Division Director and State Forester

Full-time, in-office position located at 1594 W North Temple, Salt Lake City.

About The Role

This is an executive-level position responsible for serving as the Division Director and State Forester for the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL). The position reports to the Commissioner and Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and oversees the division’s management team, programs, personnel, budget, and operations. The Division Director and State Forester provides strategic direction and makes final decisions regarding division goals, priorities, resource allocation, and forestry, fire, sovereign lands, and applicable state mineral policy.

The Director/State Forester advises the DNR Commissioner and other state leaders on forestry, fire, sovereign lands, applicable state minerals policies, and natural resource issues and represents the division with local, state, and federal agencies, committees, boards, and partner organizations. The position also provides policy and technical guidance to staff, communities, lawmakers, landowners, and other stakeholders; oversees personnel matters; and serves as a spokesperson to the media and public.

Responsibilities

• Oversees statewide fire suppression, fire prevention, sovereign lands, applicable state mineral resources, and forest management program(s).
• Ensures forestry preservation, conservation, and wildland fire prevention across state and private cooperative lands.
• Serves as representative for the division on state, national, and local committees, advisory boards, and councils regarding Division programs.
• Provides technical and policy guidance to staff members for Division programs and services to communities and organizations.
• Oversees subordinate field personnel and fire crews, including assigning workload, delegating fire incident assignments, training, and monitoring field performance.
• Develops, directs, and/or evaluates statewide division programs.
• Sets division goals, establishes priorities, manages high-level resources, develops administrative concepts and approaches, and reviews project progress and results.
• Evaluates, plans, and directs the overall business and management operations of the organization.
• Prepares and recommends the division's annual budget to the Legislature; monitors division fiscal activity to assure conformity to goals and budget constraints; develops short and long-range budget plans.
• Represents the agency with federal, state, and local government units, in the media, or with private organizations regarding Division programs.
• Listens and responds effectively to elected and appointed officials, holding public hearings and rendering formal administrative decisions.
• Supervises top-tier subordinate personnel, overseeing hiring, workload delegation, performance evaluation, and division-wide personnel matters.

Requirements

Applicants must meet the requirements of State Code 65A-8-102: The State Forester shall be a graduate of an accredited school of forestry, technically and professionally competent and experienced in administration.

• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing services, assessing customer/lessee needs, and meeting quality standards.
• Ability to identify complex structural or legal problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options.
• Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Ability to apply general rules and state administrative codes to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years of experience managing a multi-dimensional organization.
• Preferred: Master’s degree or higher in a natural resource-related field.
• Preferred: Demonstrated leadership experience in the career field along with political affiliations and stakeholder engagement.

Supplemental Information

Work is typically done in the office. However, there will be exposure to hazards associated with wildland fire zones, rugged forest terrain, varying weather conditions, and active field operations. Requires walking, standing, navigating steep wilderness slopes, and maintaining high physical stamina during emergency incidents.

Background check required. Schedule code: AD.

Benefits

• Job Stability: Enjoy the security and reliability of employment within a well-established organization.
• Career Growth: Develop valuable skills and gain opportunities for leadership within a large organization.
• Meaningful Work: Contribute to an important service that benefits the community and supports organizational goals.
• Supportive Work Environment: Be part of a team that values cooperation, strong work ethics, and mutual support.

In Utah, we believe hard work is important, but balance is essential. Finding work/life balance is a vital element to our culture.

Pay

$60.61 - $88.83 per hour.