Forester - Senior
The DNR excels at protecting and managing natural resources while supporting the economy and the well-being of our citizenry. Click here to see what working for the State of Wisconsin is all about!
State of Wisconsin benefits include excellent health insurance options, ample leave time, a business casual office atmosphere, and an exceptional employee assistance program that offers a variety of programs and tools to help promote wellness. We offer a team-orientated atmosphere and a focus on work-life balance, flexible working schedules for most positions, and the ability to flex hours with supervisor approval.
The DNR is committed to hiring the best candidate and is offering a $2000 sign-on bonus for new State employees. Click here for additional details.
Now is the time to take advantage of this great opportunity! The DNR wants employees to excel in their job and will provide plenty of in-depth training to provide hands experience to bolster knowledge and skills obtained in education programs. If you have a passion for forest and land management and have good communication and interpersonal sensitivity skills, an abundant amount of motivation and enthusiasm these positions may be for you!
Position Summary
These positions direct and provides forest management assistance on private lands, state lands and county forests, to include advice and services to private landowners and property managers; advice and services on state-owned lands; advice and services as the single point of contact or liaison to the assigned County Forest; advice and services on County Forest lands; and advice, services and administration of the Good Neighbor Authority agreement with the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
Within the assigned area, these positions may be responsible for fire management, which includes fire preparedness, fire suppression, and fire prevention on federal, state, county, and private lands within the assigned area. Implementing and developing the fire suppression, prevention, and forestry law enforcement in the assigned fire response unit and ensures the completion of all fire management activities. This position may include fire line responsibilities such as initial attack, suppression and serves as the Incident Commander, Operations Section Chief, or as a Division Group Supervisor/Task Force/Strike Team Leader during fire suppression operations. This position also provides expert training to Fire Department personnel and other partners. This position may be responsible for planning and conducting prescribed burning activities to achieve habitat and property management objectives.
These positions are key to public safety and security and requires the incumbent to meet and maintain the physical fitness test standards required for all Department protective positions. The principal duties of the position require active fire suppression duties which require frequent exposure to a high degree of danger or peril and also require a high degree of physical conditioning. This position is available for fire suppression, pre-suppression and prevention duties year-round.
For a detailed position description, click here.
Salary Information
Starting pay is $26 - $28 per hour ($54,080 - $58,240 annually).
Pay on appointment for current or former state employees is based on the State Compensation Plan.
This position is in Pay Schedule/Range 15-03. A 12-month probation period may be required.
Job Details
Employment will require the selected candidate to pass a background check. DNR does not sponsor work visas, thus, in compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify eligibility to work in the United States by completing the required I-9 form upon hire.
All state employees must report their COVID vaccination status, whether vaccinated or not and provide supporting documentation if vaccinated. Newly hired employees will be required to submit this information within their first two weeks of employment.
The State of Wisconsin continues to follow necessary health and safety protocols for COVID. Please visit Division of Personnel Management Coronavirus - COVID-19 (wi.gov) for the most up-to-date information. Guidance may be subject to change.
Qualifications
Please make sure to describe the following qualifications within your resume and/or letter of qualifications in order to be considered for this position:
A minimally qualified candidate will have knowledge and experience with the following:
- Bachelor’s degree in Forestry from a four-year program accredited by the Society of American Foresters, or equivalent. (Please upload a copy of your transcripts when applying)
- Training related to fire management, prescribed fire or fire suppression, including structural or wildland fire
- The ability to obtain a class A comerical drivers license.
Additionally, candidates will have experience or academic experience performing at least two of the following forest land management activities:
- Implementing forest management plans by marking stands for harvest and setting up timber sales
- Creating timber sale bid packets and administering timber sales
- Preparing forest management plans
- Implementing a reforestation plan, including site preparation
- Evaluating forest land (including both water & soil resources) and modifying forestry practices to protect areas of special concern, such as wetlands, waterways, endangered species habitat, etc.
- Developing commercial harvest or non-commercial timber stand improvement prescriptions based on stand assessment
- Addressing forest health issues, such as insect or disease outbreaks and invasive species infestations
A highly qualified applicant will have experience in one of the following, in addition to the above qualifications:
- Forest management field experience in the Great Lakes region
- Master’s degree in forestry or natural resources
- Field experience managing or suppressing wildland fires or experience as an Incident Commander on a wildland fire
- Experience training others on fire management techniques and equipment
- Qualified/Certified as Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) based on National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) standards
- Qualified/Certified as Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) based on National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) standards
How To Apply
PLEASE NOTE: The job application is set to time-out after 30 minutes of inactivity. To avoid losing any updates to your application, make sure to Save often.
Click the “Apply for Job” button and follow the directions. You will be able to save your application as many times as needed and make edits up until the point you submit your application. Once you submit your application, you will not be able to make any updates to the application or any materials submitted.
Your resume and letter of qualifications and transcripts are very important parts of your application and are used during our evaluation process to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job. For instructions on developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included in these materials, click here.
For questions regarding the application process, please contact Randi Hormig in Human Resources at randi.hormig@wisconsin.gov. For technical troubleshooting related to the Wisc.Jobs site, reach out to the Wisc.Jobs Help Desk at 608-267-1012 or wiscjobs@wisconsin.gov.
Current state employees, including those with Career Executive status, must apply through STAR ESS. Former permanent classified state employees must apply through Wisc.Jobs.
The DNR is an equal opportunity employer that promotes and values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability.
Deadline to Apply
All applications must be received by 11:59 pm central on December 12th, 2022.