WA State Department of Natural Resources Seeks Eastern Urban Forestry Technician

 

Full-time, Permanent, Represented position

Location: Spokane, WA. Flexibility within Benton, Chelan, Franklin, Kittitas, Spokane, or Yakima counties.

Relocation Compensation may be available and considered

Telework flexibility may be available and considered 

Salary: $4,541.00 - $6,105.00 Monthly 

 

Review of applications is ongoing. The hiring authority reserves the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment at any time after May 18, 2023. It is in the applicant’s best interest to submit material as soon as possible.

 

Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?

The duty station for this position is flexible within Benton, Chelan, Franklin, Kittitas, Spokane, or Yakima counties.

 

Bring your unique skills and creativity to work every single day, in a flexible and mutually supportive work environment among others who share your passions for urban forestry and community engagement. You will teach, inspire, and motivate others to be better stewards of urban forests across a range of different projects in communities throughout the state. If you love working with people as much as you do working with trees, if you are committed to principles of equity and environmental justice, and if you enjoy working independently as part of a small team, this could be one of your most fulfilling jobs.

 

DNR’s Forest Resilience Division is seeking a motivated individual to join the Urban & Community Forestry Program, a small but impactful team of passionate professionals committed to the restoration, enhancement, and management of urban forests across Washington State. As part of this Division and Program, you will work alongside a talented group of planners, scientists, foresters, and outreach professionals providing services to state, private, and federal partners to increase the health and resiliency of Washington’s forested landscapes.

 

Our Eastern Urban Forestry Technician serves as the senior level professional for the delivery of technical urban forestry assistance to constituents of the Urban and Community Forestry Program across eastern Washington State, including the Ellensburg, Spokane, and Tri-Cities areas. This position reports to the Statewide Urban Forestry Specialist to support a broader body of work that includes providing urban forestry technical and educational assistance to stakeholders including urban forestry professionals employed by cities, towns, counties, tribes, 501(c)3 non-profit organizations, educational institutions, special taxing districts (e.g. metro parks districts), public and private utility organizations, community leaders, non-governmental organizations, DNR program staff, and others engaged in urban forestry planning and management. The DNR Urban & Community Forestry Program incorporates principles of equity and environmental justice into the delivery of program resources and services.

 

 

Implementation and delivery of urban and community forestry programming in eastern WA through tasks such as:

· Providing UCF technical expertise to Washington State stakeholders such as cities and towns, counties, tribal governments, 501(c) 3 non-profit organizations, and educational institutions.

· Assisting stakeholders to resolve complex problems affecting community forest management.

· Coordinating technical assistance activities with regional urban forestry program staff and associates.

 

Urban forestry education, technical guidance, and project coordination through tasks such as:

· Developing curricula and delivering training to community stakeholders on topics related to planting, maintenance, and management of urban trees.

· Communicating industry-accepted best practices for urban forest maintenance and management.

· Supporting UCF grantees by providing technical guidance during project implementation.

· Cooperating with other program staff and regional associates to facilitate and deliver regional networking and educational programs and events.

· Delivering presentations at conferences, seminars, workshops, and other events.

 

· Bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources, urban forestry, horticulture, urban landscape planning, landscape architecture, or related field AND 2 years of professional experience in a natural resource program area.

OR An equivalent combination of education and professional experience.

· Two years of urban forestry experience resulting in highly developed urban forestry technical knowledge and skills in tree identification, diagnostics, tree inventory, natural area management, and industry-accepted best practices.

· Valid International Society of Arboricultural Arborist certification or ability to obtain within 6 months of employment.

· Experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), including ArcMap, Survey123, and Collector, and other mapping tools to document work and convey information to non-technical audiences.

· Experience of effective oral and written communications and can convey messages clearly and persuasively. Excellent public speaking skills.

· Experience responding to and interacting in a positive, responsive, cooperative, collaborative manner with the public and other professionals (both inter-organizational and interdisciplinary).

· Proficient with computers and Microsoft Office applications including Excel and SharePoint.

· Works well independently and effectively manages multiple tasks at different stages.

· Organizational management - has a strong understanding and ability to organize efficiently and the ability to develop or use systems for tracking implementation and accomplishments of several complex projects.

· DNR Core Competencies: 

o Personal Accountability 

o Value Others 

o Compassionate Communication 

o Inspire Others 

o Commitment to Excellence 

 

· Work is performed indoors in office environments but includes regular work in onsite, outdoor settings. May be approved to work in Kittitas, Yakima, Spokane, Benton, Franklin counties.

· Travel is required and may include site visits statewide, may be multiple days in length, and will require overnight stays. Additional travel may be required nationally for meetings, conferences, and other activities.

· A valid driver’s license and have two years of driving experience. This position requires driving as an essential function. Finalists and/or interview candidates will be asked to provide a driving record from all states in which they have held a license during the past three years.

· Employees of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are required to complete their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines (be fully vaccinated against COVID-19) or be approved for a medical or religious accommodation as a condition of employment. Please note, any offer of employment is contingent and no start date will be approved until you have either verified your vaccine status or have an approved accommodation. “Fully vaccinated” means the following: An employee is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after they have received the second dose in a two-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine (e.g., Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Novavax) or a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine (e.g., Johnson & Johnson (J&J)/Janssen) authorized for emergency use, licensed, or otherwise approved by the FDA or listed for emergency use, or otherwise approved by the World Health Organization. 

 

· Professional experience working with or for a municipal urban forestry program, including direct experience with tree inventory and municipal work order software systems.

· Two years of professional experience administering an urban and community forestry program.

· Skills and experience with general forest health issues such as insects, diseases, invasive species, drought, wildland fire, etc.

· Experience working with underserved or historically marginalized residents, neighborhoods or communities

firm understanding of social and environmental justice issues.

· Experience creating forestry training programs.

 

 

At DNR we approach our work through the lens of making Washington a better place environmentally and are dedicated to serving Washington’s lands and communities through diversity, equity and inclusion. 

 

Our Vision – Our actions ensure a future where Washington’s lands, waters, and communities thrive.

Our Mission – Manage, sustain, and protect the health and productivity of Washington’s lands and waters to meet the needs of present and future generations.

 

· Safety and Well-Being —Our top priority is the safety of the public and our employees.

· Public Service —We value and respect the public we serve, and we value and respect the people of the Department of Natural Resources who step up to serve.

· Innovation and Creative Problem-Solving — We solve our state’s most pressing challenges through innovative thinking, dedication, and bold and creative vision.

· Leadership and Teamwork —We are committed to building leaders at all levels and building teams for success.

 

DNR provides excellent benefits, a few of those include:

· Commitment to organizational health and wellness

· Work/life balance

· DNR Employee Resource Groups (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, Women’s Employee Resource Group, Veterans Employee Resource Group, etc.)

· Statewide Employee Business Resource Groups

· Leadership that empowers and supports employees

· Professional development opportunities

· Educational and career development aid

· Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility

· Opportunities to participate in wildland fire suppression assignments

· A comprehensive benefit package that includes employer contributions toward health insurance, paid holidays, retirement plans, sick leave and vacation days. Visit http://careers.wa.gov/benefits.html for more information.

 

· To be considered you must apply online at www.careers.wa.gov. You must complete the entire online application to be considered for the position.

· Attach a letter of interest describing how your experience and qualifications relate to the position profile and the position required, desired and special requirements.

· Attach a resume describing your experience and qualifications.

· Provide three to five professional references – you may attach a document, use the References text field in the online application, or include with resume.

· Important: Do not attach any documents that include photos or private information (social security number, year of birth, etc.).

· Complete all supplemental questions.

 

This recruitment may be extended and may also be used to fill future similar vacancies for up to sixty (60) days.

 

Veterans wishing to claim Veteran’s preference please attach a copy of your DD-214, NGB-22 or other verification of military service. Please black out your social security number prior to attaching.  We thank you and are grateful for your service!

 

The Department of Natural Resources is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

 

Persons needing accommodation during the screening process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact DNR Recruiting staff at (360) 522-2500 or (360) 522-0143 or by email at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov.  Those with a hearing impairment in need of accommodation are encouraged to contact the Washington State Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) at 1-800-833-6388 or www.washingtonrelay.com.

 

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Questions?  Please contact Ben Thompson at 360-485-8651 / ben.thompson@dnr.wa.gov or e-mail us at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov.

 

Once you submit your online application, you can check your status by logging into your account. If you experience technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or email CareersHelp@des.wa.gov.