Forestry Technician

Job Description

Only applicants who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and meet all selective requirements (listed below) will be placed on the eligible list.

Natural Resources Technician 2

The Department of Natural Resources encourages all applicants to upload a current resume and cover letter to their online application.

The Wildlife Bureau has an opening for a Natural Resources Technician 2/Forestry Technician in Warren County. This position will work with the NRCS Technical Staff in Warren, Marion, Mahaska, Keokuk, and Wapello counties to provide assistance to private landowners to voluntarily plan and implement forestry conservation practices with an emphasis on providing forest health, water quality and wildlife habitat benefits. The staff will provide technical support to NRCS/SWCD field offices in designing forest restoration projects and management plans. Works with landowners to provide consultation on forest health issues and the establishment and management of forestry practices in accordance with available state and federal conservation programs and established best management practices and scientific principles.

Duties Will Include

Landowner Assistance:

• Make contacts with private landowners through personal contacts, referrals and informational meetings. Develop stewardship plans to improve forest health, wildlife habitat, water quality and soil erosion. Explanation of Federal, State and local programs that are available for cost-share.
• Mark timber for commercial and TSI harvests in situations where a woodland Stewardship plan exists.
• Assist cities with urban forestry related activities
• Complete annual Forest Stewardship monitoring Tree Farm re-inspections and submit Woodland Owner of the Year nominations by required dates.
  
  

Administrative

• Reports completed spatially and via spreadsheet are to be sent to the Supervisor, Private Lands Coordinator and Forestry section staff by the date assigned quarterly by the Private Lands Coordinator as well as other reports including pest and fire by their required dates.
• All claims, time sheets, vehicle reports must be completed by the state office's required date
• Cost share applications and related administration are of high priority and will be completed within all applicable deadlines
• Department trainings are to be completed as assigned by the Supervisor.
  
  

Public Relations/Education

• Work with Forestry Extension to hold Field days and other associated programs.
• Publicize Division's programs and promote woodland/urban forest management/planting through news articles, presentations and other means.
• Cooperate with Forestry Section staff outreach programs for forest health, urban forestry, wood utilization and fire prevention.
  
  

Public Land Management

• Prepare stand maps and management recommendations for and provide field assistance to DNR state land managers with guidance from a Forester II.
  
  

Other Duties

• Full cooperation and completion of other duties assigned by the Supervisor.
  
  

Essential Functions

• Recommends to landowners the appropriate forest management prescription to achieve desired results.
• Communicates with landowners, NGO's and other partners effectively.
• Explains Federal, State and local cost share programs to landowners.
  
  

Critical Job Competencies

Must have, or be able to obtain, the following certifications and licensure:

S-130/S-190 Firefighter Training Qualification

S-212 Chainsaw Safety Training Qualification

Driver's License

CPR/First Aid Certification

Competencies: Accountability, Integrity, High Productivity, Interpersonal Skills, Team Player, Communication Skills, Self-

Management, Customer Focus, Computer Skills, Technical Skills (wildlife/forestry)

What You Get From Us

• A competitive pay plan and rewarding work.
• Insurance benefits that start the first of the month following 30 days of employment.
  
  

(Premiums can start as low as $64/month for single and $210/month for family coverage).

• Separate vacation and sick leave accruals that start on the first day and can roll over annually.
• Nine paid holidays/year.
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) retirement package with employer match.
• Optional deferred compensation (457/401A) plan with employer match.
• Professional training opportunities.
• Family friendly and professional work environment.
• Employee Discount Programs (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling)
• The State’s total compensation package features benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation. For a list of additional benefits, please visit the DAS website for more information.
• Flexible work schedules (as approved by the supervisor).
• Opportunities for hybrid telework (as approved by the supervisor).
  
  

Comments

The starting salary for new state (Executive Branch) employees is expected to be at the base of the pay range. Additional salary increases may occur after the first six months, and then annually (if applicable). The State’s total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation. Visit the DAS website for more benefit information.

Ensure you are kept up-to-date of this position by checking your email regularly for emails from info@govermentjobs.com . This is a system generated email from the DAS application system and it may be sent directly to your Junk/Spam folder.

DNR Application Tips

For more information about DNR Employment Opportunities and position specific notices, please visit the DNR Employment website.

The State of Iowa is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

E-Verify and Right to Work

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov .

Iowa DNR Mission

To conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations.

Selectives

907 Forestry 12 semester hours, 6 months continuous full-time experience, or a combination of both, in any of the following:

• Dendrology
• Silviculture
• Forest management, tree planting and habitat management
• Timber stand improvement
• Forest planning
• Planning and mapping using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for forest improvement projects
• Forest inventory including tree identification
• Reforestation and/or forest health data collection and monitoring
  
  

Minimum Qualification Requirements

The equivalent of three years of full time experience involving facilities maintenance in plumbing, electrical, and/or heating and cooling, or technical work in a biological, horticultural, conservation, or natural resources program;

OR

an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting 30 semester hours of college level course work in a biological or natural resources program for each year of the required experience;

OR

employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes the equivalent of 12 months of full-time experience as a Natural Resources Technician 1 shall be considered as qualified.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.

Additional Qualification Requirements

Certain designated positions require the employee to be certified by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship as a Pesticide Applicator within a period of time as determined by the appointing authority at the time of hire.