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Forest Research and Stewardship Technician

Deadline:
Employer:
The Cloquet Forestry Center
Job Field:
Forestry
Job Type:
Full Time
Location:
Minnesota
Location Detail:
It is located two hours north of the St. Paul campus, and 30 minutes west of Duluth, MN on land reserved by the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in the 1854 Treaty of La Pointe
Job Description:

Unit/Position Overview:

The Cloquet Forestry Center (CFC) is part of the College’s Research and Outreach Center network and serves as the primary research and education forest for the University of Minnesota. It is located two hours north of the St. Paul campus, and 30 minutes west of Duluth, MN on land reserved by the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in the 1854 Treaty of La Pointe. It is a regional hub for forest ecosystem community research and stewardship, undergraduate and graduate field instruction in natural resources, and extensive outreach and professional training programs. The position will be based at the CFC but may also include occasional duties at the Hubachek Wilderness Research Center (HWRC) and other experimental forest properties in Northeastern Minnesota.

This position is a 12-month full-time position that reports directly to the CFC Director of Operations. It is a multidisciplinary position that will assist in a widerange of activities associated with forest stewardship and research at the Cloquet Forestry Center including the establishment, maintenance, and measurement of forest research plots, tree planting and protecting, mechanical, chemical, and firebased vegetation management, fire prevention and suppression, forest road maintenance, timber cruising, forest health inventories, and regeneration checks. This position will occasionally assist or lead extension and outreach activities such as forest tours and educational activities with visiting user groups (e.g., youth groups, natural resource professionals). This position will serve as the safety officer for CFC.

CFC Forest Research Support Responsibilities (40%):

● Establishing, maintaining, measuring, and monitoring experimental plots under the direction of the Research Coordinator or a designated principal investigator or project leader.

U Classification / #: Research Professional 2, 8352P2; Specialty lane- Forestry

Reporting to: Director of Operations and Land Stewardship, Cloquet Forestry Center

  • ●  Preparing, updating, digitizing, and organizing modern and historical harvest, planting, research, and plot records.
  • ●  Analyzing, summarizing, and reporting on collected data to inform forest management decisions.
  • ●  Producing and implementing protocols for the collection and storage of scientific data.
  • ●  CFC weather station management includes, but not limited to, collecting and digitizing weather data following NOAA Cooperative Observer Program and local protocols.

    CFC Forest Stewardship Responsibilities (35%):

  • ●  Collecting and managing data related to forest inventories for timber condition and value appraisal, regeneration, native plant communities, forest health, wildlife habitat value, and other
  • ●  Contributing to the development of commercial and non-commercial forest stewardship prescriptions under the framework of a forest stewardship plan and the FDL Integrated Resource Management Plan
  • ●  Contributing to the development of a decadal forest stewardship plan that aligns with the FDL Integrated Resources Management Plan
  • ●  Planting and protecting tree seedlings.
  • ●  Carrying out mechanical (including chainsaws), chemical, and firebased vegetation

    control.

  • ●  Maintaining the tree arboretum including mowing, felling, planting and protecting trees.
  • ●  Planning for and carrying out forest road maintenance including vegetation management

    and occasional grading, which will require the operation of equipment such as chainsaws, brush saws, skid steers, tree chippers, mowers, and other equipment.

    CFC Outreach and Education Responsibilities (10%):

  • ●  Coordinating and overseeing extension and outreach activities (e.g. annual Conservation Education Days, forest tours, youth tree planting events, ).
  • ●  Contributing on the CFC/HWRC communications team

    CFC Safety Officer (10%)

  • ●  Maintain and develop, as necessary, CFC and HWRC operation safety plans
  • ●  Schedule safety training and coordinate the maintenance of up-to-date staff training

    records

  • ●  Assist DEHS and HSRM staff in the preparation and periodic updating of program plans
  • ●  Conduct periodic inspections of area of responsibility
  • ●  Function as the liaison between the CFC, CFANS, and UMN Health and Safety

    departments

    General Support Responsibilities (5%):

    • ●  Tracking, updating, and maintaining Forest Management and Research equipment inventory
    • ●  Monitoring and maintaining the Dept of Forest Resources student equipment cache for use during field session courses; this will include coordinating records with FR administrative and teaching staff
    • ●  Other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
  1. Required qualifications:
    • ●  B.S. degree and at least 2 years of experience or a combination of related education and work experience to equal 6 years in Forestry, Natural Resources, Wildlife Habitat management, or a closely related field
    • ●  Experience with forest stand delineation, regeneration checks, estimating site index, identifying native plant communities, and estimating forest stand volume
    • ●  Demonstrated ability establishing, implementing, maintaining, and measuring a variety of ecological studies
    • ●  Professional experience and familiarity with the maintenance and use of herbicide application equipment, chainsaws, brushsaws, brushers, ATVs, tractors, and logging equipment
    • ●  Working knowledge of ArcGIS desktop and/or ArcGIS online, DNRGPS, Microsoft Access, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint

      Preferred qualifications:

  • ●  Working knowledge of the ecology and management of northern forest ecosystems
  • ●  Experience working for or collaborating with Indigenous Nations and/or Indigenous

    Nation resource management personnel

  • ●  Experience working with diverse stakeholders including university faculty, public and

    private forest land management organizations, field foresters, loggers, conservation organizations, and k-12 school groups

  • ●  Knowledge of regional commercial and non-commercial forest stewardship prescriptions to meet a diversity of objectives (climate adaptation, timber income generation, regeneration opportunities, wildlife habitat, cultural resource maintenance or restoration, etc)
  • ●  Experience with research and management digital equipment such as dataloggers and associated sensors, digital dendrometers, or unmanned aerial systems (drones)
  • ●  Has completed or is willing to complete a chainsaw certification course
  • ●  Maintains or is able to renew an Incident Qualification Card (red card) and physical ability

    to complete an Arduous Pack Test (carry 45 lbs for 3 miles in less than 45 minutes)

  • ●  Experience in the use of prescribed fire
  • ●  Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills, including writing reports or

    publications and the ability to make public presentations to diverse audiences

  • ●  Maintains or is able to obtain MDA non-commercial pesticide applicator license
  • ●  Maintains or is able to obtain First Aid and CPR certification
How to Apply:

https://hr.myu.umn.edu/psc/hrprd/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&SiteId=1&FOCUS=Applicant&JobOpeningId=363770&PostingSeq=1

Applications must be submitted online.  To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions.  You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

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