Senior Forester - Parks

Summary
King County Parks is looking for a Forester to join the Environmental Policy & Initiatives Unit! The forester will have the opportunity to make a significant environmental impact, as forests are essential to climate resilience, public health, and the local economy. Forests are also essential locations for King County Parks recreation, enjoyed by hikers, bikers, and equestrians. This is a new role that will lead efforts to restore and manage Parks' forested land, including developing and implementing large-scale strategies to maintain/improve forest health. This role will also help drive success of King County environmental initiatives, such as the 30-Year Forest Plan, Strategic Climate Action Plan, 3 Million Trees, and Clean Water Healthy Habitat. If you are:Passionate about the environment, particularly in forest health and conservation,Enjoy collaboration with a diverse group of partners and stakeholders,Excited to drive large-scale strategies to completion, andLooking to be part of an exciting, new program that you will drive and shape for the future,...then this might be the role for you!Who are we?Be a part of King County Parks! King County Parks has evolved from a small system of 150 acres in 1938 to more than 32,000 acres. Today, our system consists of more than 205 parks, 175 miles of regional trails, and 250 miles of backcountry trails. Our mission is to steward, enhance and acquire parks to inspire healthy communities. We seek to cultivate strong relationships with community partners to enhance park amenities for all King County residents to enjoy today and for generations to come. Learn more at www.kingcounty.gov/parks. And check us out on the socials at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Flickr.
Job Duties
Forestry Program Leadership: Track and adaptively manage progress towards long-term forest management goals; develop and implement stewardship plans to meet King County's land management objectives.Technical Support: Provide technical support to DNRP units engaged in forest restoration and management activities; assist in implementing King County's Forest Carbon Program (e.g., plot inventory, data analysis and growth/yield monitoring); lead development of performance measures that assess progress on forest health-related objectives; stay current with the science of forestry and forest restoration. Contract Management: Develop and manage contracts for forestry services, which will include (but not be limited to) forest treatment projects, commercial harvests and tree planting; perform necessary compliance oversight. Constituent Services and Outreach: Respond to public and partner inquiries related to forest conservation in King County. Participate in outreach efforts to educate communities, landowners and the general public about King County's forest conservation efforts.
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Required Qualifications:Bachelor's degree in forestry, natural resource management (or related fields) or a combination of education and experience with program and project management that demonstrates the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties described in this job announcement.Experience developing and implementing forest stewardship plans at various scales.Demonstrated experience monitoring forest management activities, including setting up plots, collecting and analyzing field data, evaluating outcomes, and applying findings to management practices.Advanced knowledge of ecology and management of forested ecosystems.Skills and experience with forest growth and yield models and carbon modeling using FVS, as well as current skills in ArcGIS.Strong written and oral communication skills.Experience working effectively as part of a team.Intermediate skills using Microsoft programs, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint.The Successful Candidate Will Have the Following Competencies:Action Oriented: Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm. Takes initiative within the scope of the position and exercises strong time management skills.Plans and Aligns: Plans and prioritizes work to meet commitments aligned with Parks', DNRP's, and King County's goals.Communicates Effectively: Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. Acts tactfully and diplomatically when working on sensitive issues with diverse interests and individuals.Collaborates: Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.Manages complexity: Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems. Can multi-task accurately and quicky in a high-pressure environment, which includes management and coordination of simultaneous projects.Organizational Savvy: Maneuvers comfortably through complex policy, process, and people-related organizational dynamics.Preferred Qualifications:An understanding of King County Zoning Code (KCC 21A), Washington Forest Practices Rules (WAC Title 222), and land management implications associated with state and federal natural resource policies (e.g., Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act).Familiarity with Western Washington forest product markets and timber values.Knowledge of western Cascade forest ecosystems and issues affecting forestry in King County.Necessary Special Requirements: A current Washington Driver License (or ability to obtain one upon hire), or alternative ability to travel in a timely manner to various locations including to sites which may not be served by public transportation.
Supplemental Information
Working Conditions:Work Location: This position is primarily teleworking with frequent site visits to various project locations throughout King County.Environment: The position requires that the individual visit a variety of project sites that may include forest areas with thick trees, brush, and vegetation. This may necessitate the ability to traverse rough terrain covered with slash and brush, which generally include unlevel surfaces. These work areas expose the selected individual to varying weather and environmental conditions such as heat, rain, snow, mud, dust, wind and construction sites in various stages of completion. Work involves walking moderate distances on even and uneven surfaces in the field year-round.Work Hours: The typical work schedule is Monday through Friday. Weekend, holiday, and evening work will occasionally be required.FLSA Status: This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.Union Representation: This position is not represented by a union.Telecommuting Requirement:The work associated with this position will be performed through a combination of teleworking complemented with onsite work and meetings as needed.Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Please note that when an employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual, safety precautions are required, including the wearing of masks in some situations. King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Who is Eligible:This position is open to all qualified applicants. King County and the Parks and Recreation Division values diverse perspectives and life experience and encourages people of all backgrounds to apply. Application and Selection Process:Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness including online application, cover letter and resume, and responsiveness to the list of qualifications, skills, and abilities. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews. Applications without the following required materials may not be considered for this position. King County applicationResumeCover Letter detailing your background and what you can bring to this positionResponses to supplemental questionsFor more information regarding this recruitment, please contact: Jessica Fuqua at jfuqua@kingcounty.gov or 206-848-0342.Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.COVID-19 Vaccination RequirementKing County Executive Branch employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are the successful candidate for the position you applied for, the County will send you a conditional offer letter.As a condition of employment, prior to a final offer of employment, you will be required to:submit proof of vaccination, orhave an approved request for medical or religious exemption and an approved accommodation. Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.People are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after receiving the final dose of a vaccination approved by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).The Executive Branch includes employees in the Executive branch, the Assessor's Office, Elections, the King County Sheriff's Office, and the Executive Office.King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) EmployerNo person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.To ApplyIf you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
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