Forester 2 - Northwestern Land Office Area Forester

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

Work Unit Overview:

The mission of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC or Department) is to ensure that Montana's land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations. Land Offices are responsible for integrating and implementing programs for both the Forestry and Trust Land Management Divisions. The Forestry Division plans and implements forestry and fire management programs through an extensive network of staff in field offices across the state. The Trust Land Management Division administers and manages the state trust timber, surface, and mineral resources for the benefit of the common schools and the other endowed institutions in Montana.

Position Summary:

This position serves as the AREA Forester for the Land Office and is responsible for project development and administration, professional forestry functions, and providing technical expertise in the coordination, planning, and implementation of the forest management program for the Northwestern Land Office; and supporting program operations (budgets, procurement, contract review and administration, documentation, MEPA, etc.). The position reports to the Trust Lands Program Manager. The incumbent functions independently in the execution of major duties and is directly responsible for decisions made and actions taken.

Essential Functions (Major Duties and Responsibilities): These job functions are the essential duties of the position and are not inclusive of all the duties that may be assigned to the incumbent.

Forest Management Implementation:

With Unit, Area, and Bureau staff, cooperatively plan, coordinate, implement, and evaluate forest management activities in support of healthy and diverse forests and long-term sustainable revenue from timber harvest. Works in conjunction with the 5 Unit offices to complete planned forest management projects, promote and support sustainable timber harvest, and achieve other forest management program objectives.

Assist Units with data collection, compilation, updates, verification, and reporting. This includes field surveys to collect information necessary to specific forest improvement or timber harvest projects, determining the type and amount of information needed and interfacing with program-level data systems.

Assist with commercial timber harvest and related forest management projects as needed. Support activities may include establishing project boundaries, pursuing access agreements, conducting or supervising timber volume cruises, marking, and sale layout, and engagement in initial project planning to assist with logging system design, evaluate costs and project feasibility, and recommend project modifications to achieve silvicultural objectives and desired future conditions.

Area Wide Program Coordination:

In collaboration with the Forest Management Program Supervisor and Forest Management Bureau, coordinate Area-wide forest management activities for consistent and effective program delivery to promote program objectives and accountability

• Coordinate and facilitate planting schedules and seedling orders, storage, and distribution for the Area.

• Verify planting needs are current and accurate.

• Coordinate Area-wide planning for forest improvement activities to promote timely and accurate completion of projects.

• Work with Unit foresters and Area specialists to identify and schedule forest improvement projects.

• Provide assistance in writing scopes of work, contract development and administration.

• Adjust schedules, budgets, and plans to accomplish forest improvement goals and objectives consistent with overall program needs and direction.

Use FMX to plan and report post-harvest treatments including slash disposal, site preparation for regeneration, tree planting survival surveys, road maintenance and other capital improvement projects.

Provide input to the Area Forest Management Program Supervisor and Forest Management Bureau on policy updates, modifications, and developments necessary to support effective program operations. This includes researching best practices in forest management and evaluating Area program operations to provide recommendations.

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

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in forestry and natural resource management
• Or related field and three to four years directly related experience in forest management.

Work Environment:

• Office-based with frequent same day travel for field work, inspections, audits, or other meetings.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of:

• Requires knowledge of forestry and natural resource management including forest management, forest product sales, forest improvement, environmental compliance processes (e.g., EAs and EISs) and other regulatory requirements (land use and access law).
• Knowledge of forest road design and construction, bridge installation, and stream crossings.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of project management, contracting, information systems, conflict resolution methods and techniques, and records management.

Skills in:

• Administering multiple forest improvement projects
• Verbal and written communication
• Negotiation and conflict management
• Use of personal computers and forestry- and business-related software
• Public speaking
• Communicating both verbally and in writing with a wide variety of individuals in an effective manner
• Organizing and delivering reports.

Ability to:

• ability to be effective in problem-solving and managing conflicts
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse people sometimes in adverse environments.
• Learn and apply DNRC and other state and federal agency rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Prioritize assignments and work under deadlines
• Organize and complete detailed work.

Minimum Physical Requirements:

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods in office settings.
• Ability to lift and carry equipment, files, and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Sufficient visual acuity to read maps, legal documents, and measurement instruments.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment, computers, and field measuring devices.
• Capacity to drive a vehicle for field inspections and statewide travel.
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions (heat, cold, dust, precipitation).

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"

Effective May 4, 2026, this agency is participating in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After accepting a job offer and completing Form I-9, your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration for verification.