Forester - Silviculturist (II/III)

BASIC FUNCTIONS OF WORK

The Forester functions under the general direction of the Forest Program Manager and is in charge of all phases of Presale/Silvicultural programs on all Kalispel Tribe forested lands. Major areas of responsibility include identification and preparation of harvest units, timber stand improvement prescriptions, meeting annual allowable cut (AAC) targets, developing and maintaining annual and 5 year harvest schedules, planning and directing Forest management and inventory planning programs, and ensuring all forestry activities meet the requirements of the National Environmental Protection Act and Tribe cultural clearances. Prepares and administers contracts related to timber sales and timber stand improvement projects including planting, cone collection, mastication, and pre-commercial thinning.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

The Forester performs work under the general supervision of the Forest Program Manager with substantial latitude for exercise of independent judgment and decision making. Work is reviewed by the Forest Program Manager through reports, meetings and one-on-one discussions.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

A Forester II, or III will supervise up to two Forestry technicians.

REPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLES OF WORK

• Organizes and works closely with KNRD staff to conduct forest stand and habitat assessment studies; determines extent of sampling necessary for prescribed standards of accuracy.
• Selects standardized statistical and research procedures; evaluates and analyzes collected data; formulates conclusions and writes summaries; drafts technical report sections for review by supervisory biologists;
• Is responsible for all pre-sale activities on the Kalispel Indian Reservation and fee land; Sets up sale parameters including determination of cruise design, silvicultural prescriptions, harvesting methods and layout, new road location and design, timber appraisal, post-harvest treatments, volume to be harvested annually, and length of time of sale contract.
• Prepares and updates the 5-year plan annually that considers forest health conditions, landscape level harvest impacts, Tribal direction, and harvest levels recommended in the current Forest Management Plan and works with all KNRD disciplines as needed (ID team). Maintains harvest history spatially in ArcGIS and a rolling numerical tracking of past and future harvesting against the AAC.
• Provides technical consultation to Tribal members, landowners, businesses, agency personnel and other interactions with commercial or industrial activities; consults with other governments and agencies.
• Works closely with other departments such as roads, archeology, and planning to ensure timber sale requirements are met.
• The incumbent is responsible for the detection and prevention/mitigation of insect and/or disease outbreaks. Recommends procedures and management actions for best control methods to mitigate forest health issues.
• Initiates and leads interdisciplinary team (ID team) process for review and conditioning of all proposed harvest actions; ensures compliance of all actions with Tribal management plans and forest habitat protection regulations (e.g., SEPA, NEPA, NHPA, Hydraulics code, Shoreline Management Act, Forest Practices Code) and other applicable plans, laws and regulations are applied and implemented.
• Ability to correctly write and prepare NEPA documents (CATEX, EA), WADNR Forest Practices permits and county (Spokane, Pend Oreille, and Bonner) forest management plans.
• Directs the marking, cruising, and quality control of all allotted and Tribal timber.
• Directs the writing of all timber sale documents, including but not limited to contracts/permits, prospectus, NEPA documents, prescriptions, Forest Officers Reports and advertisements.
• Plans, prepares and directs forest health and forest development contracts such as planting, cone collection and processing, and pre-commercial thinning.
• Maintains oversight on the Forest Inventory Analysis (FIA) and the Forest Management Plan (FMP) for all Kalispel Tribal and allotted lands.
• Is responsible for preparing and documenting timber appraisals requested by the housing department.

 RECRUITING INDICATORS (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES)

 Knowledge of:

Practical and technical knowledge of vegetation sampling and monitoring methods, procedures, and technology, and skill to apply that knowledge with only general supervision to solve practical problems in a wide range of functions.

• Knowledge of Kalispel Reservation flora and plant community types found. Ability to quickly and correctly identify habitat types found on Kalispel Tribal lands.
• Practical knowledge of statistics and sampling techniques.
• Strong working knowledge of GPS units and ArcGIS to develop and update geographic data bases reflecting vegetation monitoring, vegetation change, forest health identification and monitoring, and growth and mortality trends.
• Technical expertise in MBG TOOLS (or another cruise compilation software), Microsoft Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, FVS Or FPS (or another growth and yield modeling software), and GPS interface software such as Trimble Pathfinder and/or Avenza.
• Ability to: write and speak clearly and effectively including the ability to synthesize research findings and formulate effective strategy for ecosystem restoration.
• Must be able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (EDUCATION AND TRAINING)

Forester II

• A Bachelors degree in forestry, natural resources management, environmental science, or related field and minimum of 2 years of professional experience in silviculture and all phases of forestry management with experience writing silvicultural prescriptions.
• Applicants having experience working with habitat types located in Northeast Washington or the Idaho Panhandle will be given preference.
• A master’s degree in the applicable science may be substituted for 2 years of required experience.

Forester III

• A bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources management, environmental science, or related field and 6 years of professional experience in silviculture and all phases of forestry management with experience writing silvicultural prescriptions.
• Applicants having experience working with habitat types located in Northeast Washington or the Idaho Panhandle will be given preference.
• A master’s degree in the applicable science may be substituted for 2 years of required experience.
• Experience running and interpreting forest growth projection models (e.g., FVS, FPS, etc.) and volume estimation programs (e.g., MBG Tools).
• Completion of a certified Silvicultural training program; NASP or CEFES.

Special Requirements

• Must possess a valid Driver’s License and be eligible for coverage under the Tribes’ vehicle insurance. 
• Must be willing to travel for work projects, meetings, training, and conference participation as necessary.
• Must be willing to work extended hours at times.
• Must submit all applicable college transcripts.
• Must be in good physical condition to be able to work and hike in inclement weather conditions and over variable and rugged terrain.
• Must be able to work in a multi-cultural environment and work variable hours, long days, early mornings, holidays, and weekends as the work dictates.
• It is desired but not mandatory to maintain physical standards of wildland fire qualifications.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment for Natural Resources staff is multifaceted. Outdoor conditions make it necessary to be able to work and hike in inclement weather conditions and over variable and rugged terrain. Potential exists for interactions with wild animals, bees, and other natural hazards. Indoor work can require long periods of sedentary work interfacing with others in meetings or completing reporting or data entry at a computer station. Work may also require specific specialized equipment operation (i.e., snow machines, tractors, etc…), regional travel, and overnight stays.

Hiring Preference: The Kalispel Tribe of Indians is an Equal opportunity employer. Consistent with federal law, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians applies Indian preference in employment. It is the policy of the Kalispel Tribe of Indians to give preference in hiring, promotions, and transfers into vacant positions to qualified applicants in the following order: 1) Kalispel Tribal Members; 2) Descendant or Spouse of an enrolled Kalispel Tribal Member; 3) enrolled members of other Indian Tribes; 4) all other applicants. At- Will Employment: Employment with the Kalispel Tribe of Indians is at-will and can be terminated with or without cause, and with or without notice, at any time, either at the option of the employee or the Kalispel Tribe of Indians. Drug Testing: The Kalispel Tribe of Indians is a drug free work place. All applicants are subject to drug testing at the time of hire and at unannounced times during employment. Background Investigation: All candidates and employees may be subject to a background investigation.

Disclaimer: Certain Licenses and Certification requirements can be obtained once hired.

BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR THE KALISPEL TRIBE

The Kalispel Tribe offers the following competitive benefits for qualified employees:

• Free training and opportunity for tuition reimbursement
• Quarterly on-site financial planner to assist with financial goals
• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Holiday pay
• Discretionary 401(k) matching contributions
• Life insurance and AD&D
• Employee Assistance Program
• Birthday rewards program
• Years of service program
• Discounts at select Kalispel Tribe-owned venues
• Discretionary Bonuses

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.