District Forester

About the role

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.

Responsibilities

• Provides technical forestry assistance to provide landowners and state and local government agencies
• Forest insect and disease management
• Safe and effective fire response on non-federal, non-municipal and non-tribal lands
• Wildland urban interface and hazardous fuels reduction to protect homes from wildfire
• Collaborative, cross-boundary large-scale forest restoration planning and project implementation
• Compliance of timber harvest activities with state regulations
• Tracking and reporting on performance measures for the District's activities

Requirements

• Exceptional leadership and management skills with the ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing while making senior level decisions with minimal guidance or direction and communicating effectively with executive management
• Sound knowledge base of wildland fire suppression response, administration, management and financial decisions
• Extensive forest management knowledge, implementation, contracting, agreements and financial management associated with forest management, post fire restoration, reforestation and project management
• Knowledgeable in grant management, administration, implementation, reporting requirements and systems
• Knowledge of state procurement codes, code of federal regulations, other procurement regulations, laws and policies
• Knowledge of the Forest Conservation Act, Forestry Division, Forest Action plan

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in any field and four (4) years of relevant experience in this occupation
• Any combination of education from an accredited college or university and/or related experience in this occupation totaling eight (8) years may substitute for the required education and experience

Employment Requirements

• Maintain and possess a current New Mexico Driver's License, Defensive Driving Certificate
• Pass annual wildland fire certification and meet standards to maintain certifications if incumbent desires to maintain wildland fire qualifications or meet and maintain other certification requirements for non-fire related qualifications

Working Conditions

• Work will primarily be in an office setting, exposure to Visual/Video Display terminal (VDT) and extensive personal computer and telephone usage with extended periods of sitting
• Willingness to serve as a rotational duty officer year-round
• Extensive travel and potential for intermittent work in rough and remote terrain
• Work irregular or extended hours including evenings, weekends and holidays is common during the wildland fire season
• May be exposed to a variety of weather conditions including those associated with forest management and wildland fire management activities
• Able to lift 50 lbs. on occasion

Pay

$39.11 - $62.58 Hourly
$81,349 - $130,159 Annually

Schedule

This position is a Pay Band C11

Posting Details

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