This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).
For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. At this time, agencies may recruit and hire employees by making temporary appointments. In May 2024, if a temporary NY HELPS employee is satisfactorily performing in the position, the appointment will be changed from temporary pending Civil Service Commission Action to permanent non-competitive and the official probationary period will begin.
At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.
Minimum qualifications:
Forester Trainee 1:
A bachelor's or higher degree in ecological forest management, forest biology, forest ecosystem science, forest health, forest resource management, forestry, Natural Resources Planning, Natural Resources Management, Natural Resources Conservation, or urban forestry.
OR
A bachelor's or higher degree including or supplemented by 24 credits in any of the following; dendrology, entomology, environmental planning (as part of a forestry program), environmental policy (as part of a forestry program), environmental resource management (as part of a forestry program), forest ecology, forest ecosystem, forest entomology, forest inventories, forest pathology, forest management, forest measurement/inventory, forest recreation, forest recreation management, geographic information system (GIS), natural resources planning, natural resources policy, pathology, plant entomology, plant pathology, silviculture, soils, surveying, or wilderness management.
Forester Trainee 2:
You must also have: Either 1: One year of professional experience in forestry; OR 2: A master's or higher degree in ecological forest management, forest biology, forest ecosystem science, forest health, forest resource management, forestry, Natural Resources Planning, Natural Resources Management, Natural Resources Conservation, or urban forestry.
Forester 1:
You must also have: Either 1: Two years of professional experience in forestry; OR 2: A master's or higher degree in ecological forest management, forest biology, forest ecosystem science, forest health, forest resource management, forestry, Natural Resources Planning, Natural Resources Management, Natural Resources Conservation, or urban forestry AND One year of professional experience in forestry.
Candidates may also be appointed via the following:
Reassignment - Currently in the title and an employee of DEC
or
Reinstatement - Previously held the title on a permanent competitive basis or held a title as indicated under the transfer eligible section on a permanent competitive basis.
or
Transfer - One year of permanent competitive service at Salary Grade 11 or higher and:
Eligible for transfer under Section 70.4: Must meet the minimum qualifications above
or
Eligible for transfer under Section 70.1: Environmental Program Specialist 1 (Natural Resources), Forestry Technician 2 and Forestry Technician 3
55-b/55-c Appointment- Must meet minimum qualifications above and include a copy of the letter from Civil Service which indicates approval for the 55-b/55-c program.