State of Maryland

A Forester Licensed is the full performance level of work in the field of professional forest management and protection.  Employees in this classification administer and manage State forests, parks and other State-owned lands within assigned projects.  The work of this classification involves urban and community forestry, private and State Forest and Parks land management, forest wildlife habitat management, forest recreation, and forest protection.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other position but provide technical advice and guidance to lower-level Foresters and oversee the work of seasonal workers and laborers.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from the Forester Supervisor or Forestry Manager.  The work requires 24 hours emergency fire control and fire control planning.  Employees in this classification spend a considerable amount of time out-of-doors under all types of climatic conditions.  Employees in this classification may travel to any area of the State and work overtime to accomplish priority tasks or seasonal responsibilities.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Forester Licensed is differentiated from the Forester in that the Forester Licensed performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision and must obtain a Forester’s license before the end of probation or during the first year of employment for promotional employees while the Forester works under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the duty being performed.  The Forester Licensed is differentiated from the Forester Supervisor in that the Forester Supervisor supervises lower-level Foresters.

Performs forest resource management planning, including data collection, site survey, mapping, selection, preparation, species selection and planning methods;

Prepares timber sales agreements;

Selects and appraises timber for harvest in accordance with recognized forest management standards;

Provides advice on protection and care of shade trees to property owners;

Provides assistance to local land use planning agencies;

Prepares and presents programs on forest conservation to public and private interest groups;

Tabulates forest management data and makes reports from which stand yield tables may be completed;

Assists in other programs, such as timber marketing and forest protection;

Prepares technical reports and correspondence;

Provides technical advice and guidance to lower-level Foresters and oversees the work of seasonal workers and laborers;

Prepares State and federal cost-share and assistance reports;

Provides advice on best management practices for the protection of trees and forest resources;

May serve as secretary to county forest conservancy district boards;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of forestry management and conservation techniques;

Knowledge of the sciences of botany, silvics, forest measurement, dendrology, forest entomology and pathology, arboriculture, ecology, soils, timber estimating and grading, and forest finance;

Knowledge of the practices of silviculture and methods of forest protection;

Skill in using equipment such as clinometers, wedge prisms, data recorders and global positioning system units;

Skill in preparing technical reports;

Ability to use Geographical Information Systems to conduct analyses and develop maps for forestry applications;

Ability to gather and analyze facts through research and investigation and to exercise sound judgment in drawing conclusions and making recommendations;

Ability to give technical advice and guidance to lower-level Foresters and to instruct, direct and train seasonal workers and others, either individually or in groups;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, program staff, property owners and the general public;

Ability to communicate effectively.

Education: A Bachelor of Science degree in forestry from a school of forestry accredited by the Society of American Foresters.

Experience: Two years of forestry experience involving forest or park management, wildlife biology, forest recreation planning, forest engineering, urban and community forestry, timber harvest and marketing, forest planning or forest protection.

Notes:

1. Applicants may substitute the possession of a Master of Science degree approved by the State Board of Foresters for one year of the required experience.

2. The education and experience requirements are pursuant to the Business Occupations and Professions Article, Sections 7-206 and 7-304 of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in the natural resources management and biological sciences classifications or natural resources management and biological sciences specialty codes in the forestry field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

1. Pursuant to the Business Occupations and Professions Article, Section 7-304 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, employees with two or more years of experience as described above shall qualify for a license issued by the State Board of Foresters. Persons appointed to this classification must obtain this license before the end of their probationary period, or during the first year of employment for promotional employees.

2. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

1. Candidates appointed to positions in this classification will be subject to assignment in any county of the State. Upon permanent appointment, the employee will be required to reside in the county or region to which they are assigned.

2. Employees in this classification are subject to call-in and, therefore, are required to provide the agency with a telephone number where they can be reached.

3. Employees in this classification will be required to obtain specific levels of fire suppression training as mandated by agency policies.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G- Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.