10/24/2000 54430

FOREST PEST SUPPRESSION SUPERVISOR, DCNR

DEFINITION: This is professional supervisory work administering the Commonwealth-wide Forest Pest Suppression Program in the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

The employee in this class is responsible for planning and coordinating the statewide Forest Pest Suppression Program in the Bureau of Forestry, Forest Pest Management Division, and supervising technical subordinate staff involved in performing research and other activities in support of the program. Work includes developing, planning, supervising, and evaluating the Forest Pest Suppression Program for both public and private lands. Work includes developing objectives for the program based upon the analysis of data gathered by subordinate field personnel and requests from private citizens and local governments; determining the number of aircraft, support vehicles, and quantities of materials necessary to effectively meet program goals; preparing contract specifications for all phases of the program to be subcontracted; coordinating the application phase of the program; evaluating program effectiveness based upon reports from field personnel; preparing a variety of reports summarizing and evaluating the effectiveness of the various phases of the program; and supervising the creation and distribution of maps utilized in the program through the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. Work is assigned in the form of program goals and objectives and is reviewed upon completion by the Forest Health Manger, DCNR through reports and conferences for attainment of goals and objectives, completeness, and overall program quality.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Plans and implements the Commonwealth-wide Forest Pest Suppression Program.

Develops, coordinates, implements, and evaluates program goals, objectives, and priorities based upon data collected by field personnel and requests for local governments and private landowners.

Prepares work plans, safety plans, and environmental assessment documents to ensure all state, federal, and local guidelines for spraying have been met.

Coordinates and supervises the implementation of the application phase of the program.

Evaluates field data to determine the effectiveness of the spraying program.

Meets with state, federal, and local government officials, media representatives, special interest groups, and the public to explain program goals and objectives.

Coordinates and implements training for field personnel, local government employees, contractors, and other participants.

Supervises the preparation and distribution of area spray maps to field personnel and contractors.

Develops plans for other application projects such as aerial fertilization or the ground application of herbicides.

Employees in this class may participate in the performance of their subordinates' work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the various destructive insects and diseases that affect the forests in the northeast United States.

Knowledge of application and treatment methods used in forest pest control.

Knowledge of the goals, objectives, practices, and principles of forest management.

Knowledge of GIS technology and its applications.

Knowledge of the procedures, methods, and techniques utilized in harmful insect and disease control on public and private forest land.

Ability to read, understand, interpret, and write technical forestry material.

Ability to plan, schedule, organize, and assign work to subordinates.

Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of the pest suppression program and report findings and recommendations.

Ability to develop and recommend technical forestry program rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written form.

Ability to read, interpret, and apply Commonwealth, Departmental, and Bureau of Forestry rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with program managers, field staff, contractors, special interest groups, and the public.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Five years of professional experience in the field of forest pest management which included one year of experience supervising technical employees, and a bachelor's degree in Biology, Forestry, Entomology, Pathology, Forest Entomology, Forest Ecology, or Forest Pathology;

                                                                                                                                                                                               or

An equivalent combination of experience and training.