Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING

Position Number:  00101097

Description Activated On:  2/25/2025 10:36:40 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. 

 An employee in this class provides support and assistance to foresters and assistant district forester in day-to-day activities on the State Forest. Employee will perform a variety of forestry assignments in the areas of timber sales, fire prevention, insect and disease control, forest regeneration, and recreation projects. Work is reviewed while in progress and upon completion for quality of work and compliance with Departmental standards.

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.

FOREST MANAGEMENT
 Mark and estimate timber stumpage on sale areas using dendrology and mensuration skills, following instructions and prescriptions provided by a forester.
 Survey and mark timber sale boundaries, herbicide spray blocks and planting sites laid out by a forester.
 Survey timber sales and other projects, as needed using GPS and other appropriate technology.
 Plot surveys and draw appropriate maps using GIS and other techniques for approval of a forester.
 Assist foresters with collection of field data for stand analysis, sale layout, etc.
 Assist in laying-out timber haul roads and skid trails.
 Revegetate areas for erosion control and wildlife benefits.
 Assist forester in compartment exams to obtain information necessary for the forester to make treatment recommendations.
 Assist management foresters as needed on various projects.
 Maintain wildlife openings.
 Apply pesticides for forest management, maintenance, and invasive plant control.
 Assist with the installation, maintenance, and removal of fencing to exclude deer.
 May be assigned as lead worker for a crew of semi-skilled laborers and/or other maintenance workers and volunteers for the execution of projects planned by foresters. These projects may include deer fence construction and maintenance, tree planting, timber marking, seed collection and wildlife habitat management.
MAINTENANCE
 Assist in maintenance of tools, and equipment, including but not limited to paint guns, hand saws, shovels, planting bars, chain saws, power auger, gasoline generator, pumps, sprayers, etc.
 Assist in maintenance of roads, and facilities throughout the State Forest.
 Paint and/or stain state forest buildings, signs, gates, boundaries, etc.
 Operate various equipment such as ATVs & UTVs, tractors, skid loaders, chain saws, brush hog, sickle bar mower, and mower deck, etc.
FOREST FIRE PROTECTION
 Assist in wildfire prevention, pre-suppression, suppression, and prescribed fire operations.


FOREST INSECT AND DISEASE CONTROL
 Assist district FPM coordinator in identifying forest insect and disease problems encountered during routine work on State Forest Lands and reporting the information to a supervisor or Forest Pest Management.
 Assist in insect control programs as directed, including surveillance flights, ground checking and spray projects.
This Job Description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employee will follow other job-related instructions and perform other job-related duties required by his supervisor.

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.

This is not a supervisory position, but the employee can give direction to his crew in relation to field work assigned by a forester. Routine duties are performed according to established methods and procedures. Performance standards are communicated through explanations and/or demonstrations by supervisor or professional foresters.

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. Communicate with co-workers in both oral and written format.
 2. Read, write, interpret and understand technical data such as plans and specifications for forest management.
 3. Frequently negotiate rough and uneven terrain over long distances.
 4. Frequently work outdoors under adverse weather conditions.
 5. Use forest management principles, tools, techniques and instruments such as GPS and GIS effectively.
 6. Use hand tools such as saws,chainsaws, hammers, axes, etc.
 7. Interpret plans and specifications for forest management projects.
 8. Carry work materials up to 50 lbs. over uneven terrain.
 9. Observe safety and health requirements.
 10. Operate a motor vehicle.