Forester 2/3 (PCN 10-9894)

Job Description

The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, is recruiting for a Forester 2/3 in Fairbanks.

This position is open to Alaska Residents only. Please check our residency definition to determine if you qualify.

What You Will Be Doing: The Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection’s (DOF) Northern Region is recruiting a Forester 2/3 - Resource Forester to support the Forestry Branch as assigned by the Northern Region Forester and Deputy Director. As a new position, this is an opportunity for the right individual to build on their professional forestry experience while helping our communities to develop the Region’s timber markets. This position serves as a regional resource, ensuring FRPA compliance and reporting, and working with the DOF’s Area offices in Fairbanks, Delta Junction, Tok, and Glenallen.

Mission and Values/Culture: The mission of the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection is to develop, conserve, and enhance Alaska's forests to provide a sustainable supply of forest resources for Alaskans. This position serves Alaskans through responsible forest management and ensuring that the Alaska Forest Resources & Practices Act (FRPA) is implemented and enforced. FRPA governs how timber harvesting, reforestation, and timber access occur on State, private, and municipal lands.

Benefits of Joining Our Team: This is a great opportunity to advance your career in forest management in a dynamic, highly productive workplace while learning from agency professionals and industry leaders. You will take pride in your work, knowing that meeting the local demand for timber and firewood leads to more lucrative timber jobs and benefits the local economy. You will fill a critical role on our team in the Northern Region and will have opportunities to develop as a leader.

The Working Environment You Can Expect: This position requires travel by small plane, helicopter, and boat to remote locations in Interior Alaska. You must be able to work in adverse weather conditions. Fieldwork conditions are often arduous. Hazards that may be encountered include rugged terrain, aviation, and wildlife. Work may be performed in inclement weather (cold/rain/snow). The incumbent may be available for fire assignments and must be available to travel away from the duty location for extended periods. Must be able and willing to fly in small fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and small boats as necessary. The position may require travel both in and out of state for fire suppression assignments; may be on stand-by or recall status during the fire season; may be assigned work in and out of the area that requires absence from the duty station for 14 to 21 days; and may handle hazardous materials.

We are looking for a candidate who possesses the following position-specific competencies.

• Forest Management: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of silviculture and forest ecology, forest use, management, harvesting, conducting inventories, regeneration, sustainability, and conservation; and the role of disturbances in timberland resources.
• Computer Skills: Uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.
• Physical Strength and Agility: Ability to bend, lift, climb, stand, and walk for long periods; ability to perform moderately heavy labor.
• Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for measurable, high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for own actions and decisions. Complies with established control systems and rules.
• Standards: Knowledge of standards that are either compliant with or derived from established standards or guidelines.

Click here to learn more about working for the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection.

Minimum Qualifications

Forester 2 – starting salary: $ 2,436.85 bi-weekly Bachelor's degree from an accredited college in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field that includes a minimum of 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in forestry or closely related curricula. And Either One year of professional entry-level forestry experience. The required experience is met by service as Forester 1 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent with another employer. Or Three years of journey-level technical experience in fire or forest resources management. This experience includes work such as Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 3, Wildland Forestry Technician 2, or Wildland Fire Dispatcher 2 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent with another employer.

Substitutions: A master's degree from an accredited college in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field that includes at least 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in forestry or closely related curricula will substitute for the entry-level experience.

Four years in any combination of post-secondary education from an accredited college that includes a minimum of 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field AND journey-level experience in the technical aspects of forest management and practices, such as fire prevention, suppression, timber sales, reforestation or inventory may substitute for the required bachelor's degree. (2.67 semester or 4 quarter hours of post-secondary education equals one month of experience). The experience includes work such as Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 3, Wildland Forestry Technician 2, or Wildland Fire Dispatcher 2 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent with another employer.

Certification from an accredited vocational-technical school in forestry, natural resource management, or a closely related field, plus three years of journey-level experience in the technical aspects of forest management and practices such as fire prevention, suppression, timber sales, reforestation, or inventory, may substitute for the required bachelor's degree. This experience includes work such as Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 3, Wildland Forestry Technician 2, Wildland Fire Dispatcher 2 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.

Certification via NWCG (National Wildfire Coordinating Group) Incident Qualification Card (AKA 'red card') within the preceding three (3) years in any of the following will substitute for the required education:

• Any Strike Team Leader Positions (STCR, STEQ, STEN),
• Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4),
• Any Unit Leader Position (TIME, PROC, COMP, GSUL, SPUL, PETL, INVL),
• Any Manager Position (EQPM, HMGB, SENG, HEB2, ATBM), or
• Aviation Position (ASGS, ATGS)

For NWCG Incident Qualification Card certification information, see: National Incident Management System (NIMS): Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide (PMS 310-1) or the NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations (PMS 508).

Forester 3 – starting salary $2807.25 bi weekly Bachelor's degree from an accredited college in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field that includes a minimum of 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in forestry or closely related curricula. And One year of professional journey-level experience in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field. The required experience includes work such as Forester 2, Fire Management Officer, State Logistics Center Coordinator, or Natural Resource Specialist 2 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent with another employer.

Substitutions: Four years in any combination of post-secondary education from an accredited college that includes a minimum of 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field AND journey-level experience in the technical aspects of forest management and practices, such as fire prevention, suppression, timber sales, reforestation, or inventory may substitute for the required bachelor's degree. (2.67 semester or 4 quarter hours of post-secondary education are equal to one month of experience). The experience includes work such as Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 3, Wildland Forestry Technician 2, or Wildland Fire Dispatcher 2 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent with another employer.

Certification from an accredited vocational-technical school in forestry, natural resource management, or a closely related field, plus three years of journey-level experience in the technical aspects of forest management and practices such as fire prevention, suppression, timber sales, reforestation, or inventory, may substitute for the required bachelor's degree. The experience includes work such as Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 3, Wildland Forestry Technician 2, or Wildland Fire Dispatcher 2 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent with another employer.

Certification via NWCG (National Wildfire Coordinating Group) Incident Qualification Card (AKA 'red card') within the preceding three (3) years in any of the following will substitute for the required education:

• Expanded Dispatcher Coordinator (CORD),
• Fire Behavioral Analyst (FBAN),
• Division/Group Supervisor (DIVS),
• Safety Officer Type 3 (SOF3),
• Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3),
• Planning Section Chief Type 3 (PSC3),
• Operations Section Chief Type 3 (OSC3),
• Logistics Section Chief Type 3 (LSC3), or
• Expanded Dispatch Supervisor (EDSP)

For NWCG Incident Qualification Card certification information, see: National Incident Management System (NIMS): Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide (PMS 310-1).

Special Note (applicable to all levels):

• Closely related curricula and work experience include geosciences, geography, natural resources, environmental sciences, soils, hydrology, wildlife habitat management, forest engineering, remote sensing, vegetation classification, natural resource biometrics, and wildland fire control.

• One year of work experience equals 12 months of seasonal work.

• Positions may require travel both in and out-of-state for fire suppression assignments; may be on stand-by or recall status during the fire season; may be assigned work in and out of the area that requires the absence from the duty station for 14 to 21 days; may fly in small fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters and handle hazardous materials.

• Most positions require "Red Card" qualification under the Incident Command System.

• Some positions may require a commercial driver's license with appropriate endorsements.

Additional Required Information

** Please read the information below carefully. **

If invited to interview, please bring the following materials. Failure to do so may result in loss of consideration. Required documents include:

• Valid State of Alaska driver's license.

• Contact information for three professional references, at least one of which is a former supervisor.

• Educational transcripts; unofficial is acceptable.

SPECIAL NOTICES

• Frequent travel, in inclement weather, via ATV, boat, and small aircraft is required.
• NWCG Red Card with fitness test, preferred.

Application Notice You can ONLY apply for this position through the Workplace Alaska website or by submitting a paper application. Instructions for applying are available on the Workplace Alaska How to Apply webpage. We must receive your application by 5:00 p.m. Alaska Standard Time on the closing date.

Supplemental Questions For your application to be evaluated, you must answer the Supplemental Questions. The State of Alaska (SOA) uses four proficiency levels to measure and describe an applicant’s competence in applying specific behaviors, knowledge, skills, and abilities to accomplish a specific task. The four proficiency levels are Mastery, Fluency, Literacy, and Discovery. You must rate your proficiency level for each competency listed in the supplemental questions.

Education If post-secondary education is required to meet the minimum qualifications, complete the Education section of the application. If you have not yet obtained a degree, please indicate the units you have completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials if used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education Education completed at foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the minimum qualifications listed above. If using this education to meet minimum qualification requirements, you must demonstrate that the credentials have been submitted to a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in standard U.S. education programs. Alternatively, an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution must report that the other institution's transcript is given full value or that full value is recognized in relevant subject areas aligned with the post-secondary institution's curricula. You must provide this evidence when applying.

Work Experience If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer’s name, job title, employment dates, and whether full or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine whether the responses are supported and whether the minimum qualifications are met. If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the recruitment interview and selection phase.

Note: Attaching a resume does not substitute for completing the application in full. Noting "see resume" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination that your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.

Bargaining Unit If you are a current state employee, please indicate the union to which you belong at the time of application. Do not complete this question if you are not a current state employee.

Driver’s License Requirement Applicants must possess a valid driver's license. Proof of licensure will be required prior to reporting to duty.

Firearms This position requires the use or possession of a firearm or ammunition. In accordance with the federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 (PL 104-208), if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you may not hold this position.

A "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" is an offense that is (1) a misdemeanor under Federal or state law and (2) has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.

If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, do NOT apply for this position.

Please ensure your application (through work history, training, education, licenses, certifications, etc.) supports/demonstrates that you possess the minimum required competencies for the job class.

EEO STATEMENT The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities who require accommodation, auxiliary aids or services, or alternative communication formats should call 1-800-587-0430 or (907) 465-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.

Contact Information

If you choose to be contacted by email, please ensure that your email address is correct on your application and that your spam filter will permit emails from the governmentjobs.com domain.

Workplace Alaska Application Questions & Assistance Please direct questions about application submission or system errors to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll-free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are in the Juneau area. You may also email requests for information to [email protected].

For password assistance, please visit the password reset page.

For specific information about this position, please get in touch with the hiring manager at the following:

Kevin Meany Forester 5 Phone: 907-451-2602 Email: [email protected]