Urban & Community Forester (Oklahoma County, OK)

[Matthew]

 

 

Forester Agency

040 DEPT OF AGRICULTURE FOOD & FORESTRY
Supervisory Organization

AG, Food & Forestry - EC Area–Oklahoma Forestry Service
Job Posting End Date (Continuous if Blank)

September 04, 2023
Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the posting end date above.

Estimated Appointment End Date (Continuous if Blank)

Full/Part-Time

Full time
Job Type

Regular
Compensation

up to $55,000.00
Job Description

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) is seeking a full time Urban & Community Forester in the Forestry Division. This position (PIN #040000611) is in state government, located in Oklahoma City, OK. The State of Oklahoma offers a comprehensive Benefits Package, including a generous benefit allowance to offset the cost of insurance premiums for employees and their eligible dependents. The annual salary for this position is up to $55,000.000  based on education and experience.

Basic Purpose: Positions in this job family are professional foresters assigned responsibilities to develop, implement, or administer forestry conservation and management programs, wildland fire management, and projects in an assigned district, region, or statewide.

Typical Functions

Provides professional forestry management to cities and towns, non-profit groups, homeowners, government and private agencies, and others on urban and community forestry projects, planting projects, tree maintenance, tree board establishment, tree ordinance establishment and revision, Tree City USA, Tree Campus USA, and Tree Campus K-8.
Assists Communities and non-profit groups to obtain grant money for urban forestry projects, assist with project implementation, and monitor projects after completion.

Analyze and develops specialized forestry plans for landowners, groups, or communities, which contain specific forestry recommendations, such as forest management guidelines, protection of water quality, protection of forests from fires and pests, improvement of wildlife habitat, control of erosion, tree planting and maintenance guidelines, and timber harvesting.
Conducts Tree Risk Assessments for public parks and assists communities with storm recovery efforts.
Travels with the Urban Forest Strike Team to states in the southern region to assist with natural disaster recovery.
Works with the Education Coordinator to educate and promote sustainable forestry practices through events, speaking engagements, and media.

Facilitate and participate in meetings, conferences, and seminars on forest management and conservation and urban forestry; develops and conducts training classes for employees, schools, civic groups, clubs and concerned citizens.
Level Descriptor: In this role incumbent will serve as a staff member in the Forestry Services Division with responsibility for developing assigned programs and provide functional or direct supervision and training to lower-level foresters in conducting assigned programs. These positions are responsible for all phases of development and coordination of assigned programs.

Education and Experience: Requirements this level consist of a bachelor’s degree in forestry or a related natural resources degree, plus three years of professional forestry experience; or a master’s degree in Forestry and two years of professional forestry experience; or a Doctoral degree in Forestry and one year of professional forestry experience.

Knowledge, Skill, and Abilities: Requirements at this level include knowledge of dendrology; of mensuration; of forest management; of silviculture; of modern forestry methods and techniques; of soil conservation techniques and principles; inventories, cutting and regeneration methods; of forest products, urban forestry; of tree physiology; of the methods, techniques; of report writing and recordkeeping; of forestry programs, and natural resources; of common plant pests and appropriate pest control measures; and of long-range planning. Ability is required to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; to express ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; to speak effectively before groups; to follow written and oral instructions; and to establish realistic direction for the district or the program assigned in consultation with higher level foresters and administrators.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: This position will be working in an office setting and outdoors. They will work closely with landowners, and other natural resources personnel. Field work sometimes occurs in extreme environmental conditions, such as: high/cold temperatures; high winds; smoke; and dust. Subject to call after regular duty hours to serve as needed in Fire Season. Travel could be up to 50% during extreme Fire Seasons.

Special Requirements: Applicants must be willing and able to fulfill all job-related travel normally associated with this position; be willing to work hours other than on regular shifts during emergency situations; and possess a telephone to receive emergency on-call duty messages.

Possession of a valid Oklahoma driver’s license at time of employment.

Applicants must be willing to obtain certification through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) after employment and obtain the Tree Risk Assessment Qualification after obtaining the ISA Certification.

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry has determined that some positions in this job family are safety sensitive as defined by 63 O.S. § 427.8.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The State of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information, race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability.

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