Forester II (EMNRD #5340)

The State of New Mexico is hiring a Forester II responsible for managing forest and watershed projects, providing technical assistance to landowners and agencies, and ensuring compliance with state regulations. Duties include overseeing timber harvest permits, promoting sustainable practices, and coordinating fire management efforts. The role emphasizes public safety, climate change adaptation, and collaboration with various stakeholders to enhance forest health and mitigate wildfire risks.
Posting Details

Interviews are anticipated to be conducted within two weeks of closing date.

The New Mexico Forestry Division retains lead responsibility for wildland fire management on all non-federal, non-tribal, and non-municipal lands, maintaining fire suppression capacities and emphasizing public and firefighters' safety. The Forestry Division promotes healthy, sustainable forests and watersheds in New Mexico for the benefit of current and future generations.

Why does the job exist?

This is a professional forestry position requiring advanced knowledge, skills and abilities to provide assistance to private landowners and tribes, local governments, and state and federal land management partner agencies in the management of forests and watersheds. The position exists to assist landowners and partners to meet their goals and objectives which may include improving forest health and wildlife habitat, generating income, restoring forest and watershed conditions, reducing wildfire risk, utilizing prescribed fire, and sequestering carbon. The position provides technical assistance for climate change adaptation including adjustments for longer fire season, higher temperatures and greater variability in precipitation including prolonged drought and high-intensity storm events. This position acts as an agent to negotiate timber sale contracts, inspect timber harvests and other projects for compliance with contracts and state regulations, develop projects and procure funding for projects, establish partner collaboration for the implementation and oversight of projects and associated funding sources. Further, the position coordinates the procurement of contractors for forest restoration and treatment services. The position is also responsible for assisting local economies and statewide resources and considering the environmental impact on natural resources as a result of future climate change and mitigation of these impacts. The position consults on fire suppression, fire prevention and prescribed burning through education; considering the effect of forest pathology and entomology on natural resources and implications of climate change impacts. Lastly the position will assist with training of partner organizations in forest management, wood product utilization, and spatial forest and fire management planning.

How does it get done?

This position is responsible for programs such as Timber Harvest Program and assists the District Forester with Wildland - Urban Interface (WUI). The duties include writing stewardship plans, drafting and releasing requests for proposal (RFP), issuing timber permits, and reviewing timber harvest applications. As the Project Forester they will be required to enforce state forest practice regulations with uncooperative private landowners, maintaining a safe work environment during fire suppression activities and assist in resolving disputes between forestry thinning contractors and private forest landowners. All of this is done while assuring that the Division stays in compliance with the applicable State Laws and Regulations.

1. Develop, coordinate and manage forest management projects by overseeing the timber harvest permit program, promoting forest and watershed management best practices, and providing technical assistance to landowners, tribes, local government and state and federal land managers with goals of achieving multiple benefits for the public, keeping these forested lands in a productive and healthy condition for future and present generations, and increasing the economic and environmental benefits for the public and landowners. (25%)

2. Coordinate and manage Forest and Watershed Restoration Projects across the district (50%)

3. Support the District's Fire Program and New Mexico Prescribed Fire Act activities in the district (25%)

Who are the customers?

Primary customers are private forest landowners, cooperating natural resource agencies, local governments, tribal nations, and non-federal forest landowners.

Ideal Candidate

Primary customers are private forest landowners, cooperating natural resource agencies, local governments, tribal nations, and non-federal forest landowners.

Minimum Qualification

Bachelor's degree in forestry or a Bachelor's degree in a related natural science and six (6) years related experience. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling ten (10) years may substitute for the required education and experience.

Employment Requirements

Must maintain and possess a current New Mexico Driver's License

Working Conditions

Work is preformed both in office and field setting. Employee may be exposed to inclement weather conditions and required to walk in steep rugged terrain. Employee may be exposed to excessive noise from power equipment and fire suppression apparatus. Employee may be required to work with supervised minimum-security inmates. May be required to work evenings, weekends and holidays.

Supplemental Information

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Agency Contact Information: Lawrence Crane (505) 270-6753. Email

For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.

Bargaining Unit Position

This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.