Senior Forester

Position Number: 42002724

JOB DUTIES:

• Responsible for assisting in the planning, coordination, and reporting of management practices on the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest. This includes writing plans, reporting progress, and providing technical assistance for forest management activities such as timber sales, forest inventory, tree plantings, prescribed burning, ecosystem restoration, exotic species control, recreation management, and wildlife management.
• Provides forest management technical assistance to private forest landowners to achieve the goals of the landowner, including timber revenue, sustained yield, ecological management and wildlife management. Provides advice on timber marking and volume estimation and the sale of forest products. Provides technical assistance in implementation of federal cost-share programs, site preparation and tree planting procedures, investment analysis, timber stand improvement methods, diagnosis of forest insect and disease outbreaks, and other related forest factors. Prepares Stewardship and other management plans.
• Maintains proficiency of new and innovative forestry and biological topics, research, endangered species regulations, prescribed fire management and total ecosystem management techniques. Utilizes media and educational workshops for landowners, cooperators, and educators to keep the public informed of developments in traditional forestry, urban forestry and conservation fields.
• Provides wildfire and emergency response support as directed.  Assists in the development of smoke management, wildfire prevention, prescribed fire, pre-suppression burning plans and hazardous fuels mitigation.  Assists in the enforcement of Florida’s open burning laws and regulations.
• Provides technical assistance to county commissions, municipalities, and other county and city agencies in the development and implementation of effective environmental studies and practices relating to land use planning, zoning, and development.  This includes conservation and environmental planning, recreation, and open space planning, zoning variances relating to vegetation, drafting of ordinance relative to tree protection, landscaping, reclamation and preservation of natural areas, and the establishment of conservation and scenic easements to preserve natural amenities. Provides technical assistance to urban communities and homeowners to best meet their needs including proper tree selection and tree planting procedures, Urban and Community Forest (UCF) grants, Tree City USA and Champion Tree designation.  This also includes analysis of shade tree and ornamental tree insect and disease problems and providing information on methods of prevention and control.
• Maintains contact with cooperating agencies, and private environmental and recreational groups, to ensure cooperative efforts and input into the management of the forest.
• Responsible for fiscal procedures which may include assisting in annual budget preparation, purchasing, service contract preparation and recreational and timber sales receipts.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.