Senior Forester

Requisition No: 850458 

Agency: Military Affairs

Working Title: Senior Forester

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 62000172 

Salary:  $39,993.43 

Posting Closing Date: 04/16/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Department of Military Affairs

*** OPEN COMPETITIVE***

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 11:59 p.m. on closing date

VACANCY # 62000172

WORK LOCATION:  Starke, FL

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS (DMA)

The mission of the Florida Department of Military Affairs is to provide management oversight of the Florida National Guard and provide units and personnel ready to support national security objectives; to protect the public safety of citizens and to contribute to the national, state and community programs that add value to the United States of America and to the State of Florida.

OUR BENEFITS INCLUDE:

• Health Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Dental, Vision and Supplemental Insurance     
• Retirement Benefits   
• Vacation and Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays
• Opportunities for Career Advancement
• Tuition Waiver for Public College Courses
• Training Opportunities
• For benefit information available to State of Florida employees, go to http://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

1. New employees of the Department of Military Affairs will be required to pass a pre-employment drug screening.
2. New employees of the Department of Military Affairs are required to participate in a direct deposit/electronic transfer program. 
3. The Department of Military Affairs is paid on a monthly basis.
4. As a CANDIDATE, you may be required to provide documentation (i.e., High School Diploma or Equivalency, College Transcripts, ETC.) to verify meeting these Minimum Qualifications.
5. Must be able to obtain a completion of a favorable National Agency Check background investigation clearance.
6. This position requires medical monitoring and continued employment in the position requires the incumbent to take annual medical monitoring physicals to determine job related health problems.
7. This position has assigned wildland fire duties and as such must possess qualifications appropriate for their expected level of involvement in the wildland fire organization.  This level is documented by position in the Installation Wildland Fire Management Plan (IWFMP) and IAW the HQDA DCS G-9 Wildland Fire Guidance and Transition Plan.  To maintain these qualifications, a yearly Fireline refresher (RT130) must be attended and an appropriate level Work Capacity Test (WCT) as defined by NWCG PMS310-1 or agency standard must be completed as defined by the timetable described within the Training Transition Plan.  The level of appropriate WCT (arduous, moderate, light) is dependent upon position as defined in the IWFMP or Agency Qualification Standards (Appendix C of Training Transition Plan).

*NOTE*

To be considered for this position, application must be fully completed, your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process and clearly stated within the employment history.   

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• A High School Diploma or equivalent AND five (5) years of professional work-related experience 
• Education may substitute for experience on a year for year basis. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for full implementation the Forest Management Plan (FMP), to include reviewing and updating the plan every five years. Through GIS mapping, ensure all required maps of Camp Blanding forestry are up to date and accurate on a yearly basis. Coordinate or conduct post wide timber assessments on a five-year basis as needed to plan future operations.

• Full oversight of timber sale contracts, site preparation for reforestation, timber inventory, timber marking, and tree planting contracts. Develop and write scope of work for contract regarding logging and tree planting. Ensure contractors are selected and operating based on the full requirements of the contract. Implementation of reforestation will also include the management of threatened and endangered species in coordination with the conservation section and management. Search and apply for grants to gain funding that will assist with CBJTC reforestation requirements.

• Continued implementation of different revenue streams such as Palmetto Barry sales, Apiary Lease agreements (Bees), Pine Straw sales, and Fuel Wood Chipping sales. Search, pursue and implement innovative ways to generate new revenue streams to reduce the agencies dependency of timber sales. Write scopes of work for contracts for all revenue streams. Work closely with the Purchasing Department to ensure contract are placed for bid. Assist with awarding and implementing contracts and all requirements are fully implemented.

• Other environmental/forestry responsibilities: In coordination with Environmental personnel, plan and implement habitat improvement projects that include an element of economic utilization, manage timber inventory sampling, manage reforestation efforts and habitat conversion, and ensure yearly projects are recorded and reported accurately within the Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances Annual Report.

• Provides fire management assistance under the supervision of the Forest Area Supervisor to include prescribed burning of training areas, identification of fire hazards and conditions, and prescribes proper remedial steps to prevent or mitigate fire.

• Helps when needed in the operation of light to heavy equipment in the regular maintenance of airfields, drop zones, landing zones, roads, ditches and culverts, and other various maintenance and repair projects to support the training site. This can include operation of loaders, dump trucks, heavy bulldozers, earthmovers, road graders, and backhoes.

• Applies herbicides to areas of pine release and invasive control.

• Conducts minor maintenance on Forestry equipment.

• Perform all other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: 

• Knowledge of the terminology, principles, tools and techniques of forestry management.
• Knowledge of forestry harvesting, site preparation, control burning and planting techniques.
• Knowledge of mathematics and statistics.
• Knowledge of forest vegetation and soils.
• Knowledge of insect and disease problems of trees and vegetation.
• Skill in the use of forestry tools and equipment.
• Ability to do short and long-range natural resource planning.
• Ability to identify trees, vegetation, insects and tree diseases.
• Ability to recognize and solve problems.
• Ability to calculate volumes of timber and land measurements.
• Ability to apply proper silviculture practices.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to communicate technical information with individuals and groups of people.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

SPECIAL REMINDERS:

The State of Florida and The Department of Military Affairs participate in the E-Verify program. Federal law requires that all employers verify the identity and employment eligibility of any person hired to work in the United States.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov

All members of the Florida Retirement System are required to contribute 3% of their salary on a pre-tax basis.

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended, or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

The Department of Military Affairs values and supports employment of individuals with disabilities. Qualified individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement. 

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement. 

Salary : $39,993