Forest Operations District Manager
Recruitment #2021-02-3065
This is a Full-time, Permanent, Washington Management Service (WMS1) position.

Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?
Are you an experienced leader who can provide strategic direction at the operational level and have a passion for managing several employees and projects? Are you committed to working with forest management, land management and natural resource conservation? The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is looking for an eager individual to fill their Forest Operations Manager role in the Southeast Region.

The Forest Operations Manager is responsible for implementing the Department’s upland management activities on approximately 378,000 acres of state trust lands. This position works under the guidance of the Habitat Conservation Plan, the Forest Practice Rules, the Policy for Sustainable Forests, the Endangered Species Act, all applicable collective bargaining agreements for the positions supervised, and all other applicable laws, rules, regulations, and agency policies, procedures, and guidelines. This position reports to the State Lands Assistant Region Manager and must interact with agency staff, the general public and other state, county, and federal agencies on a routine basis. The districts are responsible for implementing programmatic policy, procedures, guidance, and attaining tangible deliverables on the ground.

Responsibilities:

• Representing the Department’s interests to private operators, business, governmental officials, and the public where there is involvement in complex, sensitive issues affecting the District;
• Providing input and recommending action on project proposals influencing state trust lands;
• Supervising and mentoring 8 permanent professional staff and up to 5 project professional staff;
• Recruiting and training employees within unit;
• Managing district timber sale staff to achieve a timber sale cut of approximately 15 million board feet of timber per biennium for the Region deliverable;
• Manages upland leases, easements, rights of ways, Land Use Licenses, and other encumbrances to the trust lands to maximize revenue production;
• Managing the silviculture/young stand establishment program for the district;
• Coordinate engineering needs with engineering staff to ensure all existing and newly constructed roads are maintained and built to Forest Practice standards.
• This position is accountable to achieve all land management, asset management, silviculture, Forest Health, and other program deliverables / standards in the district, planning and coordinating with appropriate region program leads;
• May be the point of contact for local level government coordination, public outreach, and communication;
• Implements the Teanaway Community Forest Management Plan;
• Represents DNR on working groups and may act as lead on Tapash priority projects, working interagency to accomplish planning and on the ground cross boundary projects. In the project lead role, reports to the Tapash Executive Board and communicates progress to the Tapash Coordinator;
• Responsible for on-the-ground implementation of the department’s Habitat Conservation Plan for the recovery of the Northern Spotted Owl.

Required Qualifications: 

• A Bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resource management, or related field and five years of professional land, resource, and personnel management experience.
• Solid understanding of Trust Land management and principle, Habitat Conservation Plan, forest practices rules, Policy for Sustainable Forests, and Sustainable Forestry Initiative standards.
• Knowledge of theory, policy, principles, and practices of the forestry profession as applied to Northwestern United States (i.e. fundamentals of: Silviculture, northwest tree species, markets and economics, cruising methods, sales layout, SEPA, logging methods, engineering, plant nutrition, propagation, weed control, reforestation, intensive forest management, recreation, multiple use, inventory, water quality, watershed management, planning, and basic principles of fisheries management).
• Experience setting performance standards and expectations, training, developing, evaluating, coaching, and documenting performance.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate and hold staff accountable using performance based recognition.
• Excellent facilitation and negotiation skills.

Our ideal candidate will also have the qualifications listed below:

• Competent in MS Office Applications including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Experience with harvest planning and scheduling, contract preparation and administration
• Competent in ArcGIS and GPS.
• Two years’ experience using fundamental recreation management or planning principles and methods.
• At least 2 years’ experience using fundamental eastern Washington ecology principles and methods.
• Journeyman level knowledge of current Washington State forest practice rules and DNR’s Habitat Conservation Plan.
• Two years’ experience in project planning and oversight.
• Two years’ experience in tactical planning and management.
• Two years’ experience solving issues associated with natural resource management for the trust beneficiaries, protecting resources and protecting the safety of our employees using knowledge of current laws.
• Experience with budgets, grants and funding decision-making.
• Experience with Washington State government legislative processes.

Location: 
One of the world’s most scenic places, Washington State offers breathtaking discoveries for people who love natural beauty and outdoor recreation, from the Pacific Coast shores to the rugged Cascade Mountains to the rolling hills of the Palouse. Your office will be located in Ellensburg. For more information on this area visit, https://ci.ellensburg.wa.us/ .

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, telework (mobile-work) is expected for most office activities. When approved to return, the incumbent is expected to report to their assigned duty station for work activities or may be approved for telework based on DNR’s telework policy.

About the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). 
Our mission is to manage, sustain, and protect the health and productivity of Washington’s lands and waters to meet the needs economically and socially for current and future generations. At DNR we approach our work through the lens of making Washington a better place environmentally and are dedicated to serving Washington’s lands and communities through diversity, equity and inclusion. With nearly 1,500 employees in locations throughout Washington, we manage and protect more than 5 million acres of state-owned forest, range, commercial, agricultural and aquatic lands.

DNR provides excellent benefits a few of those include:

• Commitment to organizational health and wellness
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council
• Leadership that empowers and supports employees
• Work/life balance
• Leadership development opportunities
• Educational aid and career development stipends
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility
• Opportunities to participate in wildland fire suppression assignments
• Opportunities to stretch your professional skills
• A comprehensive benefit package that includes employer contributions toward health insurance, paid holidays, retirement plans, sick leave and vacation days. Visit http://careers.wa.gov/benefits.html for more information.

How to Apply: 
To be considered you must apply online at www.careers.wa.gov (Click on the APPLY button above). You must complete the entire online application to be considered for the position.

Once you submit your online application, you can check your status by logging into your account. If you experience technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application call NEOGOV toll-free at (855)524-5627 or email CareersHelp@des.wa.gov.

Application Requirements:

• Attach a letter of interest describing how your experience and qualifications relate to the position profile and the position required, desired and special requirements.
• Attach a resume describing you experience and qualifications.
• Provide three to five professional references – you may attach a document, use the References text field in the online application, or include with resume.
• Complete all supplemental questions.

Additional Information:
This recruitment may be extended and may also be used to fill future similar vacancies for up to sixty (60) days.

Veteran’s wishing to claim Veteran’s preference please attach a copy of your DD-214, NGB-22 or other verification of military service. Please black out your social security number prior to attaching.  We thank you and are grateful for your service!

Persons needing accommodation during the screening process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact DNR Recruiting staff at (360) 522-2500 or (360) 522-0143 or by email at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov.  Those with a hearing impairment in need of accommodation are encouraged to contact the Washington State Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) at 1-800-833-6388 or www.washingtonrelay.com.

DNR is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind.

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Questions?  Please contact Larry Leach at (509) 859-4791, Larry.Leach@dnr.wa.gov or e-mail us at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov