Natural Resources Forestry Specialist

Job Summary

MN DNR—Division of Forestry is hiring multiple Forestry Specialists across the state. This posting will be used to fill vacancies in the following work locations: Backus, Bagley, Big Falls, Mora, and Nimrod, Minnesota. During the Application process, applicants will choose their preferred location(s).

The Forestry Specialist position exists to implement program support tasks across all Division of Forestry programs so that forest resources are protected, managed, and utilized in accordance with department policy and procedure. During periods of elevated wildfire danger, the Forestry Specialist will be assigned to work weekends, evening, and holidays.

Also, to support ongoing incidents, the Forestry Specialist will be assigned to travel throughout Minnesota on multiple-day assignments.

Depending on internal movement, this posting may be used to fill vacancies in these locations if they become available: Aitkin, Backus, Bagley, Baudette, Bemidji, Big Falls, Blackduck, Effie, Finland, Grygla, Lewiston, Littlefork, McGregor, Northome, Onamia, Orr, Outing, Park Rapids, Preston, Sandstone, Warroad and Williams.

Job Responsibilities

The Forestry Specialist commonly performs the following tasks:

• Evaluate the condition of forest stands and apply native plant community guidelines, develop silvicultural prescriptions, and determine harvest systems to meet multiple resource goals.
• Appraise timber for sale, implement forest management guidelines, market permits to timber purchasers, administer state timber permits, and scale cut products.
• Visit forest stands impacted by insects, disease, or fire and create plans to respond to those effects.
• Create maps in GIS programs, analyze and interpret air photos, and use GPS and/or compass to navigate to forest stands to establish management boundaries.
• Engage in wildfire prevention and suppression activities to minimize threats to life, property, and resources
• Collect forest inventory data using common forestry tools and mobile data recorders.
• Analyze forest inventory data, input into GIS databases, and adjust stand boundaries.
• Identify tree, shrub, and plant species common to Minnesota.
• Use the Ecological Classification System to determine native plant communities and update maps.
• Apply statistical methods to develop timber cruises and accurately estimate standing volume.
• Propose tree planting, site preparation, or timber stand improvement projects to meet management plan objectives.
• Locate, identify, and map instances of terrestrial invasive plants and propose treatments to control infestations.
• Operate various vehicles, equipment, and tools (pickup, trailer, ATV, snowmobile, fire engine, long-handled tools, etc.)
• Meet with private landowners and provide advice to manage private woodlands.
• Participate in presentations and outreach to the public and to internal and external agency partners.
• Lead seasonal or intermittent employees, student interns, and emergency hire firefighters to meet assigned objectives.
• Review and approve, or deny, burn permit requests.

This position requires the ability to complete physically demanding tasks with or without accommodation and the ability to work independently in remote locations sufficient to accomplish work without immediate supervision.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

**To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience/education in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month and year for each job held. Any degrees must be earned by January 1st, 2027 to receive credit.**

To be considered for this job, applicants must have either:

• Two (2) years of work experience in forestry.

OR:

• A bachelor’s degree or higher in forestry or closely related field.

OR:

• Eighteen (18) months of work experience in forestry AND an associate degree or higher in forestry or closely related field.

In addition to the above experience and/or education, applicants must also demonstrate:

• Knowledge of dendrology, plant ID, and forest measurements sufficient to collect forest inventory, regeneration data and native plant community data.
• Knowledge of forest economics, mensuration, and harvest systems sufficient to design, appraise, administer, and scale timber sales.
• Knowledge of forest ecology and silviculture techniques sufficient to prescribe reforestation, tree release, and stand improvement activities.
• Knowledge of multi-use forestry concepts sufficient to conduct and evaluate management activities that benefit wildlife species, ecosystem health, recreational opportunities, and wood marketing and utilization.
• Planning skills sufficient to organize short projects, prioritize tasks, make recommendations on the direction of a project, provide leadership on small teams, and exercise limited discretion.
• Computer skills sufficient to keep records, analyze data, write reports, and communicate and collaborate with partners and colleagues using various applications (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, SharePoint, Adobe, ArcPro).
• Human relation skills sufficient to deal appropriately with supervisors, coworkers, special interest groups, loggers, and the general public in a variety of situations.
• Ability to use GIS, aerial photography, and surveys, for mapping and data collection.
• Ability to earn and maintain National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) basic wildland firefighter (FFT2) qualification within six months of hire.
• Ability to communicate orally and in written form sufficient to clearly convey information on forest management practices and policy to the general public, special interest groups, and other department employees.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher, accredited by the Society of American Foresters. OR Three (3) or more years of work experience in forestry.
• Knowledge of Division of Forestry policies and procedures sufficient to implement assigned tasks safely and within legal and ethical guidelines.
• NWCG qualified as a Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1), Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5), Faller Type 2 (FAL2), Tracked Vehicle Operator (TVOP), or Engine Operator (ENOP).