There is currently one permanent full-time position open with the Oregon Department of Forestry located in Salem.  This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified candidates for this position and may be used to fill future vacancies. For specific questions regarding this position, please contact Terry Frueh, Interim Forest Health & Monitoring Manager, at (503) 945-7392.
 
The Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Mission is – To serve the people of Oregon through the protection, management, and promotion of a healthy forest environment, which will enhance Oregon’s livability and economy for today and tomorrow.  ODF is a multi-programmed, multi-funded public agency chartered and structured to administer the forest laws and policies of the State of Oregon, within the framework of sustainable forests, for the benefit of all Oregonians.

This position is part of the Monitoring staff of the Private Forests Program in Salem.  The purpose of this program is: to encourage economically efficient forest practices that ensure the continuous growing and harvesting of forest tree species, consistent with the sound management of soil, air, water, fish and wildlife resources and to assure the continued benefits of these resources for future generations; to provides technical and financial assistance to non-federal forest landowners to improve the management on private forest lands; and to minimize the incidence and severity of forest insect and disease impacts on non-federal forest land throughout the state. The benefits derived from this program affect all Oregonians.  The program directly regulates forest operations statewide on all non-federal forestland.  The program also encourages voluntary actions that go beyond the standards of the forest practice rules and as such is a major element supporting the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds.

The purposes of this position are:  (1) to plan, lead, improve and implement a state-wide monitoring and evaluation program to measure the implementation and effectiveness and of the Oregon Forest Practices Act in meeting Private Forest Program goals and objectives; (2) coordinate monitoring activities within the department and among state and federal agencies, research scientists, forest landowners and other interests; (3) provide technical guidance and consultation on monitoring to forestry staff and field personnel, landowners and other groups; (4) serve as a technical advisor to the state about monitoring needs and methods; and (5) design databases, manage data in a GIS system, and perform advanced statistical analysis of data sets in order to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of the Forest Practices Act. This position will complete tasks and assignments without supervision and independently decide day to day methods, priorities, and activities to achieve results.

The Oregon Department of Forestry: Serving Oregonians by protecting Oregon’s forests.

Major duties include but are not limited to:

Project Management, Research and Analysis

• Initiate complex natural resource monitoring and research projects.  Plan, lead, and implement special projects or new program activities.  Develop monitoring strategies for specific projects including goals, objectives, statistical sampling and analysis design, and field procedures. Coordinate information gathering efforts, proposals, and procedures with appropriate participants (other agencies, private landowners, and volunteer groups).
• Frequently serve as project leader.
• Serve as a member on technical advisory committees.
• Monitor project status to ensure progress towards completion.  Evaluate compliance with procedures and full and timely completion. Inform interested groups and individuals of progress.
• Oversee the collection of original field data through complex and highly technical observations and measurement.
• Independently perform quality assurance, manage and analyze the data, and present it in tabular and graphical form using statistical analyses, database, spreadsheet, and geographic information system software.
• Write reports describing the findings, conclusions, and policy implications.  Provide policy and monitoring recommendations.

Review and Technical Assistance

• Lead and train the monitoring permanent and seasonal staff in database management, data analysis, field training and orientation.
• Review, evaluate and edit internal and external technical documents.
• Communicate (in writing and in presentations) technical findings and policy and training implications to decisions makers, board of forestry and the public.

Because the Department’s highest priority work is a forest fire emergency, this position may be utilized during those emergencies to provide assistance in a variety of ways.  That assistance may be directly aiding the emergency effort in the field or at the Salem headquarters.  It also may be in providing backup to fill in for another position that is being used in direct aid to the emergency, or it may be in performing an essential function in some capacity either within this Program or elsewhere in Salem or in the field.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Employee must be able to work outdoors and walk over rough terrain in variable weather conditions.  There is frequent out-of-town travel and irregular working hours outside the 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. norm. Required to drive an assigned vehicle, obeying all traffic laws.

Minimum Qualifications

• Three years of experience in Forestry or related natural resource field.  At least one year of the experience must be at a technical or professional level performing activities in a natural resource program such as researching and analyzing data, conducting investigations, applying pertinent laws and regulations, or coordinating and monitoring project activities; AND
  
• A Bachelor’s degree in Forestry or related natural resource degree; OR three additional years of related (pertinent) experience.
  
• A Master’s degree in Forestry or related natural resource degree will substitute for up to one year of the required experience.

NOTE: Transcripts are required to be attached to your application if you are using education or coursework to meet the minimum qualifications. Transcripts must clearly show 1) your name; 2) the name and address of the institution; 3) the degree received and; 4) required courses completed with a passing grade. For application purposes, unofficial copies are acceptable; however official or original documents may be requested to validate education. Transcripts must be attached to your application and WILL NOT be accepted as verification of education after the announcement has closed.

DESIRED ATTRIBUTES:

• Experience in developing and implementing project plans, field protocols to examine the implementation or effectiveness of natural resource management activities, and leading field crews
• Extensive experience with at least one each of statistical analysis package and database management software (managing, organizing, preparing and analyzing complex data sets), including quality control.
• Experience presenting scientific monitoring and research projects in different formats (publications, reports, posters, presentations) and to different audiences (public, landowners and operators, policy makers, research and monitoring peers, etc.). Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience acting in a leadership role during complex natural resource evaluation discussions involving a range of different public and private stakeholders; demonstrates understanding and skills for navigating complex, difficult conversations, and facilitating meetings. Developed, planned, and executed a communication process or strategy.
• At least two years of experience using GIS.

For the aforementioned bullet points, the experience would be at least two years post-graduate in forestry or a related natural resources discipline. Preference may be given to candidates with at least a master’s degree.

NOTE: This position may require the operation of a State vehicle for the purpose of conducting official State business. An Oregon driving record check will be conducted on the top applicants to ensure a valid license and acceptable driving record.  If your license is from outside Oregon, you must submit at least a three year court/DMV printout at the time of interview.

An unacceptable driving record includes:

• Conviction of a major traffic offense within the previous 24 months which includes reckless driving, driving under the influence, failing to perform the duties of a driver, criminal driving while suspended or revoked, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, felony hit and run, etc.;
• Felony revocation of driving privileges or felony or misdemeanor   license suspension within the previous 24 months;
• More than 3 moving traffic violations in the previous 12 months;
• A careless driving conviction in the previous 12 months;
• A Class A moving traffic violation in the previous 12 months.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

To improve communication with all applicants the State of Oregon requires an e-mail address be provided on all applications.  If you do not currently have an e-mail address and do not know where to go to get one, please refer to our Applicant Frequently Asked Questions web page to view several links to internet providers where you can get a free e-mail account. The State of Oregon does not endorse any particular provider.

To ensure clear communication, please unfilter emails from neogov.com and governmentjobs.com.

Please note: The employee in this position will be represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and will be subject to all terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreement.  Pay and benefits on all job announcements may change without further notice.

To apply, follow the “Apply” link above and complete the Oregon Employment Application online. All application materials must be received by the closing date/time posted on this announcement.

This announcement has supplemental information required for submission. Please see the SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS section of this announcement.

If you require an alternate format in order to complete the employment process, you may call ODF Human Resources at 503-945-7200.

Only complete applications will be considered. Your answers to the supplemental questions must be reflected in the work experience section of your application. Be sure to answer all supplemental questions and attach all required documents. Responses to the supplemental questions will determine if you meet the minimum qualifications, any special qualifications and/or desired attributes for the position. Do not submit a resume in place of completing the Supplemental Questionnaire or the Work Experience section of the application. 

Qualified applicants whose responses most closely match the requirements for this position will be invited to interview. Transcripts must be submitted to receive credit for education coursework at the time of application.

Veterans – If you are an eligible veteran and you meet the minimum qualifications, veterans’ preference points will be added to your score. To receive veterans’ preference points you MUST attach to your electronic application the following required documentation:

• A copy of the DD214/215 for the five (5) point preference;
• OR A copy of the DD214/215; AND a veteran’s disability preference letter from the United States Department of Veterans’ Affairs for the ten (10) point preference.

For more information on veterans’ preference points visit www.oregonjobs.org, and select veterans’ preference.

PLEASE NOTE: The Oregon Department of Forestry does not offer visa sponsorships. Within three days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete U.S. Department of Homeland Security form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States.