Forester I
(Forester)
Full Time
Prattville, Alabama, United States
American Forest Management, Inc. (AFM) is the largest forest consulting and real estate brokerage firm in the United States. AFM currently manages over 5.1 million acres of privately owned timberland and has sold over $1.8 billion in rea estate transactions. With 260 employees operating from 49 offices located in 16 states, AFM’s team of professionals is focused on meeting client needs by providing a complete range of forestry services including land and wildlife management, land sales and acquisition services, forest inventory and design, growth and yield modeling, cash flow projections, environmental services, appraisal, forest resource data management and harvest scheduling.
Summary: Responsible for helping manage forested lands for economic, recreational, and conservation purposes. Capabilities must include the ability to inventory the type, amount, and location of standing timber, appraise the timber’s worth, and negotiate and close the purchase and sale agreement. Responsibilities shall also include knowing how to conserve wildlife habitats, creek beds, water quality, and soil stability, and how best to comply with best management practices and environmental regulations.
Minimum Requirements:
Bachelor's degree in forestry, agribulture, or related field; or Associates degree and 4-5 years related experience or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
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Plan, contract and direct all types of harvesting, forestation and reforestation projects.
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Plan and design forest inventories, gather field data, work up cruise data, update stand records and maps manually and electronically.
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Plan cutting programs to assure continuous production of timber or to assist clients to achieve other timber or wildlife habitat management objectives.
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Determine methods of cutting and removing timber with minimum waste and environmental damage and also processing other forest products to meet client’s objectives.
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Direct controls burns and conduct fire prevention programs.
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Plan and direct construction and maintenance of trails, roads, ditches and fire breaks.
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Assist in planning and implementing projects for control of soil erosion, tree diseases and pests.
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Advise NIPF and TIMO landowners on forestry management techniques; including written management plans.
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Assist budget creation and administration for clients.
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Monitor BMP and EMS compliance, including Sustainable Forest Initiative, American Tree Farm, Forest Stewardship Council and other forest certification standards.
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Assist in negotiation, contract administration, and inspection of all forestry related activities such as road construction and maintenance, drainage improvement and other land management projects as assigned.
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Maintain knowledge of contractors, rates and equipment available in each geographic area.
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Develop and maintain a close working relationship with the local, state and federal forestry organizations, area forest product company representatives and contractors.
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Develop new NIPF and TIMO clients.
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Perform other related duties and tasks as necessary or as assigned.
Knowledge and Abilities:
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Knowledge of plant and animal organization, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
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Working knowledge of forestry skills including the use of tools used in timber cruising, photo interpretation, surveying, timber harvesting, road construction, chemical and mechanical site preparation, planning, organizing and other duties that pertain to forest management.
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Ability to effectively utilize Microsoft email, word processing and spreadsheet software.
Language Ability:
Able to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations. Able to write reports, business correspondence, specifications, procedures and assist in drafting contracts. Able to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, clients, customers, regulators and the general public.
Math Ability:
Able to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Able to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Reasoning Ability:
Able to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Able to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form and implement them efficiently and effectively.
Computer Skills:
Knowledge, experience and the ability to use web‐based applications, OUTLOOK, WORD, EXCEL, GIS, GPS and Electronic Data Recorders.
Certificates and Licenses:
Valid driver’s license, current registration number or registration as a Forester within 3 year period as applicable.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
Logging Contractors, Silvicultural Crews, Road & Drainage Improvement Contractors, and Inventory Crews and others.
Work Environment:
Office and remote field environments. Utilization of various means of transportation including off‐road and all‐terrain vehicles (ATVs). Required to drive, ride or walk through rough terrain in difficult weather conditions, in daylight and dark, in wet and dry environments. Involves working long periods of time outdoors, sometimes in adverse weather conditions, for days or weeks and will include overnight travel to other AFM Regions.
Exposure to loud noise, extreme temperatures, fumes or air‐borne particles, outdoor weather conditions, and inclement weather. Exposure to heavy equipment operations.
Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to drive, walk, wade, stand, talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to bend, stoop, reach with hands and arms, lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Compensation
Benefits:• Exempt salary position paid semi-monthly• Paid holidays• Paid vacation schedule• Healthcare and disability plan• Tuition Reimbursement Program• 401(K) retirement plan with company match• Ongoing professional development training • Eligible for annual and new business bonus plans