What are the responsibilities and job description for the Forest Health Ecologist position at Missouri Department of Conservation?
Requisition Id: 3861
Salary: $56,304.00 - $70,272.00
Salary Grade: S9
Job Location: Central Reg Office & Research Ctr (COLUM2)
Closing Date: May 11, 2025
Our Culture: The Missouri Department of Conservation supports a culture of trusted professionals that is dedicated to our mission, responsible stewards, and believe in One MDC.
To learn more about the job, feel free to contact the hiring supervisor,Matthew D Combes at Matthew.Combes@mdc.mo.gov or at660 7852424x6530, during regular business hours. We would love to hear from you!
Summary/Objective
The Forest Health Ecologist position is in the Missouri Department of Conservation's Ecological Health Unit and works closely with another Forest Health Ecologist to deliver the Forest Health Program. Other Scientists in the Ecological Heatlh Unit represent stream health, environmental health, wildlife health, and ecotoxicology programs, and the Unit works together to address information gaps in a One Health framework. The Forest Health Ecologist provides forest health planning and diagnostic services for Department land managers, federal and state agency staff, private organizations, and individuals. They are responsible for coordinating multiple research and monitoring projects designed to inform forest health planning and management or mitigation efforts. The position also works in cooperation with Missouri Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and others on the Missouri Invasive Forest Pest Council, providing response planning, infestation assessment, and outreach activities as needed.
Essential Job Duties
- Provide forest health diagnostic and consultation services to Department land managers, federal and state agency staff, private organizations, and individuals.
- Recommend tree and forest management practices to mitigate effects of forest health issues.
- Execute multiple monitoring programs, including for Spongy Months, and respond to other native insect outbreaks.
- Coordinate applied research efforts with other Branches, scientists from universities, state and federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations.
- Monitor and evaluate insect and disease related forest disturbances on a statewide basis.
- Review policies and response plans concerning emerging forest health issues.
- Recruit and train seasonal workers.
- Supervise staff, evaluate performance, and recommend corrective action as needed.
- Negotiate, develop, and administer collaborative research contracts and agreements.
- Develop annual budgets and monitor expenditures.
- Participate in federal forest health programs, including Cooperative Forest Health Protection and Forest Health Monitoring.
- Develop federal grant application narratives, implement program activities to meet grant objectives, prepare and submit required forest health reports to federal granting agencies.
- Produce workshops, newsletters, news releases, broadcasts, and other media to provide forest health information and training to Conservation employees, the public, landowners, and professionals.
- Represent the Department as a member of the Northeastern Association of State Forester's Forest Health Committee.
Ancillary Job Duties
- Organize and participate in internal and external committees and task forces.
- Participate in peer resource review groups, committees, and conferences.
- Participate in priority Department initiatives like chronic wasting disease management, feral hog eradication, community conservation, and others as needed.
- Other duties as assigned.
Education and Experience
- Master's Degree in Forestry, Forest Health, Forest Pathology, Forest Entomology, or a closely related field.
- Three (3) years of progressively responsible professional experience in forest health and forest management work.
- Must maintain a valid, current driver’s license.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Advanced forest disease and pest identification skills.
- Advanced tree identification skills.
- Broad knowledge of forest management options and activities.
- Basic arborist/urban tree management knowledge.
- Basic plant and animal identification and wildlife habitat knowledge.
- Time management and organizational skills.
- Attention to detail. Ability to interpret aerial photos and topographical maps.
- Ability to create and edit geospatial databases, collect, and maintain GPS data, and perform simple spatial analysis.
- Communication skills to create and deliver presentations to a wide range of audiences.
- Ability to keep focused on understanding, anticipating, and responding to the needs of customers.
- Ability to define a problem, analyze relevant information, and develop solutions and plans to solve the problem.
- Ability to develop and sustain cooperative working relationships.
- Ability to think broadly at a landscape and temporal scale for identifying ecological processes that can be used to better manage forest resources.
- Ability to develop new insights into situations and apply innovative solutions that make improvements.
- Ability to establish comprehensive and realistic plans of action to accomplish activities and evaluate progress.
- Ability to maintain a productive, team-oriented atmosphere among peers and subordinates.
- Ability to travel frequently and stay overnight with moderate frequency.
- Ability to work evenings, Saturdays and Sundays when needed.
- Ability to use office equipment.
Work Environment
- Work is typically performed in a standard office or laboratory environment.
- Occasionally work in outdoor weather.
Physical Abilities
- Remain in a stationary position up to 70% of the time.
- Move about grounds, both inside and outside of buildings.
- Constantly operate a computer and other office productivity machinery.
- Frequently communicate and exchange accurate information.
- Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and 20 feet or more, three-dimensional vision, precise hand-eye coordination and the ability to identify and distinguish colors.
- Regularly lift up to 5 pounds, correctly lift up to 10 pounds.
- Concentrated attention is required at all times.
- Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function.
- Ability to walk on rough and steep terrain.
Disclaimer
This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; an employee will also perform other reasonably related job responsibilities as assigned by immediate supervisor and other management as required. The Missouri Department of Conservation reserves the right to revise or change job duties as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. Management reserves the right to change job descriptions, job duties, functions, and requirements.
Exemption Status/Special Notes
This position has been determined to be Exempt according to the Fair Labor Standards Act. Employees must agree to accept compensatory time in lieu of cash payments in accordance with the Department's Compensatory Time Off and Overtime Policy.
Salaried and hourly employees are expected to use a mobile device-cellular phone for Department business, as needed.
MDC promotes a Tobacco-Free (smoke and smokeless) working environment.
The Department of Conservation will only hire United States citizens and aliens authorized to work in the United States. All new employees will be required to complete an "Employment Eligibility Verification" (Form I-9) and produce requested documentation after employment.
Candidates seeking initial employment or re-employment must submit to a drug screen following offer of employment.
All persons employed with the state of Missouri shall file all state income tax forms and pay all state income taxes owed.
Salary : $56,304 - $70,272
