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The Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, Maine Forest Service (MFS), has a current vacancy for a Forester II in Maine.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION & FORESTRY
FORESTER II
(DISTRICT FORESTER)
Opening Date: June 18, 2026
Closing Date: End of the day July 10, 2026
Location: Ashland
Position Number: 01714-3599
Position Type: Permanent Full Time/Year-Round
Class Code: 9452
Grade: 25 (Professional/Technical Unit)
Salary: $55,764.80 - $78,228.80 Per Year*
*(This includes a 2.5% Salary Adjustment)
Interested applicants need to submit a Direct Hire Application, along with a Cover Letter, and a detailed Resume.
As one of 12 MFS District Foresters statewide, you will lead efforts in your district to provide education and assistance to multiple audiences, monitor forest conditions and forest operations, and promote stewardship of Maine's critical forest resources.
BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: This is professional forestry work involved in promoting informed decisions about Maine's forests to a wide variety of audiences and implementing a service forestry program in an assigned district. Responsibilities of the position include:
- Provide on-site advice and assistance to landowners, loggers, and foresters about management practices that will enhance the timber, water, wildlife, and recreation resources and values under their care.
- Develop and deliver presentations, field tours, and workshops to individuals, students, clubs, other entities, and the public about forests and forestry.
- Inspect timber harvest sites for compliance with the state's forest practices and other land use regulations and with Best Management Practices; advise consulting foresters, harvesters, and landowners on how to prevent violations and mitigate existing problems.
- Prepare informational materials, reports, and correspondence about forest issues, attend local meetings, answer inquiries, and perform public relations and outreach work to engage with the people of a district.
The position collaborates closely with a team of MFS field and program staff.
For questions specific to the position, please contact Morten Moesswilde at: Morten.Moesswilde@maine.gov
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelors' Degree in Forestry or related field and four (4) years field experience involving inspection and supervision of harvesting operations, surveying, cruising, timber making, and general forest management planning. Equivalent related experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.
LICENSING/REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: (These must be met by all employees prior to attaining permanent status in this class): Licensed as a Registered Professional Forester from the Maine State Board of Registration for Professional Foresters.
Preference will be given to candidates who possess the following skills and abilities:
- Stewardship - demonstrate broad knowledge and appreciation of the many economic, ecological, and social values of Maine's forests.
- Self-motivated - ability to work independently, identify needs, seek additional resources, and initiate new efforts to address emerging issues.
- People person - ability to communicate easily, tactfully, and professionally with a wide range of audiences. Comfortable leading presentations and workshops with people of different backgrounds and levels of understanding.
- Recorder/reporter - capable of preparing effective reports, assessments, and other documentation in written and electronic formats.
A job offer to a new hire is conditional upon verification of credentials, criminal records, and driver's license check if applicable. Three professional references must be provided and made available at the interview.
Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.
No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto-"Dirigo" or "I lead"-as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:
- Work-Life Balance - Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
- Health Insurance Coverage- The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
- Health Insurance Premium Credit - Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
- Dental Insurance- The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).
- Retirement Plan- The State of Maine contributes at least 14.11% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
- Gym Membership Reimbursement- Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
- Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts- Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
- Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness- The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.
- Living Resources Program - Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
- Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child-including fathers and adoptive parents-receive forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
- Voluntary Deferred Compensation- Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.
- Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness
There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.
As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.
If you're looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we'd love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.
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