FORESTRY AIDE 2 - MEADOW CREEK SHOP - 08252026-80433

Location: Cookeville, TN – Department of Agriculture, Putnam County. This position serves the Cumberland District, covering Putnam, Jackson, Macon, Smith, and Trousdale Counties.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent, plus one year of full-time experience in one of the following areas:
  • Fire suppression or fire prevention
  • Conservation of trees, soil, water, or wildlife
  • Farming or harvesting of forest products or orchards
  • Land surveying or mapping
  • Operation of sawmills, tractors, or bulldozers
  • Maintenance and repair of heavy equipment or carpentry
• Substitution of Education for Experience: Additional college coursework in fire science, emergency management, homeland security, or natural resources may substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis (maximum of one year).
• Substitution of Experience for Education: Relevant experience may substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis (maximum of four years).

Necessary Special Qualifications:

• Valid vehicle operator’s license (must maintain during employment).
• Minimum age of 18 at the time of application.
• Pass the Wildland Firefighter Work Capacity Test (WCT): walk 2 miles with a 25-pound backpack in 30 minutes or less (for positions performing fire line activity).
• Obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) within 12 months of hire.
• Maintain physical and mental fitness to perform duties effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead wildland firefighters and external resources in fire suppression or all-hazard situations, ensuring safety, coordination, and communication.
• Assess environmental conditions (e.g., weather, topography, fuel type) and fire behavior to determine control strategies.
• Construct fire lines using hand tools (e.g., fire rake, Pulaski, leaf blower) for extended periods.
• Attend mandatory technical training and the annual TN/KY Wildland Fire Academy for specialty certifications.
• Gather and report fire-related information (e.g., cause, location, values at risk) for incident reports and resource coordination.
• Operate heavy machinery and vehicles, including bulldozers, wildland fire engines, tractors, forklifts, dump trucks, road graders, and backhoes.
• Maintain facilities, grounds, equipment, and vehicles for incident readiness.
• Educate cooperators, the public, and agencies on fire tactics, behavior, tools, and Tennessee Division of Forestry functions; provide firefighter and permit writer training.
• Monitor seedling storage facilities to ensure viability.
• Review and assist with timber harvest sites for Best Management Practices (BMP) compliance and contract adherence.
• Collect forest management data and conduct seedling survival checks.
• Assist with vendor services such as prescribed fire, timber marking, tree planting, and fire line construction.
• Verify seedling orders against deliveries and confirm shipping manifests.
• Inspect and mark State Forest boundaries to identify timber trespass, illegal activities, or other violations.
• Diagnose dead/dying trees (e.g., insects, disease, natural causes) and recommend actions; assist in pest/invasive species monitoring and control.

Skills

• Competencies: Action Oriented, Customer Focus, Instills Trust, Business Insight, Communicates Effectively.
• Knowledge Areas: Building/Construction, Customer/Personal Service, Geography, Mechanical, Public Safety/Security.
• Abilities: Limb/Full Body Flexibility, Auditory Attention, Multilimb Coordination, Problem Sensitivity, Rate Control.
• Tools & Equipment: Office Equipment, Safety/Heavy Equipment, Fire Line Hand Tools, GPS Units, Mobile/Portable Radios.

Pay

Monthly: $3,229.00 | Annually: $38,748.00

Schedule

Full-time.

Driver Requirements: Valid driver’s license with no DUI, reckless driving, license suspensions for moving violations, or more than 4 moving violations in the past five years. Exceptions may apply.