JOB TITLE: ASSISTANT FOREST PROGRAMS DIRECTOR

JOB CODE: 54422

DEFINITION: This is professional managerial work directing statewide forestry programs and operations for the Bureau of Forestry in the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).

An employee in this job oversees statewide forest protection, conservation, and stewardship operations. Work involves managing, planning, developing, and implementing forest health and fire protection, conservation and ecological resources, silviculture, state forest and park lands mineral activity, recreation, and field nursery operations. Work includes assisting the bureau director with preparing bureau budgets and the annual report; and planning, developing, recommending, and implementing statewide forestry rules, policies, procedures, and objectives. Work also includes overseeing regional outreach and landscape planning efforts, including coordinating with other agencies, government entities, and conservation organizations; and evaluating program efficiency at the division, section, and district level. Work is assigned through broad program goals and objectives and is reviewed by the bureau director through reports and conferences for attainment of program goals and objectives.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Supervises managers responsible for planning, developing, implementing, coordinating, and evaluating regional and statewide forestry health, protection, stewardship, and conservation programs.

• Develops, manages, and evaluates forest field operations and programs related to forest lands wildfire, insect, and disease prevention; or timber use, oil and gas leasing, infrastructure, recreation, natural heritage, and nursery wood projects.

• Develops, recommends, implements, and evaluates statewide forestry and natural resources program regulations, policies, procedures, goals, and objectives.

• Manages and develops infrastructure related to electronic systems, state forest recreation sites, and state forestlands administration, including working with land trusts and conservation organizations to facilitate green infrastructure.

• Coordinates recreation-related activities, including safety, forest rangers, and volunteer programs.

• Supervises and administers state forest and state park lands for oil and gas leases, extractions, and financial impact models. Resolves ownership and lease issues and coordinates oil and gas surface activity approvals.

• Ensures working partnerships with public agencies, local governments, conservation organizations, and landowners to direct forest stewardship and manage regional biological landscapes.

• Identifies and protects scenic, recreational, geological, and ecological components of the DCNR-managed lands.

• Develops adjoining lands strategies to support the state forest comprehensive planning initiatives.

• Works with the timber industry, forestry extensions, and other partners to improve educational outreach to private landowners regarding forest sustainability.

• Administers the silviculture program, including the timber revenue regeneration fund, timber sales, and district timber management.

• Supervises and monitors operations related to public and private land tree and shrub propagation and wood product conservation.

• Works with appropriate agencies developing policies, practices, and incentives to encourage landowners to utilize forest sustainability practices.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• An employee in this job may participate in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational and organizational requirements.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures governing forestry operations.

• Knowledge of the practices, principles, procedures, methods, and techniques utilized in forest ecology and natural resources management.

• Knowledge of the practices and methods of budgeting.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of employee supervision.

• Ability to perform mathematical and statistical modeling to analyze financial and forestry planning data.

• Ability to read, interpret, and develop written materials and technical reports related to forestry management.

• Ability to read, interpret, evaluate, develop, and apply rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities)

• One year of experience as a Forest Field Operations Manager or Forest Planning and Administration Director, DCNR (commonwealth titles);

or

• Three years of experience as a Forest District Manager or Forest Program Operations Manager (commonwealth titles);

or

• Nine years of professional experience in natural resources management, which includes four years of supervisory experience involving fiscal management and policy development; and a bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources, ecology, ecosystem management, environmental science, or a closely related field;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training, which includes four years of professional and supervisory natural resources management experience involving fiscal management and policy development.