Area Forester-Shenandoah District

Title: Area Forester-Shenandoah District

Hiring Range: Starting at $38,894.00+ with benefits

Agency: Department of Forestry

Location: Charlottesville, Nat Resrcs Dr

Agency Website: www.dof.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Forestry is seeking to hire an Area Forester for our Shenandoah District in the Central Region. This position reports to the District Forester and implements the agency's forest management program at the local level.
Duties include providing professional assistance to private forest landowners and partner organizations in natural resources management and protection, land use planning, forestland conservation, urban and community forestry, watershed and riparian forest management, conservation education, and forest health. The area forester also provides forest resource information to partner agencies, local governments, private businesses, conservation organizations, and citizen groups. This position provides leadership in the prevention and suppression of forest fires, and enforces the seed tree, water quality and fire laws.
Location: This position is part of the Shenandoah District, covering Augusta, Clarke, Frederick, Highland, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren Counties, including the Cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, and Winchester.
Within 6 months of hire, the chosen candidate must reside in either Augusta County or the Cities of Staunton or Waynesboro.
This position is classified as having a home-based duty location. A take home state-owned vehicle, laptop, smartphone, and mobile printer will be provided.

Minimum Qualifications

Demonstrated knowledge of silviculture, forest measurements, wildfire suppression, prescribed burning, urban & community forestry, watershed protection and forest health; experience in technical and professional forestry work; ability to work independently; excellent organizational skills; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with personnel from various state and federal agencies, local planners, cooperators, and the public; public speaking skills and experience; demonstrated excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills; valid driver’s license; ability to negotiate different types of forested terrain on foot; ability to travel around the state and stay overnight on occasion; and experience with and ability to use a PC and Microsoft Office software required.

Preferred Qualifications:

B.S. degree in forestry or natural resources.

Special Instructions: 

RMS provides a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your RMS account to check the status of your application for this position.

Must be able to obtain a Virginia Commercial Pesticide Applicator's License within 6 months of employment. Must be able to obtain Commercial Driver’s License within 12 months of employment. As a responder for wildfires, must be willing and able to be on-call during Spring and Fall fire seasons. Must pass moderate physical fitness test, per Federal guidelines. The test consists of walking 2 miles in 30 minutes carrying a 25-pound pack. Selected candidate is required to be drug tested and pass a criminal background check.

Contact Information:

Name: Kristi Clore

Phone: 434-220-9029

Email: kristina.clore@dof.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor within the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their Certificate of Disability. If you need to get a Certificate of Disability, use this link: Career Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities, or call DARS at 800-552-5019, or DBVI at 800-622-2155.