Forestry Specialist Intermediate—Timber Program Assistant

The DNR is looking to hire one Natural Resources Forestry Specialist Intermediate position, located in Cloquet, MN. 

The Forestry Specialist Intermediate position exists to perform forest resource management work by administering one or two forestry sub-programs at the Area administrative level under limited supervision. The primary sub-program assignment for this position is the Cloquet Area Timber Sales subprogram, where the position will assist with the planning, establishment, and administration of the Area's annual timber sale program as a member of the Area timber team. The Forestry Specialist Intermediate also performs field assignments across all Division programs so that forest resources are protected, managed, and utilized in accordance with department policy and procedure. This position occasionally functions as a lead worker to Forestry Specialists, Forestry Technicians, interns, emergency firefighters, temporary crews, and volunteers. 

Area sub-programs may include Wildfire Prevention and Suppression, Cooperative Forest Management, Ecological Classification System, Timber Sales, Silviculture, Forest Inventory, Forest Health, Terrestrial Invasive Species, State Forest Roads, State Forest Lands & Leases, and Forestry IT Systems. 

Forestry Specialist Intermediate responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

• Plan, implement, assign, and analyze Forestry Sub-program tasks within the Area, with primary responsibility for assisting in the delivery of the Area Timber Sales sub-program. 
• Assist with the planning, design, cruising, appraisal, and establishment of timber sales to meet the Area's annual timber sale targets, including field layout, boundary marking, volume estimation, and product specifications. 
• Prepare timber sale permit documents, sale maps, and associated records; participate in pre-sale meetings with permit holders and operators; and maintain accurate, up-to-date timber sale files. 
• Administer active timber sales, conduct sale inspections, provide direction or corrective action to loggers, and scale cut forest products.
• Monitor timber sale compliance with permit conditions, water quality Best Management Practices (BMPs), and the Minnesota Forest Resources Council Site-Level Forest Management Guidelines, and complete sale closeout inspections. 
• Track timber sale status and accomplishments and assist with timber sub-program reporting and target tracking.
• Visit forest stands, collect data, and apply knowledge of forest management science to develop silviculture prescriptions that meet forest plans, wildlife habitat goals, and department policy.
• Use GIS and 4Trees systems to input forest data, perform analysis, manage databases, and create maps, including timber sale maps and records.
• Engage in wildfire prevention and suppression activities to minimize threats to life, property, and resources.
• Perform actions as a Forest Officer to enforce fire and timber statutes.
• Receive and review burn permit requests from landowners and prescribed burn practitioners. Approve or deny requests based on knowledge of fire weather and fire science principles. 
• Meet with private forest landowners, share management recommendations, and approve cost-share requests.
• Participate in outreach events to promote sustainable forestry and wildfire prevention to community or school groups. 
• Operate various vehicles, equipment, and tools (pickup, trailer, ATV, snowmobile, fire engine, longhandled tools, etc.). 

Occasional overnight travel required. Normal working hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Division employees must be able to work weekends, evenings, holidays, and occasionally on multi-day assignments away from home during times of elevated fire danger to protect life, property, and natural resources from wildfires or to respond to other natural disasters in Minnesota.