Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Forest Science/Management, or a closely related field of academic study, from a university program accredited by the Society of American Foresters or comparable accrediting institution, or current Society of American Foresters Certified Forester status.
• Two years advanced level professional experience equivalent to the NR Forestry Specialist Senior class - plan, direct staff, administer budget, administer, and implement programs, consult, interact with other resource disciplines and train and educate; OR three years intermediate level professional experience equivalent to the NR Forestry Specialist, Intermediate class.
• Ability to develop schedules, studies, research projects and work assignments sufficient to efficiently and effectively accomplish Forestry program objectives and implement forestry science.
• Ability to administer program sufficient to manage, properly allocate limited resources and to direct activities.
• Ability to train and teach sufficient to convey information in classrooms, field demonstrations, seminars, workshops and to DNR staff.
• Human relations sufficient to direct, administer and train foresters and to lead personnel working in programs.
• Oral and written communication skills sufficient to communicate complex concepts and principals to other resource professions and the public and make effective presentations to a wide variety of audiences by identifying their level of understanding and evoking a positive response.
• Ability to prepare and edit high quality technical reports and management plans and research and interpretation scientific literature sufficient to solve problems, educate others and increase expertise in a specialty area.
• Ability to integrate information from scientific literature, historical data and past experiences sufficient to devise risk-rating systems and management guidelines.
• Leadership skills sufficient to motivate people and obtain program commitment from division personnel and other Forest managers.
• Ability to negotiate budget, staffing needs and equipment allocation sufficient to administer programs and train personnel.
• Certified as a Forest Officer or equivalent.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of Department and Division policy, procedure and operating guidelines; State of Minnesota statutes pertaining to natural resources management; statistically sound survey techniques.
• Successful completion of a professional forester development program; and a leadership development program.
• Broad range of experiences with all programs administered by the Division of Forestry statewide with an emphasis on the major field operations programs: 1) State Land Management; 2) Resource Protection with an emphasis on fire suppression and management; 3) Forest Resource Information and Analysis with an emphasis on FIM; and 4) Cooperative Forest Management.
• Wildfire Investigator, or ability to obtain Wildfire Investigator status within two (2) years of hire.
• ICT3 Incident Commander.
• Single resource boss qualified AND ICT4 trainee, OR unit leader qualified, OR Forest Officer Investigator qualified.

Additional Requirements

This position requires an unrestricted Class D Drivers license with a clear driving record.

Applicants must have the ability to meet the physical requirements and work in the environmental conditions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

It is policy of the Department of Natural Resources that all candidates submit to a background check prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components:

• Conflict of Interest Review
• Criminal History Check
• Education Verification
• Employment Reference / Records Check
• License / Certification Verification