Job Specification Details

Managerial, technical, and professional work involving the overall direction of a comprehensive forestry program for the State of Vermont within the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation. As the director of a major state division, the incumbent exercises significant judgement, discretion, and decision making in establishing and executing Division programs, goals, objectives, and operating policies and procedures. Duties are performed within the framework of State statutes, Agency policies, and under the general direction of the Department Commissioner. Supervision is exercised over a large staff of professional, technical, and clerical employees deployed throughout the state. Extensive interaction occurs with federal agencies, other Department and Agency officials, including especially key planning and cross-program coordination with the commissioner, the Lands Administration and Recreation Director, the State Parks Director, the Department Financial Manager, and the Department General Counsel.

Plans, organizes, controls, coordinates, and evaluates a broad program of forestry and forestry related services/projects and activities concerned with the protection, stewardship, management, and utilization of the State's forests and forest resources. Establishes priorities and procedural rules and policies to ensure that all program components contribute to an orderly and balanced attainment of Department and Agency goals. Plans, prepares, supports, and administers (when approved) the draft Division budget including goal statements, justifications, and methods of achievements. Prepares financial plans, conducts fiscal analyses, and audits program expenditure and accomplishments to insure fiscal integrity, conformance with federal program matching requirements, and administrative rules. Directly supervises key program managers and the supervisor of Forestry District Managers. Recruits, trains, manages, motivates, and evaluates key Division staff. Initiates changes in division structure as necessary to respond to new priorities, budget adjustments, and changing technology. Communicates and coordinates forestry program activities with other sections, division, departments, and agencies, State and Federal. Maintains ongoing liaison with other public, private, and industrial foresters and forestry related interest groups. May serve on state and national committees, councils, and task forces as a representative of the commissioner on forestry matters as, or in conjunction with, the State Forester. Develops and promotes a continuing education and information effort by Division staff directed toward officials of other agencies, regional and town planning groups, the mass media, schools, and other groups and individuals. Provides information in response to varied inquiries regarding forest policy, management, statistics, protection, utilization, and related matters. Prepares a variety of reports as needed. Performs related duties as required, especially other duties and tasks as assigned by the commissioner.

Duties are performed largely in a standard office setting, but with predictable need for travel to field locations which may at times include rough terrain. Private means of transportation must be available for required travel.

Thorough knowledge of and experience in the broad range of forestry principles and practices applicable to forest health, stewardship, management, protection, and utilization, and for a broad range of public uses and benefits.

Considerable knowledge of the economic value and contribution of forests and forestry to the Vermont and US economies and of the range of environmental and socio-cultural values and contributions of forests and forestry in Vermont and New England.

Considerable knowledge of and experience with the principles and practices of conservation.

Considerable knowledge of forest product harvesting methods and market outlets.

Considerable knowledge of management principles and practices.

Considerable knowledge of other natural resource and land use programs which relate closely to forestry.

Working knowledge of budget planning principles and practices.

Working knowledge of supervisory practices and procedures.

Ability to analyze problem areas, identify issues and to implement effective remedial action.

Ability to keep objectives in view while concurrently administering several generally related tasks/functions.

Ability to establish program objectives and deadlines and to pursue them to meaningful conclusions.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Effective communications skills, both oral and written.

Education: Master's degree in forestry or closely related field and five (5) years at a professional level in the broad field of forestry or closely related field, with at least three at a supervisory, administrative, managerial, or staff assistant level.

OR

Education: Bachelor's degree in forestry or closely related field and eight (8) years at a professional level in the broad field of forestry or closely related field, with at least three at a supervisory, administrative, managerial, or staff assistant level.

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