Dept. of Natural Resources Washington State Seeks Forest Health Planner & Monitoring Coordinator
Position Title: 
Forest Health Planner and Monitoring Coordinator, Environmental Planner 4
Position Summary:
The Northeast Forest Health Planner and Monitoring Coordinator will serve as a senior level forest health planner responsible for guiding development and implementation of forest health monitoring plans implemented by multiple partners, at multiple scales statewide. These monitoring efforts are in support of the 20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan Monitoring Framework in eastern Washington and the Forest Action Plan. This position will work collaboratively with relevant DNR staff, federal, state, and tribal partners and external stakeholders to develop, coordinate, implement, and report findings from monitoring plans that assess forest health conditions and the effects of prescribed burning, mechanical treatment and wildfire, primarily in eastern Washington. This position also serves as the lead planner working with staff and partners to implement the 2020Forest Action Plan, 20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan: Eastern Washington, and the Forest Health Assessment and Treatment Framework across all-lands in priority landscapes in northeast Washington, including the Colville National Forest.
SALARY: $5,494.00 - $7,387.00 Monthly
$65,928.00 - $88,644.00 Annually
OPENING DATE: 11/23/21
CLOSING DATE: 01/02/22 11:59 PM
$65,928.00 - $88,644.00 Annually
OPENING DATE: 11/23/21
CLOSING DATE: 01/02/22 11:59 PM
Responsibilities:
As the Division’s senior level planner for forest health monitoring, this position is responsible to:
Coordinate with DNR Forest Health Scientists, DNR Fire Ecologist, DNR Fire Scientists, USForest Service staff, DNR Service Forestry Staff, DNR state lands staff, tribal staff,conservation districts, and university researchers to understand current stand and projectlevel forest health monitoring efforts. Summarize current forest health monitoring efforts,data collection commitments under House Bill 1168, and highlight key monitoring gaps andidentify short- and long-term strategies to fill those gaps.
Within priority landscapes, develop project level (i.e. watershed) monitoring plans with DNRstaff and partners to collaboratively monitor implementation and effectiveness of landscape-scale forest resiliency projects, inform forest health treatment planning and adaptivemanagement, and integrate into future landscape assessments. Plans include monitoringpre- and post-treatment conditions, and changes to those conditions during projectimplementation from effects such as wildfire. This position will lead development of project level monitoring plans in northeast Washington, and provide expertise and support to DNR Planners in other geographies.
Coordinate training and data collection for DNR’s Treatment Unit/Stand Level monitoring within the 20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan Monitoring Framework for eastern Washington to gather a detailed view of on-the-ground forest conditions in treatments to evaluate where prescription objectives were met and how treatments have impacted forest health indicators at the stand level that are difficult to measure using remote sensing or modeling (e.g., fuels, density of small trees, snags, understory vegetation). This work requires significant engagement and outreach within DNR as well as with external partners. Treatment/Stand Level monitoring will utilize the Treatment Unit Monitoring Protocol and data collection system developed by DNR, including revision of the protocol over time as needed.
Create monitoring report templates and write monitoring reports. Ensure monitoring data is analyzed and communicated in a coherent and standardized manner. Work with partners to synthesize and communicate their monitoring results and findings through relevant DNR communication channels (legislative reports, annual reports, press releases, videos, presentations, website, etc.)
Act as the custodian of Forest Health Treatment Unit/Stand Level monitoring protocols and collected monitoring data. Ensure protocols are updated in line with current science and programmatic monitoring needs. Provide training on monitoring protocol to DNR staff and partners.
This position is based in northeast Washington, and while the current duty station is identified as DNR’s NE Regional Office in Colville, the position location is flexible and may be accommodated as far south as Spokane and as far west as the Methow Valley.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:
- A Bachelor’s degree with a major study in natural resources (e.g. natural resource planning, forestry, landscape ecology, fire science, wildlife biology), public policy and administration with an environmental emphasis, geography, or a closely related field.
- AND Five (5) years of professional work experience in natural resources planning, forest ecology, silviculture, fire science, landscape ecology, forest management, wildlife management, public policy and administration, geography, or a closely related field relying on the required position knowledge, skills, abilities and behaviors.
- Demonstrated experience and knowledge in all phases of forest health monitoring: field data collection, data analysis including statistical analysis, sampling methods, creating monitoring plans, and writing engaging monitoring reports that effectively communicate key monitoring results to diverse audiences.
- Demonstrated experience with ArcGIS and related software to map and analyze natural resources.
- Experience in working with indigenous tribes and First Nations on resource planning and management, and a basic working knowledge of tribal treaty rights with a willingness to continue learning.
- Demonstrated strong organizational and project management skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills to convey complex natural resource issues to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Ability to lead internal and external forest health working groups as needed to further agency projects and initiatives.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team setting with internal staff and external stakeholders.
- Work will primarily be in an office setting, with semi-frequent work in the field conducting forest health monitoring and trainings.
- This position will be required to travel throughout Washington State. Candidate must be able to drive a state vehicle and travel independently to those locations.
- A valid driver’s license and have two years of driving experience. This position requires driving as an essential function. Finalists and/or interview candidates will be asked to provide a driving record from all states in which they have held a license during the past three years.
- DNR Core Competencies: Personal Accountability, Value Others, Compassionate Communication, Inspire Others, Commitment to Excellence
- All employees of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are required to be fully
vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Vaccination status will be
verified at the time an offer of employment is made. An accommodation may be available for
individuals who have a sincerely held religious belief or a medical reason for not receiving
the COVID-19 vaccination, based on the essential functions of this position.
Our ideal candidate will also have the qualifications listed below:
- Knowledge of major forest health issues in the Pacific Northwest and management strategies to address those issues.
- Demonstrated ability to obtain grant funding by writing successful grant proposals.
- Experience in forest management and/or silviculture.
- A Master’s degree with a major study in natural resources (e.g. natural resource planning, forestry, landscape ecology, fire science, wildlife biology), public policy and administration with an environmental emphasis, geography, or a closely related field
- AND Three (3) years of professional work experience in natural resources planning, forest ecology, silviculture, fire science, landscape ecology, forest management, wildlife management, public policy and administration, geography, or a closely related field relying on the required position knowledge, skills, abilities and behaviors.
- Experience writing and managing grants and writing and managing contracts.
- Experience participating and leading multi-stakeholder groups and understanding how to effectively communicate and represent both science and agency policy to external partners.
- Experience participating in regional and local natural resource planning efforts.
To be considered you must apply online at www.careers.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 your 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.
- Attach a copy of your college degree certificate or an unofficial copy of your transcripts.
- Complete all supplemental questions.
Questions? Please contact Chuck Hersey at 360-902-1045, chuck.hersey@dnr.wa.gov or e-mail us at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov
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