Deadline: Wed, 10/16/2024 - 12:00pm Employer: Oregon Department of State Lands Job Field: Forestry Job Type: Full Time Location: Oregon Location Detail: Elliott State Research Forest, OR Job Description: Job Description: Are you an experienced natural resource manager with a passion for forest and ecosystem management? Apply to be our Elliott State Research Forest Manager (Natural Resource Protection and Sustainability Manager 3) by October 16th, 2024! This position is eligible for a hybrid remote schedule and available as a Job Rotation for existing state employees. Make a Difference for Oregon. The Department of State Lands (DSL) manages the lands that help fund our public schools and protects the state’s waterways and wetlands for the many benefits they provide. Our stewardship ensures vital natural and financial resources contribute to a vibrant, healthy Oregon now and forever. The DSL team makes a difference for Oregonians every day. As the Elliott State Research Forest Manager, you will too. At the Land Board’s direction, DSL has been advancing a collaborative effort to transition the Elliott State Forest to a research forest and an internationally important center for forest science and management. We are now hiring a team of staff who will work with current DSL staff as well as external partners to stand up this new program for operational management of the Elliott State Research Forest. The Elliott State Research Forest Manager will advance work with local, statewide, national, and international implications of great interest to the public, Tribes, industries, organizations, government agencies, science and research entities, and landowners or people concerned about forest management, forest products, conservation, recreation, education and other values both on and beyond the Elliott. The work of this role will advance the Elliott’s Forest Management Plan, including the mission and management policies adopted by the Land Board and the forest’s Habitat Conservation Plan. This is a full-time, limited duration, management services position. This position is supported by existing legislative funding and is expected to become permanent. Current state employees are encouraged to apply to the position as a Job Rotation. What’s in it for you? Serve as the Manager for the Elliott State Research Forest, leading a newly established team in managing a world-class research forest. Receive 1-on-1 mentoring and support from natural resource experts. Join an organization with smart, driven, co-workers who care about Oregon’s economy, environment, and communities, and their co-workers. Gain full benefits with 95% to 99% of medical insurance premiums paid by the agency for full-time employees, including mental health and alternative care coverage. Accrue 8 hours of sick leave and at least 10 hours of vacation leave per month, with your vacation leave accruals increasing every 5 years. Receive 11 paid holidays, 1 floating holiday, 3 personal business days and other employee benefits such as optional insurances and flexible spending plans. Automatically enroll into the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) after 6 months of full-time service. Earn the initial monthly salary range for this position starting at $7,599 - $11,752 for employees new to DSL; as a current PERS participating member, start at $8,126 - $12,569. This position will receive a 6.55% Cost of Living Adjustment in early 2025. This position will be located at our Shutter Creek Facility in North Bend and is eligible for hybrid remote work. The successful candidate is expected to be in office an average of three days per week, and able to telecommute two days per week. Offices are located at the Shutter Creek Facility in North Bend that is poised for transformation into a 49-acre operations hub for the Elliott State Research Forest, including laboratory, classroom, dormitory and office spaces in partnerships with local and Tribal entities. Preference may be given to applicants already located or willing to relocate within Coos or Douglas county. Working Conditions: Much of the work is in a hybrid office setting; occasional fieldwork may be required, and occasional travel is an essential function of the position. DSL provides agency-maintained vehicles, reimbursement for field gear, and travel expenses for authorized, on-the-job travel and fieldwork. Overnight stays and/or extended work hours can be expected along with exposure to inclement weather and road conditions. What you will be doing: As the Elliott State Research Forest Manager, you will make wide-ranging decisions concerning complex and interrelated programs and disciplines. Job duties include: Building support for the program among the public, legislators, beneficiaries and constituents for DSL, and members of the board to increase awareness and facilitate positive relationships. Allowing public access for recreational and educational purposes that is compatible with scientific and conservation objectives and the Elliott’s mission and management policies. Managing a newly formed team of three (3) staff in advancing long-term, operational-scale research and management on issues including forest management practices, ecosystem function, biodiversity, habitat conservation, water quality and quantity, carbon sequestration, rural livelihoods and the resilience of forests to the impacts of climate change. Supporting rural economies through active forest management, timber harvest, recreation, education, conservation and research. Promoting opportunities at all education levels to interact with the forest and advance public understanding of the ecological, economic and social benefits of healthy forest ecosystems. Seeking and working to advance active partnerships with Tribal governments regarding advancement of Tribal interests including cultural practices and Indigenous Knowledge. Maintaining a financially self-sufficient forest management entity capable of operating and overseeing the forest and necessary infrastructure. Maintaining a legally sustainable research forest management entity through compliance with a Habitat Conservation Plan, Forest Management Plan, and other applicable legal requirements. Prioritizing, developing, and advancing collaborative partnerships that recognize both the local and statewide values the forest provides. Maintaining a high level of public accountability and transparency in forest management decisions and operations and liaise with the Elliott State Research Forest Board. Qualifications: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS- to be considered for this position, please ensure you have one of the following combinations of education and/or experience: Seven (7) years of supervision, management, or progressively related experience. ORFour (4) years of supervision, management, or progressively related experience. ANDA bachelor’s degree or higher in forest management, environmental science, natural resource management, public administration, law, government affairs or another related field. DESIRED ATTRIBUTES- tell us which of the following skills, experiences, and related talents you have by highlighting them in your resume and cover letter: Professional community engagement experience: ability to develop and implement processes and plans to engage a variety of stakeholders such as the public, community organizations and interest groups, public agencies and governments, elected officials, and Tribes. Demonstrated understanding of sustainable forestry practices, silviculture, habitat conservation plans, and ecosystem management. Expertise in designing and advancing approaches to support collaboration, inclusive processes, and consensus building. Experience managing a dynamic team of professionals and assisting them on work prioritization and project management. Experience managing, communicating about and conducting engagement for high-profile, complex, or contentious topics. Knowledge of and experience with best practices for collaboration, partnership and public engagement and involvement. Knowledge of policymaking and decision environment at the state and federal levels. Experience with budget preparation, management, media engagement, and fundraising. Salary: $7,599 - $11,752 How to Apply: How to apply: Complete the following required steps: Fill out the application or attach a resume. Please contact the recruiter if you have any questions about how to fill out the experience fields or to attach a document. Your submitted experience fields or attached resume must include dates (MM/YYYY) for each employer, and any relevant volunteer and/or internship experience. Attach a cover letter. Your cover letter should clearly demonstrate how your experience and training relates to the qualities that you have under the “Desired Attributes” section above. Your cover letter must be limited to no more than two (2) pages. Please address your cover letter to Chris Castelli, Deputy Director of the Land Management Division. Generic cover letters that do not address the qualities that you have under the “Desired Attributes” section may receive lower scores than those that addressed the desired qualities. You must upload your cover letter in the ‘Resume/Cover Letter’ section of the application. Complete questionnaire. Answer the checkbox-style questions before submitting your application. If you are applying as an existing state employee for the Job Rotation option, please upload permission from your current supervisor. After you submit your application, please respond to the public records request authorization and gender identity questionnaire. This screen will come after you submit and will complete the process. If you are a current State of Oregon employee, the tasks will come to your Workday inbox. If you are a veteran, you may receive preference. The task to upload your documents will be available after you submit your application. For privacy reasons, please do not attach your military service document(s) to your application or combine it with any other required document attachments. The Oregon Department of State Lands is committed to seeking and sustaining a culturally, racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse working environment. The Department hires staff interested in supporting environmental justice by including communities traditionally underrepresented in public processes. We encourage members of these communities to apply, even if they do not meet 100% of the desired attributes. The Oregon Department of State Lands understands that an authentic focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace will in turn create a workforce aligned to meet the challenge of serving all Oregonians.
