connecticut as well as making cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy available for the people and businesses of the state.
              
  

Selection Plan

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 this class is accountable for supervising, planning and implementing programs related to forestry.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Schedules assigns, oversees and reviews work of staff; 
  • Provides staff training and assistance; 
  • Conducts performance evaluations; 
  • Determines priorities and plans work; 
  • Administers federal, state and private grants;
  • Establishes and maintains procedures; 
  • Develops or makes recommendations on development of policies and standards; 
  • Acts as liaison with other operating units, agencies and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures; 
  • Prepares reports and correspondence; 
  • Directs, supervises and coordinates compiling and analysis of statistics and data; 
  • Analyzes data and prepares project and other reports; 
  • Reviews fisheries, forestry, wildlife plans to ensure consistency with program objectives; 
  • Acts as a departmental representative at technical and professional meetings; 
  • Advises management on pertinent matters; 
  • Assists in preparation of financial reports, budgets and federal grant requests; 
  • May take an active role in fire control program; 
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge of
    • principles and practices of silviculture, forest management, mensuration, forest products utilization and marketing, forest fire control, forest surveying and type mapping, forest resource protection from fire, insects and disease; 
    • relevant agency policies and procedures; 
    • relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
  • Knowledge of herbicides and pesticides; 
  • Considerable
    • interpersonal skills; 
    • oral and written communication skills; 
  • Considerable ability to
    • formulate short and long-range management plans; 
    • write technical reports; 
  • Ability to utilize computer software; 
  • Supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Eight (8) years of experience in a field appropriate to forestry.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

  • College training in a field appropriate to forestry 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 a field appropriate to forestry may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

NOTE: Experience requiring knowledge of scientific fields such 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 is interpreted as appropriate.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience in application of forest protection state agency policies and procedures and forest protection state and federal laws, statutes, and regulations 
  • Experience in application of principles and practices of forest fire control, forest resource protection from fire, insects and disease, silviculture, forest management, prescribed fire for vegetation and wildlife habitat improvement
  • Experience with National Fire Danger Rating System, fuels, fire behavior, and how the National Fire Danger Rating System is affected by changes in fire weather. 
  • Experience with fire management planning and its application. 
  • Experience with fire organizations under an organized incident command system, including initial attack and extended attack as defined by the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC).  
  • Experience with fire cause investigation, fire law enforcement, evidence preservation, interviewing techniques, and court presentation.  
  • Experience using oral and written communication to supervise, train, direct and evaluate employees’ on how to train and direct personnel in fire suppression and firefighting techniques. 
  • Experience writing technical reports. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
  • 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 unless already certified by another reciprocating state. Applicants not currently certified as a licensed practitioner at the Forester level must take the certification exam on October 9, 2024. Exam pre-registration is required by September 4, 2024.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some danger of injury or physical harm from on-site environments and to a moderate degree of discomfort from exposure to 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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