Southwestern Oregon Field Forester
(Forester)
Full Time
Grants Pass, Oregon, United States
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Southwestern Oregon Field Forester will be responsible for representing the American Forest Resource Council and serving the membership in the defined geographical area of the Northwest Forest Plan in Southwestern Oregon. This position is responsible for providing professional and technical input into the planning, development, and implementation of federal agency vegetation management projects in an effort to make these projects more economically and operationally viable.
The Southwestern Oregon Field Forester is expected to establish and maintain a close working relationship with the members of the American Forest Resource Council, U.S. Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) personnel responsible for developing and implementing land management projects. This position will require an understanding of the Forest Service and BLM land management planning methods including the ability to comment and assist in the development of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents with the primary focus on implementation of vegetative management projects. This position will also be responsible for setting up and conducting regularly scheduled meetings with the Forest Service and BLM to monitor expected timber volume outputs and to review projects in their various stages of development. This person will be expected to spend a majority of their time in the field reviewing projects for consistency with applicable plans and for economic/operational viability. This will require that the person has the necessary field skills and is comfortable working alone in remote BLM and Forest Service forests.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Applicants should have, at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree in forestry or natural resources and three years of work experience in forest management that demonstrates the experience and skills to perform the duties of this position. This position requires an assertive, self-motivated individual who works well with limited supervision, and is capable of developing an ongoing program of project monitoring on several National Forests and BLM Districts. The ideal candidate must also be a good team player, be willing to take input from other staff members or associations, and identify and develop successful strategies for this position and program.
The position will be permanently based in Grants Pass, Oregon and will be supervised through AFRC’s Eugene, Oregon office. The successful applicant will be trained in Eugene for six months and will be expected to provide transportation needed to execute the job’s responsibilities. The Field Forester will drive between 40,000-50,000 miles per year and spend an average of one night a week on-the-road. Expenses are paid and a vehicle allowance is provided.
Anticipated start date: May/June 2017.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Become an expert in the provisions of the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan and the 2016 BLM Western Oregon Resource Management Plans, providing specific recommendations and creative solutions to land managers and biological agencies.
2. Work with both the Forest Service and BLM to promote projects that meet the annual targets assigned to them. AFRC’s goal is for the agencies to offer sales that are the most economically viable while still meeting the objectives of the land management plans.
3. Become proficient in the provisions and procedures of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in order to prepare and submit comment letters representing AFRC member interests on BLM and Forest Service scoping, Environmental Assessment, and Environmental Impact Statement documents in Southwestern Oregon.
4. Become proficient with the Objection process of the Forest Service and the Protest process of the BLM in order to represent AFRC member interests in these processes.
5. Represent AFRC members’ interests on public field tours with BLM, Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and National Marine Fisheries Service staff.
6. Analyze the effects of potential Federal legislation on AFRC members and work with AFRC staff to develop positions on legislation affecting AFRC members’ interests.
7. Establish and maintain a rapport with AFRC member companies, including log buyers. Communicate regularly with AFRC staff and members, and respond promptly and appropriately to member needs.
8. Assist in developing and contributing to monitoring reports prepared for Board of Directors meetings.
9. Contribute newsworthy articles to AFRC’s monthly newsletter.
10. Maintain regular communication with direct supervisor, Director, Federal Forest Program, and President and promptly communicate membership concerns.
11. Identify potential new AFRC members based on timber purchasing history and company timber needs.
12. Other duties as assigned by the Director, Federal Forest Program and/or the President of AFRC.
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Performance evaluation of the AFRC Southwestern Oregon Field Forester will be based on the fulfillment of these responsibilities. Personal observation by the President and Director, Federal Forest Program as well as input from the membership, will be the basis of the evaluation. These evaluations are normally performed at the end of each calendar year.
Compensation
COMPENSATION Compensation includes a competitive salary based on experience, paid vacation and sick leave, health insurance, generous monthly retirement contribution, travel expenses, and a vehicle allowance.