Federal Forestry Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's mission is to help ensure that Montana's land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations.

The DNRC believes employees are their most important asset. The DNRC empowers employees to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. Employees are provided with the training and tools necessary to achieve the mission. Both team effort and individual employee expertise are supported and sustained.

Core Values:

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's Forestry and Trust Land Division recognizes that building a collaborative, professional, and inclusive work environment is critical to fulfilling our mission of managing, protecting, and promoting stewardship of Montana's forests and lands for the benefit of current and future generations and our trust beneficiaries. We hold ourselves to these high standards as we are accountable to the people of Montana.

• We value and respect each other. 
• We create collaborative work environments. 
• We build and maintain strong relationships. 
• We practice accountability. 

• We celebrate our successes and take pride in our work

Work Unit Overview:  The majority of work will be on federal lands throughout western Montana. This position will be planning, designing, and implementing work in the field in support of the Good Neighbor Authority Program administered by the Good Neighbor Bureau headquartered in Missoula.

Job Overview: 
The position performs advanced professional forest management activities  in close coordination with the US Forest Service under the general supervision of the Good Neighbor Authority Supervisory Forester. The incumbent plans, coordinates, and implements various projects to improve forest health, reduce hazardous fuels, and harvest commercial timber from federal lands and across ownership boundaries.

Essential Functions (Major Duties or Responsibilities): These job functions are the essential duties of the position and are not all-inclusive of all the duties that may be assigned to the incumbent.

Good Neighbor Authority Project Planning and Design:
The position is responsible for understanding tools and authorities, such as Good Neighbor Authority; working knowledge of NEPA and Farm Bill categorical exclusion provisions; basic DNRC timber sale and service contracting, sale administration, and policies and procedures that allow state involvement in federal land management. The position is responsible for collaborating with federal partners to plan, manage, and implement federal forest management projects through these authorities. The position coordinates within the DNRC, with other agencies, local governments, and other interested stakeholders to accomplish forest management projects across multiple ownerships.

• Conducts Surveys and collects inventory data to determine natural resources present, their condition, and management needs. Determines timber distribution and timber volume estimates. Determines hazardous fuels reduction needs. Identifies forest insects and diseases damage and management needs. Identifies topography, Streamside Management Zones, riparian areas and other factors that influence forest management operations and planning.

• Coordinates the design or implementation of silvicultural prescriptions, timber marking guidelines, sale design and logging system specifications, road specifications, sale layout and timber cruising activities.

• Coordinates information sharing with federal partners to ensure efficient and appropriate project scheduling, and to achieve forest management goals.

• Develops initial forest management proposals and works collaboratively with federal agency partners and other stakeholders to refine proposals.

• Evaluates project access needs. This involves determining existing road ownership status; assessing existing road systems, road construction costs, log hauling feasibility, right of way issues, and environmental concerns, ensuring permits are obtained as required; and evaluating other access issues relevant to the project area.

Good Neighbor Authority Project Implementation and Administration:
The position is responsible for administration, oversight and implementation of forest management activities on federal lands under the Good Neighbor Authority and DNRC timber sale contract and administration rules, policies and guidelines.

• Develops and administers forest management projects and contracts such as: timber sales, fuels reduction, stand improvement, and road maintenance to ensure compliance with state and federal requirements, NEPA requirements and Forest Plan Standards.

• Prepares all sale-package documents for Land Office and Good Neighbor Bureau review and distribution. These include the NEPA Design Features Crosswalk, Timber Sale Contract, Prospectus, Notice of Sale, Summary of Actions and other summaries of timber values, cruise documentation, forest improvement appraisal, road and logging costs, and specifications.

• Coordinates with Forest Service personnel to ensure projects meet the abovementioned requirements. Completes contract inspections and details project progress, conditions, and compliance in inspection reports. Compares observations with expected outcomes. Performs timber sale clerical duties such as truck ticket entry and tracking, timber sale billing. Creates and maintains a complete file of project documentation.

• Participates in public meetings, monitors input from industry, affected groups and the public. Obtains data and recommends strategies or actions.

• Determines and oversees forest restoration treatments on assigned parcels including thinning, timber stand improvement hazard and fuels reduction, weed spraying, road maintenance needs and planting after timber sales or as needed.

Public Relations:
Provides program and project expertise and responds to and answers questions from internal and external specialists, other agencies, and the general public regarding the DNRC's Federal Engagement Program and projects. Promotes goals and objectives, fosters awareness of issues affecting forest resources, and delivers information on project outcomes and progress as requested or appropriate.

• Plans, organizes and conducts field tours at any time during the design and implementation of forest product sales to educate and inform individuals, special interest groups, collaboratives groups, and other organizations. The incumbent provides information on resource concerns, benefits and costs, environmental impacts, proposals and alternatives and related issues.

• Solicits comments and involvement from others such as interested private citizens, collaborative groups, local governments, the forest products industry, and conservation organizations.

• Attends meetings with organizations and individuals to educate about individual projects, the DNRC's Good Neighbor Program, and the need for active forest management.
   

 Supervision:
This position may supervise foresters and seasonal employees. This position may be responsible for time approval, disciplinary action or hiring of employees.

APPLICATION MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION ARE:

• Online State of Montana application
• Resume 
• Cover Letter -Must list which location(s) applying for and applicants preferred location, Kalispell or Libby. 

HELPFUL HINT: You must check the "relevant document" box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application.

Benefits:

• Paid Vacation, Sick Leave and Holidays
• Health, Dental, Prescription, and Vision Coverage
• Retirement Plans
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) - Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF. Look here, https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service to learn more and see if you may qualify!

• Bachelor's degree in forest management or a related resource management field.
• Minimum one year of job-related professional forest management experience.
• May consider alternative combinations of education and experience.

• Office based with frequent same day travel for filed work or meetings

         State Forest management principles and practices

         Equipment and techniques used in forest management projects and operations, including cruising, layout and harvesting systems.

         Experience with word, excel, outlook, GIS programs

         Data collection and instruments and software

         Experienced in working alone in the field, including driving winter conditions, operating ATVs and navigating with map and compass.

         Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing to individuals, groups and representatives from other organizations.

         Ability to coordinate and direct multiple resources to complete work objectives and be able to work on multiple projects simultaneously.

• Vigorous physical activity in all types of weather
• Requires routine travel within northwest Montana and occasional travel to other areas of Montana.

SPECIAL INFORMATION: 

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. A valid driver's license is required with less than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months

ELIGIBILITY TO WORK: 

In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the person selected must produce within three days of hire documents that show authorization to work in the United States. Examples of such documentation include a birth certificate or Social Security card along with a driver's license or other picture I.D., or a U.S. passport, or a "green card"

Effective May 4, 2026, this agency is participating in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After accepting a job offer and completing Form I-9, your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration for verification.