Forester 4 - Good Neighbor Authority (PCN 10-9907)

The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, is recruiting for a Forester 4 to be located in one of the following locations: Ketchikan, Juneau, Anchorage, Fairbanks

What You Will Be Doing:

In this role, you will manage DFFP’s statewide Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) program and implement forest management such as timber sales and restoration projects on federal lands, including the Tongass and Chugach National Forests. You will develop and maintain partnerships to increase the pace and scale of cross-boundary forest management, working closely with federal colleagues as well as collaborating with DFFP coworkers to ensure coordinated implementation of complementary projects on federal and state lands. You will strategically develop multi-year work plans and manage federal funds to support federal land management and shared stewardship priorities. You will develop, prepare, and administer GNA timber sales from initial reconnaissance through contract closeout. You’ll play a key leadership role as the State Forester's advisor on GNA policy issues and provide policy recommendations that support statewide forest management objectives.

Mission and Values/Culture:

The mission of the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection’s forestry branch is to develop, conserve, and enhance Alaska’s forests to provide Alaskans with a sustainable supply of forest resources. We are leaders in forest management, forest practices, wildland fire management, and cooperative forestry programs across the state. Our influence crosses ownership boundaries through leadership of all-risk incident management teams, management of federal timber resources under the Good Neighbor Authority and Shared Stewardship Agreements, and up-to-date best management practices that apply to all commercial forests.

Benefits of Joining Our Team:

You will join a dynamic team overseeing a wide range of forestry operations, with opportunities for advancement and professional development, as well as year-round full-time employment. The work provides exposure to Alaska's unique physical and cultural environment. This position and environment will offer many opportunities to adapt lessons learned elsewhere and to develop new approaches in contemporary forest management. Demand for active management of all land by the forest industry is significant. Staffing in the organization is lean, offering broad exposure to our range of missions and multiple options for long-term growth and advancement. Career-long training and innovation are building blocks of our culture.

The Working Environment You Can Expect:

This position may be filled in Ketchikan, Juneau, Anchorage, or Fairbanks. For the right fit, the position could potentially be relocated to another DFFP office. Regardless of duty station, this position requires significant multi-day and extended travel to project locations, many of which are remote in Southern Southeast Alaska.

This role offers a blend of in-office and field work across Alaska’s remote landscapes and may involve travel by ATV, snowmachine, small aircraft, helicopter, or boat. Fieldwork can include rugged terrain, wildlife encounters, hazardous materials, and year-round work in challenging weather conditions. Candidates who enjoy dynamic, hands-on work in both natural and active construction environments will thrive here.

We are looking for a candidate who possesses the following position-specific competencies.

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field that includes a minimum of 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in forestry or closely related curricula.
AND EITHER
One year of professional advanced-level experience in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field. The required experience includes work such as Forester 3 or Natural Resource Specialist 3 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent with another employer.
OR
Three years of professional journey-level experience in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field. The required experience includes work such as Forester 2, Fire Management Officer, State Logistics Center Coordinator, or Natural Resource Specialist 2 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent with another employer.

Substitution:

Four years in any combination of post-secondary education from an accredited college that includes a minimum of 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field AND journey-level experience in the technical aspects of forest management and practices such as fire prevention, suppression, timber sales, reforestation, or inventory may substitute for the required bachelor's degree. (2.67 semester or 4 quarter hours of post-secondary education are equal to one month of experience). The experience includes work such as Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 3, Wildland Forestry Technician 2, or Wildland Fire Dispatcher with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent with another employer.

Certification from an accredited vocational technical school in forestry, natural resource management, or a closely related field and three years of experience in the technical aspects of forest management and practices such as fire prevention, suppression, timber sales, reforestation or inventory may substitute for the required bachelor's degree. The experience includes work such as Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 3, Wildland Forestry Technician 2, or Wildland Fire Dispatcher 2 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent with another employer.

Certification via NWCG (National Wildfire Coordinating Group) Incident Qualification Card (AKA 'red card') within the preceding three (3) years in any of the following will substitute for the required education:
1. Incident Commander Type 2 (ICT2),
2. Planning Section Chief Type 2 (PSC2),
3. Operations Section Chief Type 2 (OSC2), or
4. Logistics Section Chief Type 2 (LSC2)
For NWCG Incident Qualification Card certification information, see: National Incident Management System (NIMS): Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide (PMS 310-1).

Special Note:

• Closely related curricula and work experience include fields such as: geosciences, geography, natural resources, environmental sciences, soils, hydrology, wildlife habitat management, forest engineering, remote sensing, vegetation classification, natural resource biometrics, and wildland fire control.
• One year of work experience equals 12 months of seasonal work.
• Positions may require travel both in and out-of-state for fire suppression assignments; may be on stand-by or recall status during the fire season; may be assigned work in and out of the area that requires the absence from the duty station for 14 to 21 days; may fly in small fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters and handle hazardous materials.
• Most positions require "Red Card" qualification under the Incident Command System.
• Some positions may require a commercial driver's license with appropriate endorsements.

Starting Salaries

Anchorage/Ketchikan – $3119.25 biweekly

Fairbanks – $3213.00 biweekly

Juneau – $3275.25 biweekly

** Please read the information below carefully. **

When you apply, the applicant must attach the following items as individual documents; failure to provide the requested documentation may result in non-consideration. If you cannot attach documents, please fax or email the contact listed below. Required documents include:

If invited to interview, please bring the following materials. Failure to do so may result in loss of consideration. Required documents include:

SPECIAL NOTICES

Application Notice

You can ONLY apply for this position through the Workplace Alaska website or by submitting a paper application. Instructions for applying are available on the Workplace Alaska How to Apply webpage. We must receive your application by 5:00 p.m. Alaska Standard Time on the closing date.

Cover Letter

A cover letter is required for this position. The letter should be no longer than one page and address your knowledge and experience relevant to the Good Neighbor Authority responsibilities and forest management. Your cover letter will serve as a writing sample and will be used to determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment process.

Please attach the cover letter to your application before submitting it online; if you cannot attach it, fax or email it to the contact number below. Failure to comply may result in non-consideration.

Supplemental Questions

For your application to be evaluated, you must answer the Supplemental Questions. The State of Alaska (SOA) uses four proficiency levels to measure and describe an applicant’s competence in applying specific behaviors, knowledge, skills, and abilities to accomplish a specific task. The four proficiency levels are Mastery, Fluency, Literacy, and Discovery. You must rate your proficiency level for each competency listed in the supplemental questions.

Education

If post-secondary education is required to meet the minimum qualifications, you must fill out the Education section of the application. If you have not yet obtained a degree, please indicate the units you have completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials if used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education

Education completed at foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the minimum qualifications listed above. If using this education to meet minimum qualification requirements, you must demonstrate that the credentials have been submitted to a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in standard U.S. education programs. Alternatively, an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution must report that the other institution's transcript is given full value or that full value is recognized in relevant subject areas aligned with the post-secondary institution's curricula. You must provide this evidence when applying.

Work Experience

If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer’s name, job title, employment dates, and whether full- or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine whether the responses are supported and whether the minimum qualifications are met. If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the recruitment interview and selection phase.

Note: Attaching a resume does not substitute for completing the application in full. Noting "see resume" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination that your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.

Bargaining Unit

If you are a current state employee, please indicate the union to which you belong at the time of application. Do not complete this question if you are not a current state employee.

Firearms

This position requires the use or possession of a firearm or ammunition. In accordance with the federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 (PL 104-208), if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you may not hold this position.

A "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" is an offense that is (1) a misdemeanor under Federal or state law and (2) has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.

If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, do NOT apply for this position.

Driver’s License Requirement

Applicants must possess a valid driver's license. Proof of licensure will be required prior to reporting to duty.

Please ensure your application (through work history, training, education, licenses, certifications, etc.) supports/demonstrates that you possess the minimum required competencies for the job class.

EEO STATEMENT

The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities who require accommodation, auxiliary aids or services, or alternative communication formats should call 1-800-587-0430 or (907) 465-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.

If you choose to be contacted by email, please ensure that your email address is correct on your application and that your spam filter will permit emails from the governmentjobs.com domain.

Workplace Alaska Application Questions & Assistance

Please direct questions about application submission or system errors to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll-free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are in the Juneau area. You may also email requests for information to recruitment.services@alaska.gov.

For password assistance, please visit the password reset page.

For specific information about this position, please get in touch with the hiring manager at the following:

Ashley List

Division Operations Manager

Phone: 907-269-6584

Email: ashley.list@alaska.gov