Position Description

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING
Position Number: 00048540	Description Activated On: 7/20/2026 8:11:13 AM

Position Purpose: Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organization’s objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively.

This job description is for the Resource Management Forest District Assistant Manager position in the Loyalsock Forest District #20. Assigned work is to assist the District Forester with the management, administration, and operations of this Forest District primarily in the area of state forest resource management, rural and community forestry and forest fire protection. This includes supervision of personnel. The working title for this position is Assistant District Forester.

Description of Duties: Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor.

Silviculture:
1) Use tools and equipment common to the forester profession to accomplish work.
2) Supervise management foresters, service forester, forest technician, and any other employees assigned to work regularly with the foresters and forest technician.
3) Help prepare district’s annual forest acres treatment goals and work toward achievement of these goals.
4) Maintain compartment examination schedule, assign compartment examination work to management foresters, review compartment exam work and record data in the Bureau’s accepted manner.
5) Prepare timber sale and resource management reports and records for the District Forester’s review.
6) Review timber sale proposals, forms, and reports completed by management foresters.
7) Perform oversight on contract timber sale operations, including post-harvest treatments.
8) Assist with special forest management projects.
9) Maintain timber sale record files and maps.
10) Manage inventory of forest management equipment and supplies. Order or direct the ordering of equipment and supplies as required. This includes forester personnel tools and equipment.
11) Participate in the scouting, planning, surveying, layout, mapping, marking and administration of state forest timber sales.
12) Learn to use GPS/GIS and take a leadership role in helping the other management foresters develop their GPS/GIS skills. Participant in related training and development programs.
13) Assist with the development and implementation of the new state forest resource plan as directed.
14) Attend silviculture and forest resource management meetings. Direct attendance by management foresters and forest technician as deemed necessary. Encourage their participation in professional development opportunities.
15) Continuously, and informally evaluate the effectiveness of the District’s silvicutural activities and make adjustments within the scope of your authority and/or make recommendations to the District Forester for improvement.
16) Coordinate and provide oversight for the forest regeneration activities in the District. This may include herbicide projects, tree planting, deer fencing and other such activities. Prepare requests for regeneration project funds within the Bureau’s established guidelines and contracts, and maintain the required documentation for the same.

Energy Resources:
1) Supervises District Energy Forester in the proper administration of energy extraction practices.
2) Reviews extraction sites, access roads and rights-of-way proposed by Lessees for environmental soundness.
3) Implements extraction and transportation of energy resources into the multiple resource management and landscape management concepts of the district.
4) Inspects extraction sites, access road and right-of-way layout, construction, maintenance and retirement.
5) Oversees the assessment of timber damages and verifies volumes and values. Prepares invoices for timber damages and manages payment from Lessees and transmittals to Comptroller.
6) Coordinates with Lessees and Operators during developement of extraction sites, haul roads and rights-of-way to allow damaged timber to be removed and utilized.
7) Communicates with Operations ADF when operations concerning energy resource extraction are in close proximity, or have a direct impact on forest leased campsites.
8) Communicates with District Forester, forest users, media and outside agencies on developements in this program area.
9) Keeps informed of changes in the energy extraction processes. Attends training sessions as required to increase knowledge and skills.
10) Reviews and understands policies, leases and other contract documentation concerning the extraction of energy resources.
11) Keeps District Forester informed of developments, trends and concerns in the program area.
12) Oversees the education of district staff and general public on energy resource extraction and developement. Oversees the education of general public on the uses of alternative energy resources, such as woody biomass, non-woody biomass, and wind.

Rural and Community Forestry:
1) Supervise Service Forester and manage the RCF program within the forest district.
2) Assist Service Forester with landowner visits, forest landowner groups, plan writing and administration of the Forest Stewardship Program.
3) Guide and assist Service Forester with community/urban forestry throughout the district and assist with annual recognition programs and Arbor Day proclamations.
4) Supervise and assist Service Forester with local environmental education efforts to include career days, outdoor training opportunities and the Envirothon competition.
5) Support the district's public outreach program. Direct the district's participation in outreach opportunities such as county fairs, local festivals, and career fairs.
6) Guide and support the Service Forester with grant administration and applications.
7) Foster a cooperative atmosphere with local governmental agencies such as Conservation Districts, National Resource Conservation Service, PSU Cooperative Extension, among others.
8) Supervise the Service Forester's involvement in supporting local and regional forest products and forest industry groups.

Rights-of-Ways:
1) Prepare Road Use Agreements, Right-of-Way Agreements, Antennae Site Agreements and similar use agreements as required by Bureau policy and guidelines. Coordinate this work with the District Forester, Operations ADF, appropriate central office staff, and the grantee. Initiate action on License for Right-of-Way requests.
2) Coordinate with Operations ADF on maintenance of right-of-ways granted to Department from private landowners.
3) Implement rights-of-ways and use agreements into the multiple resource management and landscape management concepts of the district.

State Forest Maintenance and Operations;
1) Coordinate with Maintenance/Operations ADF and District Forester to authorize routine expenditures for state forest maintenance supplies, tools and equipment in their absence.
2) Assist Maintenance/Operations ADF with the preparation of Road Use Agreements, Right-of-Way Maintenance Agreements and etcetera as required by Bureau policy and guidelines.
3) Work with Maintenance/Operations ADF to foster coordination and cooperation between Loyalsock State Forest maintenance/operations and Worlds End State Park, PennDot, Game Commission and Sullivan and Lycoming county local governments.
4) Assist Operations ADF with water impoundment inspections and other inspections, stream inventories and etcetera on or adjacent to the state forest as directed.

State Forest Recreation and Special Programs;

1) Participate in state forest recreation facility planning, development, maintenance, volunteer program, and reviews.
2) Guide foresters and technicians to assist the Maintenance/Operations Assistant with the State Forest Leased Campsite Program on the State Forest as directed.
3) Provide additional State Forest Officers to assist with patrol of state forest land when directed. Provide pertinent and accurate information to Forest Rangers when their assistance is requested.
4) Issue permits and collect fees.
5) Participate in search and rescue efforts within your level of training and as required or requested. Ensure vehicles and personnel remain ready and equipped with the proper materiels to quickly respond to a search and rescue request.
6) Prepare and participate in presentations for the public including tours, open house programs, round tables, fairs, and other public meetings.
7) Foster an effective working relationship amongst the Loyalsock State Forest, World's End State Park, Game Commission, State Police, and local law enforcement agencies.
8) Acquire and maintain Act 120 for Supervisors certification. Attend annual updates and other training as required.

Forest Fire Protection:

1) Supervise and mentor Forest Fire Specialist Supervisor(s) assigned to FD 20.
2) Audit Fire Bills and Fire Reports.
3) Coordinate and participate in all phases of the District's Wildfire Investigations. Interact with all those involved throughout the process until a satisfactory settlement is reached through the courts or otherwise.
4) Coordinate, participate and encourage a purposeful and effective wildfire training program in the District among staff, volunteers, cooperators and other interested parties. This includes coordinating, setting-up and conducting the required Forest Fire Warden Training Meetings.
5) Support, encourage and direct the FireWise Program within the District.
6) Maintain the fire equipment inventory for both state equipment and Federal Excess equipment.
7) Maintain the District's Fire Resource Plan and Fire Record Plan. Fire Resource Plan is to be kept current and accurate from year to year as well as during the year. Direct the Forest Fire Specialist Supervisor to obtain the necessary information to keep the Fire Resource Plan accurate.
8) Maintain the District Fire Atlas utilizing GIS.
9) Evaluate the effectiveness of the District's Fire Protection Program and make recommendations to District Forester.
10) Coordinate, support and encourage an effective and purposeful wild fire prevention program within the District. Solicit assistance from all District staff and volunteers.
11) Maintain an effective Forest Fire Warden program within the District. Recruit personnel as needed, provide quality training and encourage active participation in prevention and suppression activities.
12) Prepare and coordinate a District Fire Readiness Code that incorporates fire weather, all district staff and has the approval of the District Forester. Insure the Fire Danger signes throughout the District are properly maintained and are posted with the appropriate fire danger warning level.
13) Maintain a light aircraft contract for the District, used primarily for fire protection. Schedule reconnaisance flights as needed. Act as an aerial observer during recon flights and suppression flights.
14) Participate in the districts prescribed fire program. Including pre-work, assisting at the burn, and mop-up. Other duties to include those for which you are Task Book qualified to perform.

Other Duties;
1) Stay alert to potential forest health problems in the Commonwealth and especially within the Forest District on all lands, public or private. Alert the Bureau’s forest health staff of any concerns. Supervise the Forest Pest and Disease Coordinator.
2) Participate in any District’s forest pest or forest disease control program as directed.
3) Use computer equipment and other electronic equipment provided to you in order to function more efficiently in your job.
4) Take advantage of media opportunities to advance the publics knowledge and education on the Bureau of Forestry and forestry issues in general. Make written contributions to the District’s newsletter. Review District literature, trail guides, maps, and etcetera from time-to-time. Re-write and make updates or appropriate changes to these informational materials or delegate this duty to responsible staff persons with the approval of the District Forester.
5) Make aerial observations of the District as needed for forest management, fire protection, law enforcement or other related reasons.
6) Approve leave of subordinates and other district staff in the absence of the District Forester.
7) Sign checks, purchasing documents, correspondence and etc. when District Forester is not readily available to do so.
8) Respond to complaints from the public or district employees. Advise or refer complaints to the District Forester when deemed appropriate.
9) Prepare, evaluate, update, and review subordinate employee job descriptions.
10) Complete performance evaluations on subordinate employees.
11) Answer the telephone when clerical staff is not available or otherwise occupied.
12) Interview, select, and submit necessary documents to Harrisburg for the filling of vacant, seasonal, wage, positions and limited term, college, intern, positions under your supervision and assist the District Forester with the filling of other vacancies as directed.
13) Maintain assigned Commonwealth vehicle.
14) Respond to subordinate grievances.
15) Participate in District staff meetings.
16) Work cooperatively with the other Forest Assistant Manager.
17) Brief the District Forester at least once a week on activities occurring under your direction.
18) Prepare letters, reports, documents, and correspondence relative to your position.
19) Monitor fish and wildlife behaviors, changes, occurrences, and etc. on the Loyalsock State Forest. Prepare reports and make recommendations which will be directed to the responsible state agencies. Coordinate requests for any special project funds related to fish or wildlife.
20) Function as the District Safety Coordinator and utilize the support from District Safety Officer and Right-to-Know Officer.
21) Assist the District Forester as directed.

Decision Making: Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisor’s signature.

Some decision making process is contained above. The incumbent has the authority to make necessary, short-term district management decisions in the absence of the District Manager. When in doubt, the incumbent must seek the advise of the District Manager.

Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License

Experience:

Licenses, registrations, or certifications:

1.   Class C Driver's License

2.   N/A

3.   N/A

4.

5.

6.

Essential Functions: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.

1.	Read, write, & comprehend what is read.
2.	Ability to supervise .
3.	Physical ability for fire fighting.
4.	Maintain sound English language and grammar skills and the ability to speak before an audience.
5.	Ability to use computer, GIS, and GPS.
6.	Function as a professional forester.
7.	Serve as a Forest Fire Warden
8.	Serve as a State Forest Officer.
9.	Understand safety requirements of job.
10.	Understand useage of heavy equipment.