Role
The Eastern Shore Area Forester is responsible for timber procurement, and forest operations coordination. This role will work closely with The Eastern Shore District team to procure timber, manage the timber harvesters, and coordinate with internal operations to meet company goals of safety, profit, capital management and efficiency.
Duties and Responsibilities
• Responsible for the purchase of approximately 90,000 tons of timber and pulpwood stumpage in the Delaware, Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia areas required to supply the Delmar Chip Mill Operation.
o Involves researching land ownership data through county tax data bases and using GIS/GPS technology to locate potential timber for sale and includes cruising timber, preparing reports, negotiating the purchase or bidding at public auction.
o Requires developing and maintaining solid working relationships with forestry consultants and managers of public and privately held timberlands.
o Reports are submitted to the Eastern Shore District Supervisor for review and transmitted to the Vice President and General Manager.
• Responsible for management of the Eastern Shore contract logging operations on both Company and purchased stumpage tracts.
o Involves preparing tracts to harvest, managing logistics, and monitoring harvesting productivity.
o Requires knowledge of Eastern Shore timber contract rates and negotiating such for
production on company controlled stumpage tracts.
o Requires knowledge of and a working relationship with all Eastern Shore Sawmills and chip producers with the potential to produce chips to the Spring Grove Mill.
• Responsible for the management and administration of approximately 8,000 acres of Company-owned woodland.
o Requires sound decisions by an experienced forester in an environment of multiple variables that result in the application of techniques will be translated into purposeful, economic silvicultural results on the ground.
o This forester must have a firm grasp of fundamentals, understand the final results desired, and use his ingenuity in order to accomplish forestry projects satisfactorily.
o Prepare for approval contracts and agreements for other activities on Company land.
o Maintain all land management and timber harvest records necessary to compile annual year-end records as required.
• Develop and maintain good relations with local landowners, county officials, state and federal agencies, and wood processing plants in the area through contacts, membership in local groups such as service clubs, forestry assistance to landowners, and talks to landowners and other groups.
• Responsible for the preparation of the annual cost center budget and related capital budget for operations supervised and maintenance of adequate records.
• Responsible for overseeing the activities of the area safety program including instructions, meetings, inspections, enforcement of safety regulations and reports as required.
Qualifications
• Minimum education required is an Associates degree in Forestry or 5 years of equivalent experience – Bachelors degree a plus
• Evidence of successful timber procurement experience
• Computer skills to include proficiency in Microsoft Office applications. GIS/ GPS skills considered a plus.
• Strong communication, negotiating and interpersonal skills.
• Must hold and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator’s license.
• Will need to reside in the assigned area of responsibility.