Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?

Do you enjoy working with a community that is passionate about their public lands? Are you looking for a career where diverse forest management in a collaborative environment is the name of the game? The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is looking for an individual to fill their Environment Planner 3 position in Ellensburg, WA.

DNR manages 2.1 million acres of working forest on state trust lands for habitat, clean water and sustainable revenue to support public school construction and other beneficiaries. As the state’s largest nonfederal landowner, DNR plays a pivotal role in Washington State’s timber economy and the future of its forest heritage.

In order to achieve a variety of agency objectives, the DNR uses active management of timbered uplands primarily through silvicultural treatments. By promoting forest health and productivity, sustaining wildlife habitat, and maximizing revenue, this style of management plays a key role in keeping Washington’s forested state trust lands vibrant and healthy. Treatments in eastern Washington are wide ranging from harvesting timber to planting trees, thinning young stands, and reducing fuels to minimize fire risk and promote sustainability of resources.  Our public timber sales from these lands are designed to meet the goals of our Habitat Conservation Plan for Forested State Trust Lands and the requirements of the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). And, the volume of timber we seek to sell is guided by a Sustainable Harvest Calculation, authorized by the state Board of Natural Resources. Following harvests, we continuously maintain the health and vigor of our stands by inviting bids on silviculture contracts to replant state trust forests with tree seedlings from our own Webster Forest Nursery and thin young stands for long-term health and sustainability.

This position serves as an independent project manager responsible for guiding the development and implementation of a dynamic 6 year forest management plan for forest health, timber harvest, and silviculture activities for the North Alpine Unit including the Teanaway Community Forest. It frequently must assess, plan, and coordinate at the landscape level to implement unit Forest Health management strategies that compliment statewide goals and the Teanaway Community Forest Management plan.  As part of developing the plan, the position facilitates and incorporates input from external stakeholders (i.e., other state agencies, local or federal government, or interest groups and neighbors), providing assistance and guidance in the plan development process.

For the Teanaway Community Forest, decisions are made through a coordinated effort with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife as a conservation easement holder and partner and through coordination with the Teanaway Community Forest Advisory Committee. In addition to oversight of forest management, the position will supervise and assist staff in implementing recreation, and grazing projects within the Teanaway Community Forest, facilitate Teanaway Community Forest Advisory Committee meetings and participate in the Tapash Collaborative (a joint working group, agency and private, focused on Forest Health).

This position requires an individual to be able to multi-task and keep a level head. If you are excited by complex, socio-political upland management issues, then this is the job for you.

What we will trust you with:

Who are we looking for?

The right candidate has an understanding of:

This is typically achieved through a bachelor’s degree in forestry (or a closely related field) and 2 years of professional forestry experience, or a similar associate’s degree with 4 years of professional forestry experience, or a minimum of 6 years of professional forestry field experience.

Desirable Qualifications:

The Location

In the eastern shadow of the Cascade Mountains along Interstate 90, lies Ellensburg Washington, a college town that is just a hop, skip and a jump away from most everything. If you cannot find what you are looking for here, just drive about an hour or two in any direction to Yakima, Wenatchee, Seattle and the Puget Sound. Ellensburg has an arid, four-season climate, which averages only about nine inches of rain a year! The valley and surrounding mountains provide scenic trails for horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking. Kittitas County is home to the Yakima Canyon, the premier spot for trout fishing in the Northwest. The fall brings big game hunting to the hillsides of the valley. In the winter, snow shoeing and snowmobiling are prevalent. Ski and Snowboarding resorts are only a short drive away. In the summer months, try your hand at rock hounding to find an elusive Ellensburg Blue. Need a break from the outdoors? Downtown Ellensburg is one of the great historic shopping districts of the Pacific Northwest with a variety of clothing stores, bookstores, floral and gift shops to choose from. Ellensburg also offers many great restaurants, breweries, taverns and wineries with live music and dancing. Check out some great events in downtown such as Buskers in the Burg, Dachshunds on Parade, First Friday Art Walk, and Winterhop BrewFest. Take in all the excitement of the World Famous Ellensburg Rodeo every Labor Day Weekend or the simplicity of the local Farmers Market from May until October. Ellensburg has a little bit of excitement for everyone.

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 Joe Smith at (509) 925-0950 joe.smith@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.