10/24/2000 54431

FOREST HEALTH SUPERVISOR, DCNR

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

The employee in this class is responsible for planning and coordinating the statewide Forest Health 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 objectives for the Forest Health Program for both public and private lands; coordinating a Commonwealth-wide forest damage survey; diagnosing forest health problems, and recommending methods to improve forest health; supervising the provision of advice and information to field personnel and private landowners on forest health management topics and procedures; and coordinating research activities with the U.S. Forest Service, universities, and other Commonwealth agencies. Work is assigned in the form of program goals and objectives and is reviewed upon completion by the Forest Health Manager, DCNR through reports and conferences for attainment of goals and objectives, completeness, and overall program quality.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Develops, coordinates, implements, and evaluates the Forest Health Program.

Develops, coordinates, and supervises the implementation of research studies to investigate forest health problems.

Supervises a statewide forest damage survey.

Recommends remediation actions and prescriptions to improve forest health.

Determines the nature, extent, and distribution of forest diseases and pest problems and the advisability of control measures.

Develops informational bulletins to inform field personnel and private landowners of current pest or disease related problems and the most appropriate methods of treatment.

Prepares reports of forest health status, research findings, and trends in forest and pest detection and treatment.

Supervises forest health research projects.

Provides training to field personnel.

Supervises the identification and disposal of excess pesticides and chemicals for Bureau of Forestry field sites.

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

Knowledge of the principles, practices, and laboratory techniques used in forest pest management.

Knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques used in scientific research.

Knowledge of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology and its applications.

Knowledge of statistics and experimental plot design.

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

Ability to develop and conduct training programs for field personnel and the public.

Ability to develop implement, coordinate, and evaluate the Commonwealth wide forest health program.

Ability to plan schedule, organize, and evaluate the work of subordinates.

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, representatives of the United States Forest Service, university staff, 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.