Title: Regional Forest Habitat Manager

State Role Title: Natural Resource Spec III

Hiring Range: Starting at $43,000 (salary to commensurate with experience)

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Dept of Wildlife Resources

Location: Roanoke County Territory

Agency Website: www.dwr.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

This position will assist in the management of the Department's forest habitat management program on DWR Wildlife Management Areas (WMA's) in western Virginia. This position works strategically to supervise a team to prioritize, develop, implement, and promote projects that support the goals of DWR’s forest habitat management implementation. Duties will include coordination of a WMA forest habitat management plan, forest consultant contract coordination, development of forest management prescriptions, assist in prescribed burning, coordination of Best Management Practices and management of forest inventory data, cruising and marking timber. This position will manage up to three assistant foresters in their day-to-day activities. Traveling to different areas in the western part of Virginia up to 100-mile radius is required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Considerable knowledge of managing staff and projects.
• Considerable knowledge of forest management practices and how they enhance carbon storage potential.
• Considerable knowledge of wildlife and habitat conservation and management practices or related field (biology, ecology, human dimensions of natural resources, etc.).
• Strong proficiency in writing and editing, particularly as it pertains to forestry.
• Proficiency in multi-tasking and managing large, multi-faceted projects, highly organized with the ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Ability to routinely engage with partners.
• Ability to effectively communicate ideas verbally or in writing as required to perform the job; understand and correctly interpret communications; actively participate in and contribute to group discussions; prepare clear and concise written communications; demonstrate effective verbal communications with staff and constituents.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Requires valid state driver’s license (or ability to obtain a valid state driver’s license shortly after starting position) and ability to travel throughout the landscape on a regular basis, often to remote locations in inclement weather or adverse conditions.

Additional Considerations

• A graduate degree in forestry, wildlife science, biology, ecology, natural resource management or a related profession and directly related field experience.
• Experience in meeting, developing, and implementing conservation planning goals.
• Motivated individual who is comfortable working independently under remote supervision.
• Experience with GIS software and data management is desirable.
• A commercial pesticide applicators license is also preferred. Must be able to obtain a commercial pesticide applicator's license within 1 year of employment.
• Possession of a VA Prescribed Burn Manger and S130-190 Wildland Firefighter with a moderate work capacity test (WCT) fitness test required within 1 year of employment