Road Engineer/Forester

Job Summary

Freres Engineered Wood is seeking to hire a full-time Road Engineer Forester to join our team. This position reports to the Timber Manager and is responsible for building and maintaining forest roads on federal, state and private timberlands.

About the Role

We are team oriented with a strong commitment to integrity, collaboration and sustainability. We believe in continued learning and growth and have high-quality standards for relationships with our vendors, customers and our employees. Applicants must be team-oriented and have strong oral and written communication skills. This position provides opportunities for exposure and experience with all aspects of forestry within our company.

Essential Functions

• 80% in the field and 20% office based
• Focus is on all aspects of sustainable forest management, with an emphasis on road engineering
• This includes but is not limited to road design, project layout, construction management, mapping, road inventory, harvest layout and harvest administration
• Manage the road construction and maintenance operations on Freres’ timber sale contracts
• Supervise, manage and schedule work for the Freres’ road crew that builds and maintains forest roads on Freres lands and timber sales
• Responsible for planning and management of all road building and forestry engineering activities on Freres’ timber lands
• Appraise road and project work for bidding on timber sales
• Negotiate, prepare and administer contracts
• Must have the ability to manage projects from start to finish independently
• Able to work under limited supervision
• Self-starter with strong work ethic and a highly motivated team player
• Proven leadership skills
• Always act professionally and recognize you will be acting as a company representative with contractors, landowners, agencies, our employees and team, as well as a variety of stakeholders
• Must have ability to work long days, driving safely in all road and weather conditions, including many remote work locations
• Other duties as assigned including but not limited to quarterly road use agreements, other landowners, terms and conditions, and understand who and which agencies are responsible for road maintenance and rock work
• Strong background in working contracts and contractors
• Able to make important decisions under pressure
• Understanding of local resources and forestry in western Oregon
• Ability to navigate to remote locations within our region, demonstrating skills in mapping and GIS
• Excellence in organizational skills and able to manage multiple tasks to meet timelines
• Demonstrate independent decision making and perform cost analyses for logging, road and rocking alternatives on projects
• Understands and can effectively use GIS mapping of roads, logging units, including road design packets
• To search for, recover, and flag property lines
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of legal documents pertaining to road use agreements, legal descriptions and easements
• Absorb other forest related activities, including forest fire suppression
• To cut brush with hand tools and chainsaw
• Understanding of Forest Practices Act and application on the ground
• Strong work ethics and ability to prioritize tasks efficiently and effectively in a fast-paced work environment
• Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to provide and receive constructive feedback
• Proficiency in computers and related software applications including Microsoft Office, GIS is highly desirable along with the ability to learn more
• Ability to use GPS, directional compass, and topographical maps
• Ability to work a flexible schedule when needed
• Positive interpersonal communication skills and ability to work well with others
• Current and valid U. S. driver’s license is required as well as a clean DMV record; this job involves driving company vehicles on rough roads (up to 50,000 miles per year)
• Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug test and background check

Qualifications

• B.S. in Forest Engineering and/or Forest Operations. (Comparable degrees within forest operations experience will also be considered)
• Candidates with knowledge of Northwest logging systems/operations and the Oregon Forest Practice Act will be strongly considered
• Current and valid U. S. driver’s license is required as well as a clean DMV record; this job involves driving company vehicles on rough roads (up to 50,000 miles per year)
• Must be able to operate company vehicles in accordance with company guidelines

Benefits

We offer a highly competitive wage, PTO, health, dental and life insurance, Section 125, 401K, profit-sharing, Holiday Pay and discretionary profit-sharing quarterly bonuses. As a Forester, you will also have access to a company pickup truck and cell phone.

About the Company

Freres Engineered Wood, formerly Freres Lumber Co., Inc. was established in 1922 in Lyons, Oregon as a family-owned and operated wood products manufacturing business. Three generations of family management have led the Company’s veneer and plywood manufacturing facilities to sustain in the Santiam Canyon and we are committed to operating for another 100+ years. We operate six processing plants, including a small log veneer plant, large log veneer plant, veneer drying facility, plywood plant and cogeneration facility. We are dedicated to reinvesting in our modern manufacturing facilities, providing high-quality wood products, and providing family wage jobs within our communities. We specialize in creating the highest quality wood products, from raw log to finished products, including: hog fuel, bark fines, chips, shavings, specialty veneer, grade lumber, high-quality sheathing grade plywood and even electricity. Our passion for continuous improvement aligned with our innovative approach to manufacturing has led us to become the sole producer and developer of a unique, patented wood product, the Mass Plywood Panel. If you have a growth mindset and thrive under pressure, you’re probably a great fit for our team!