Description:Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's mission is to help ensure that Montana's land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations.
The DNRC believes employees are their most important asset. The DNRC empowers employees to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. Employees are provided with the training and tools necessary to achieve the mission. Both team effort and individual employee expertise are supported and sustained.
Core Values: The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's Forestry and Trust Land Division recognizes that building a collaborative, professional, and inclusive work environment is critical to fulfilling our mission of managing, protecting, and promoting stewardship of Montana's forests and lands for the benefit of current and future generations and our trust beneficiaries. We hold ourselves to these high standards as we are accountable to the people of Montana.
- We value and respect each other.
- We create collaborative work environments.
- We build and maintain strong relationships.
- We practice accountability.
- We celebrate our successes and take pride in our work.
Job Overview: The position is responsible for on-the-ground forestry and range project implementation work, public relations, FAP outreach, education initiatives; and proactively seeking opportunities related to fire adapted communities, improving forest and range health and cross-boundary priorities and projects. This position will serve as a forestry resource to help DNRC and cross-boundary practitioners address opportunities to create fire adapted communities, implement the Forest Action Plan (FAP) and address issues arising from landscape scale cooperative management. The FAP Forester will provide on-the ground assistance to private landowners and partner organizations as well as provide information, resources, and capacity to partners. The FAP forester will build and strengthen inter-agency partnerships to enhance and expand cross-boundary work on the ground, regardless of jurisdiction with goals to increase the current limited capacity to meet the increasing opportunities to get work done across all ownerships as well as implement work on the ground. The FAP Forester is located within DNRC Land Offices around the State and operates in partnership with a multitude of agencies and organizations including Local Governments (City and County), the US Forest Service, BLM NRCS and Conservation Groups. The position reports to the Unit Manager and does not supervise any employees.
Essential Functions (Major Duties or Responsibilities): These job functions are the essential duties of the position and are not all-inclusive of all the duties that may be assigned to the incumbent.
Forest Action Plan Project Implementation and Administration: - Coordination, implementation, administration, and oversight of forest and range management restoration grant-based projects within the assigned land office.
- Collaborate and recommend forestry and range projects for fuels reduction, restoration, and forest management on Private, State, and Federal Land in Montana.
- Work with DNRC staff and partners to develop and design projects as well as proactively seek funding for projects through grant opportunities.
- Perform grant application administration and reporting on grants that DNRC is a partner or recipient of.
- Stay apprised of ongoing grant and potential project opportunities, trends, and needs. Identify and incorporate fuels reduction and forest improvement and range restoration opportunities into existing, planned, and ongoing projects with knowledge of authorities and available funding.
- Collaboratively develops forestry project goals and objectives, and treatment areas for projects to include the selection of contractors.
- Develop and administer contracts and agreements for projects aimed at reducing wildfire risk, improving forest and range health, and enhance fire management response and safety.
- Select projects that will most effectively address identified needs and objectives.
Technical Resource and Guidance: - Serve as a resource to address fuel reduction opportunities and issues, and coordinate funding.
- Provide information, operational guidance, and resources on issues and opportunities specific to geographic conditions and locally identified priorities to DNRC, cross boundary groups, and others.
- Interprets and applies relevant authorities and initiatives to maximize efficiency and collective impact of mitigation work.
- Identify barriers to increase the use of prescribed fire on the landscape, and work with relevant partners and staff to identify and create solutions.
- Work collaboratively with partners and peers, to prioritize local fuels management needs and opportunities.
Public Outreach and Communications: - Coordinate with local partners to expand the scale and impact of their work.
- Plan and coordinate field activities and tours to promote effective fuels reduction work.
- Train, develop, and mentor stakeholders on appropriate authorities and tools to use for their specific project in cooperation with partners.
- Manage coordination with other DNRC resources, stakeholders, and partners at county and community levels to create fire adapted communities and implement community fuel reduction projects.
- Coordinate with local coordinating groups and partners to identify community needs, opportunities, and actions needed to address wildfire risk and forest health issues. Work with these groups on updating Community Wildfire Protection Plans and accomplishing actions identified in CWPPs.
- Facilitate meetings with partners and local groups to help address issues and build alignment behind common goals.
- Produce or assist with the production of localized educational material for staff and partners to help them understand and manage tools available for increasing the efficiency of cross boundary forestry and range work.
- Identify new opportunities and funding sources to increase work on the ground by securing funding and developing agreements for project implementation.
- Coordinate with field staff to understand localized needs, and opportunities. Use general awareness and knowledge of programs and authorities to help develop solutions.
- Plan, organize, and conduct field tours to provide education opportunities to staff, the media, and the public.
APPLICATION MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION ARE: - Online State of Montana application
- Resume
- Cover Letter
HELPFUL HINT: You must check the "relevant document" box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application.
Benefits: - Paid Vacation, Sick Leave and Holidays
- Health, Dental, Prescription, and Vision Coverage
- Retirement Plans
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) - Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF. Look here, https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service to learn more and see if you may qualify!
*If you are interested in a complete job description please contact HR at Stacey.Gabrio@mt.gov.QualificationsMinimum Qualifications (Education and Experience): The position requires education or experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree in forestry, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Science, or a related field and two years progressively responsible experience in collaborative land or natural resource management. Considerable knowledge of forest practices and hazard reduction laws, Administrative Rules, legislative intent, standards, guidelines, policies, and procedures preferred. Considerable knowledge of State laws relating to forest practices (including the Montana Environmental Policy Act - MEPA) is preferred. Must have knowledge of the development and legislative intent of forest practices laws and be able to apply that knowledge to diverse, site specific and unprecedented situations.
Professional level forestry, wildfire, and grant administration knowledge and skills are required. Also required is the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within the agency, with individuals from other agencies and industries, and with the general public, as well as the ability to work independently. Exercise professional judgement and objectivity in evaluating situations and making decisions. The incumbent's professional background should also include work in the wildland fire management field.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: The applicant should be able to comfortably speak with landowners, stakeholders, and partners individually and in large groups, enjoy working with various partners to align them toward a common goal, and be able to represent the priorities and programs of the DNRC. The breadth and complexity of the cross-boundary program requires demonstratable project management skills as well as participation in complex, high profile, or politically sensitive projects. Past internal and external collaborative experience is valuable. Working knowledge of ACR GIS Mapping and the ability to display complex projects on maps is essential.
Maintain subject matter expertise on Montana and Federal Forest policy directives, authorities, and rules. Perform in an environment where agency mission and standards, resource protection needs, and relevant laws must be interpreted and applied to projects on the ground. Communicate complex information and speak persuasively to individuals or groups to bring alignment and better coordination. Establish and maintain relationships with local coordinating partners.
The position involves extensive travel wit overnights stays required in the North Zone of the Central Land Office - mainly in the Conrad and Helena Units. This job requires extensive field work in remote areas with the following working conditions and physical demands: driving frequently over long distances and on rough forest roads, occasional lifting, and extensive walking over rough forest terrain. The Ability to walk 5-10 miles per day in rugged environments. Driving 15,000 per year with a majority of miles on gravel or unimproved roads. Fire duties involve risk of injury and exposure to heat, flame, smoke, dust, and fumes.
Should posse skills in negotiation, persuasion, along with written and oral communication to carry out the duties of this position. Ability to synthesize and apply agency mission, programs, legislative intent, complex resource protection needs, standards and guidelines. Considerable knowledge of administrative practices is required, including the ability to establish and maintain accurate record-keeping systems. Expert knowledge in training and public education techniques is essential.
SPECIAL INFORMATION: Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. A valid driver's license is required with less than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months.
ELIGIBILITY TO WORK: In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the person selected must produce within three days of hire documents that show authorization to work in the United States. Examples of such documentation include a birth certificate or Social Security card along with a driver's license or other picture I.D., or a U.S. passport, or a "green card".
