Deputy Regional Forester
About the role
The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) is seeking a Deputy Regional Forester (DRF) to join the DOF Eastern Region to direct field operations and implement the agency’s programs at the regional level. The Eastern Region encompasses 36 counties and the cities of Richmond, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Williamsburg. This position reports to the Eastern Region Forester and is based at the DOF's Eastern Region Office in Providence Forge. The role supports rural and community forestry activities, coordinating DOF operations in forest management, forest health, conservation, cost‑share programs, water‑quality protection, outreach, and wildfire suppression/protection. The DRF supervises the region’s four District Foresters and three program specialists. Limited teleworking options are available (typically 1 day per week); an assigned vehicle is parked at the Regional Office for travel. Within 6 months of hire, the successful candidate must reside within 70 miles of the Providence Forge office.
Responsibilities
- Manages and oversees the region’s participation in agency programs including forest protection; fire prevention; forest management; cost share; urban and community forestry; watershed & riparian forest management; and state lands management.
- Evaluates program effectiveness and customer needs to continually improve agency operations and procedures.
- Supervises three program specialists and four District Foresters in the region.
- Sets and tracks regional and