Senior Area Forester
Who we are: We grow and nurture forests, a renewable resource to build homes, schools, and household necessities, harnessing carbon every single day we operate. We're a family-owned company that is guided by our values of environmental stewardship and supporting our local communities. We do what's right, even when it is the harder path to follow. We focus on the health and safety of our people first - by taking care of all of our resources, we plan to be here for another 130 years.
Who you are: You value collaboration and have a curious mind. You want to own your work and will approach it with dedication. You will bring your whole self with your unique ideas and perspectives to make us better. You also take pride in working for a company that aligns with your values of environmental stewardship through smarter forestry practices.
What you get by working here: You get a team that is more collaborative than competitive, one in which every person can have an impact. With about 350 employees in total, your voice will matter. You receive great benefits, excellent training and professional development. If outdoor recreation is your thing, you'll have access to our 2.1 million acres of SFI- and FSC-certified timberlands across ten states for hiking, forest bathing, hunting (including mushrooms), mountain biking, fishing, camping, or just picnicking.
POSITION PURPOSE:
The Senior Area Forester is responsible for ensuring timely delivery of products consistent with volume and quality commitments, assisting in annual harvest planning, harvest unit and road-engineering layout, securing all required regulatory permits, and directing a third party in the execution of harvest and inventory activities across the Columbia Basin Management Area (CBMA). Additional responsibilities include contract preparation, administration, and performance monitoring to ensure contract compliance. The position requires a complete working knowledge of Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certification requirements, state Best Management Practices (BMPs) and local ordinances regarding commercial timber harvest and transportation.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (other duties may be assigned)
The following is a list of general job responsibilities for the Senior Area Forester position. This list is not all-inclusive and may be broadened or changed to meet changing business needs.
- Assures a safe workplace. Takes personal initiative and responsibility to ensure ongoing safe behaviors through implementation and active participation in the company safety program.
- Perform layout of commercial thinning operations, acquiring all necessary permits.
- Provides accurate planning information to other departments on harvest methods, harvest capacity needs, road projects, and log sales information. Field check as necessary.
- Responsible for the timely surveying of all property line needs.
- Monitor recreation activities across the timberlands to ensure compliance.
- Maintains a working relationship with representatives of key regulatory agencies to ensure the ongoing success of an adequate inventory of approved harvest plans.
- Maintain strong relationships and ensure timely performance of volume and quality commitments.
- Develop harvest plans reflecting the operational characteristics of these lands (e.g., operating and logging seasons and road requirements, etc.).
- Maintain a two-year lead time in unit development and layouts to provide for flexibility in meeting changing log markets, seasonal logging restrictions, logging system capabilities, and regulatory compliance.
- Oversee contract logging and road building/maintenance program. Perform field checks to ensure contract and harvest plan compliance.
- Responsible for property maintenance including property line surveying and marking, maintenance of gates and monitoring encroachment within the region.
- Ensure compliance with SFI policies and procedures, state Best Management Practices and federal, state, and local ordinances regarding timber harvesting and hauling.
- Maintain an accurate and current harvest plan. Provide accurate planning information to other departments regarding weekly and monthly wood flows, log sales and revenue projections.
- Identifies harvest layout priorities and assures timely harvest approval to meet current and future goals without operational delays. Maximizes production opportunities.
- Responsible for locating, mapping, and acquiring the necessary permits for salvage logging activities, as needed.
- Manages the harvest schedule updates and provide leadership and cooperation between departments. Minimizes moves, maximizes capacity efficiency, and provides accurate production information and log sales forecasts. Manages sequence changes to assure current harvest while managing adjacencies to increase future harvest.
- Conducts economic analysis of various activities and projects including harvest plan engineering alternatives, logging methods, hauling alternatives. Responsible for the margin analysis of harvest activities with uncertain economics.
- Represent the Company at industry association meetings, public meetings, and community events, as required. Utilize communication and negotiation skills when interaction with members of the community is required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
- B.S. in Forest Management, Natural Resource Management, or equivalent, plus ten or more years of experience. If incumbent does not have B.S. degree relevant industry, supervisory and contractor management experience will be considered.
- Five years demonstrated management of employees and/or contractors.
- Must be proficient in Microsoft Office.
- Familiarity with GIS.
- Valid Driver's License.
- Exhibit high professional and ethical standards.
- Proven contract management experience with a focus on safety and goal achievement.
- Ability to be highly motivated and self-direct.
- Exhibit strong leadership skills. Work with integrity, trust and commitment, setting an example for others.
- Maintain effective and professional relationships with co-workers within immediate work group, outside the immediate department, and with key contacts outside the Company including regulating agencies.
- Effective and productive communications skills; approachable and open to discussion, being persuasive in discussions regarding conflicts over resource use, as well as have highly developed written communication skills.
- Manage multiple priorities professionally with minimum disruption to others. Respond to unexpected challenges successfully without losing track of daily responsibilities. Prioritize workload in order of importance. Reliably follow through with job assignments.
- Learn, apply and retain new methods and information. Creative in solving problems. Exhibits a "can do" attitude with a positive approach to challenges. Views obstacles as opportunities to learn and grow.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:
- This position is located in Bingen, WA. Field work in addition to a normal office environment with moderate noise levels, occasional lifting, regular walking, sitting, bending, twisting, standing and reaching.
- Ability to orient, climb, and traverse steep rugged, densely vegetated terrain on a consistent basis in in sometimes harsh weather conditions for long periods of time.
- Must have ability to work independently and without immediate supervision in remote areas.
- Occasional travel to various locations requiring a vehicle and ability to drive.
- Ability to tour logging operations, attend training and company functions.
- Ability to perform consistent and accurate work on a PC.
- Must maintain punctual and regular attendance and present appropriate professional appearance at all times.
- Requires the use of standard safety equipment in regulation with Company policy.
- Work in conditions that may expose employee wildlife encounters, firefighting, reptile and/or insect bites.
- This position may be exposed to marking paint, gas, diesel fumes, pollens and smoke.
- This position is a Physical and Mental Requirement Classification 3.