District Forester-Blackwater District

Title: District Forester-Blackwater District

State Role Title: Natural Resource Manager II

Hiring Range: $61,000.00-$79,000.00 with state benefits

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Department of Forestry

Location: Eastern Office Southampton

Agency Website: www.dof.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) is seeking an experienced forester and leader for the Blackwater District Forester position in southeast Virginia. Localities covered by the Blackwater district include Sussex, Surry, Isle of Wight, Southampton, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Northampton, Accomack, Portsmouth, and Norfolk.

The Blackwater District Forester will lead nine field staff in accomplishing the agency mission and strategic goals. This position will include a mixture of office and field time, often working closely with DOF field staff to provide developmental guidance.

DOF District Foresters lead and supervise a staff of foresters, technicians, and specialists and provide direction, oversight, and work planning in program delivery for the following areas: forest management, fire suppression, forestland conservation, urban & community forestry, conservation education, forest health, and enforcement of silvicultural water quality and fire laws.

This position represents the agency in local forestry related issues, mentors and trains staff members, evaluates and provides feedback to staff on an on-going basis, manages employee performance, and ensures assigned staff are efficiently and effectively delivering agency services. The District Forester is also responsible for ensuring maintenance needs are met for any agency facilities located in their assigned district, which includes evaluating and tracking facility repairs and working with Regional and HQ staff to manage facility maintenance needs.

While the focus of this position is leadership and development of assigned staff, this position will have opportunities to perform field forester duties in support of the district’s goals.

Within 6 months of hire, the chosen candidate must reside within the DOF Blackwater District. This position is home based and part of the agency’s mobile workforce. A state vehicle is provided.

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge of silviculture, forest measurements, and forest management practices common to Virginia.
• Training or experience in natural resource conservation, forest health, and urban forestry.
• Knowledge of scientific principles and application of silvicultural best management practices for water quality.
• Supervisory training and knowledge of applicable Virginia state policies and procedures, laws, and regulations for personnel management.
• Experience using Geographic information systems, GPS units, and digital mapping tools.
• Completion of S-130 (Wildland Firefighter training), S-190 (Introduction to wildland fire behavior) and S-212 (Wildland fire chainsaw) National Wildfire Coordinating Group courses.
• Demonstrated presentation skills and ability to develop & lead successful training programs.
• Demonstrated excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Valid driver’s license holder or ability to obtain one by the date of hire.
• Ability to negotiate different types of forested terrain on foot including traversing logging debris, heavy brush, mud, swamps, and other adverse terrain and the ability to climb onto and around heavy equipment.
•Ability to travel around the state and stay overnight.
•Experience with and ability to use a PC and Microsoft Office software.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with personnel from various state and federal agencies, local planners, cooperators, and the public.

Additional Considerations

• Experience supervising and training employees.
• Demonstrated organizational skills including managing tasks, deadlines, and resources; prioritizing work, problem solving, and ensuring efficient team workflows.
• Experience leading wildland fire and/or prescribed fire crews.

Special Instructions

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

As a responder on wildfires, must be willing and able to be on-call during Spring and Fall fire seasons. Within one year of hire, must complete CDL training. 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 pass a criminal background check and a drug test.

Contact Information

Name: Kristina Clore

Phone: 434-529-7244

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 AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.