Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?

Do you like traveling and working outside in the woods? Do you have an interest in supporting a state-of-the-art forest inventory program? We are looking for an individual who possesses a strong “woods-sense” and is capable of driving forest roads and hiking across remote and difficult terrain towards the goal of collecting forest inventory data, which supports a remote-sensing program involving more than 2.1 million acres. This Forest Technician position is largely field based, with an estimated 85% of the time worked spent traveling either locally or regionally to DNR managed forest parcels for data collection. From this position, you would have the opportunity to work across the majority of the state and see a wide variety of forest types and conditions. On average, 3 out of 4 weeks in a given month are spent in travel status, meaning that the candidate would work in a team somewhere else in the state sampling inventory plots for our remote-sensing inventory. This is not a position for someone who has a need to be home every night, but for the right person it means getting to see a ton of cool places, forests and cities across the state of Washington. The position has a four day work-week schedule of Monday through Thursday with a ten-hour work day.

What we will trust you with:

Typical duties involve using ESRI software, handheld Android tablets for data collection, operating high-precision GPS systems, navigating to remote plot locations, training others in the field measurement protocol, and performing QA/QC on associated contractual work.

Who are we looking for?

The right candidate has:

Desirable Qualifications:

The Location

The Inventory Forester position is expected to work out of the Olympia, WA. downtown-based Natural Resources Building, with travel occurring to all regions of the state towards the duties of the position. Because of this, and the nature of the sampling grid for the inventory plots, the data to be collected is always in a new spot; though some areas of the state hold more plots than others, the work takes place in unique spots every time we measure. You’ll see coastal areas, high-elevation stands, lowland valleys, and eastside forests. Wherever there is forested land that is managed by the Department of Natural Resources, we have plots in place waiting to be measured!

At DNR, we value public service, innovation and creative problem solving, safety and well-being, and leadership and teamwork. At DNR you’ll support the vision of a sustainable future by using your skills to protect and manage the state’s natural resources for both current and future generations. As a DNR employee, you’ll work with the public’s interest in mind as we manage more than 5 million acres of state-owned forest, range, commercial, agricultural and aquatic lands. But managing lands is only half of our story. We house the Washington Geological Survey, a dynamic program that is the primary source of geological products and services in support of decision making in Washington. We also protect other public resources such as fish, wildlife, water, and provide public access to outdoor recreation. Two of our largest and most important state-wide resource protection responsibilities are fire prevention and suppression, and overseeing forest practices.

We are nearly 1,500 employees strong and dedicated to making DNR a great place to work. Our mission is to serve Washington’s lands and communities; build strong and healthy rural communities; enhance forest health and wildfire management; strengthen the health and resilience of our lands and waters; and increase public engagement and commitment to our public lands and resources. In partnership with citizens and governments, we provide innovative leadership and expertise to ensure environmental protection, public safety, perpetual funding for schools and communities, and a rich quality of life.  At DNR we approach our work through the lens of making Washington a better place environmentally, economically and socially for current and future generations.

What makes DNR a great place to work?

• Transitioning to a modern work environment
• Mobile work
• Infants at work program
• Commitment to organizational health and wellness
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council
• Leadership that empowers and supports employees
• Work/life balance
• Leadership development opportunities
• Educational aid and career development stipends
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility
• Opportunities to participate in wildland fire suppression assignments
• Opportunities to stretch your professional skills
• A comprehensive benefit package that includes employer contributions toward health insurance, paid holidays, retirement plans, sick leave and vacation days. Visit http://careers.wa.gov/benefits.html for more information.

Application Process

To be considered you must apply online at www.careers.wa.gov (Click on the APPLY button above). You must complete the entire online application to be considered for the position.

• You must attach the following:
  • A letter of interest describing how your experience and qualifications relate to the position profile, required and desired position qualifications, and special position requirements.
  • A resume including the names of three to five professional references

Carefully review your application materials before submitting. If you fail to submit the required documents or complete the entire online application, you may no longer be considered for the position by the supervisor.

Application Status – once you submit your online application, you can check your status by logging into your account.  Finalists for the position will be contacted by the hiring manager directly. Recruitment may be extended depending on the quantity and quality of the application pool.

Questions?  Please contact Jacob Beard at (360) 902-1679, Jacob.beard@dnr.wa.gov or e-mail us at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov.

Washington State Department of Natural Resources is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind.  We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities in a fair and impartial manner for all persons without regard to age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, creed, color, national origin, religion, pregnancy/parental status, genetic information, military status, political affiliation, criminal history or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.  Persons with a disability who need assistance during the screening process or those needing this announcement in an alternative format may contact DNR Recruiting staff (360) 902-1350 or (360) 902-1139.  DNR may be contacted using the Washington State Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) by dialing 711.