What are the responsibilities and job description for the Forester position at BELL LUMBER & POLE COMPANY LLC?
Salary: Based on Experience
Schedule: Minimum 40 hrs/week | Can be 50–60 hrs/week at peak times]
Location: Southwestern Arkansas Region
Travel: Regional Travel Required | Approx. 10% Overnight Travel
Perks: Company Vehicle Provided | Benefits | PTO |
Are you interested in contributing to a company whose mission is to radically love and influence lives? As a Forester at Bell, you will drive timber procurement across Southwestern Arkansas by building supplier and landowner relationships, securing quality resources, and supporting forestry operations throughout the Southern Region. If you are self-motivated, thrive independently, and are passionate about forestry procurement and sustainable land management, this role is for you.
What You’ll Do
- Source and procure utility poles and timber products
- Build and manage supplier, contractor, and landowner relationships
- Evaluate timber sales and cruise timber resources
- Negotiate contracts and manage procurement opportunities
- Conduct pole quality inspections and ensure product standards
- Oversee timber sale setup, logistics, and field coordination
- Develop strategic procurement plans and identify growth opportunities
What We’re Looking For
- 5 years of forestry experience (procurement preferred)
- Timber cruising and timber evaluation experience
- Strong negotiation and relationship-management skills
- GIS/GPS and forestry systems knowledge
- Highly organized, trustworthy, and self-directed
- Bachelor’s degree preferred (experience may substitute)
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor’s degree preferred in Forestry, Business, or a related field, may accept 2-year degree with sufficient work experience
Experience
Required:
- Minimum 5 years of forestry operations experience, preferably with a procurement focus
- Proven success independently managing procurement processes and supplier relationships
- Experience conducting timber sales cruises and evaluating timber resources
- Experience with:
- Timber marking
- Surveying
- Forest management planning
- GIS/GPS systems
- Contractor and trucking administration
Skills & Competencies
Successful candidates will demonstrate:
- Strong negotiation and contract management skills
- High integrity, accountability, and dependability
- Exceptional initiative and self-management
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Strong analytical and decision-making abilities
- Knowledge of forestry regulations, ordinances, and sustainable forestry practices
- Proficiency with forestry software, GIS/GPS tools, spreadsheets, and reporting systems
- Strong attention to detail in inspections, documentation, and reporting
- Adaptability to changing priorities, weather, and challenging field conditions
- Creative problem-solving skills in dynamic market environments
- Commitment to safety excellence
- Passion for environmental stewardship and sustainable forest management
Driving/Travel:
A company vehicle will be provided. Regional travel is a regular expectation in this role, travel requiring being gone overnight amounts to roughly 10% of this position.
Benefits
- In addition to competitive pay, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance (with HRA and FSA)
- 401(k) with company match
- Short and long-term disability insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid holidays and generous paid time off
- Professional development opportunities
- Employee assistance and employee/community hardship programs
Bell Lumber & Pole is an equal opportunity employer.
Bell Lumber & Pole is proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.
This applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Bell makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.
Bell is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please call 651-203-2719 or send an e-mail to HRTeam@blpole.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
For additional details, you can read our EEO Policy
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