MANRRS JOB HUB

Washington Dept. of Natural Resources Seeks Urban Forest Inventory Technician

Posted on August 16, 2022
Washington Dept. of Natural Resources Seeks Urban Forest Inventory Technician
Position Title: 
Urban Forest Inventory Technician

 

Position Summary:
Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?
The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has an exciting opportunity in our Forest Resilience Division’s Community and Landowner Assistance Section, Urban and Community Forestry Program. The DNR Forest Resilience Division is seeking a motivated individual to join our Urban Forestry team to implement statewide urban forest inventory and analysis.
The Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Program works to educate Washington State residents and decision-makers about the economic, environmental, psychological, and aesthetic benefits of trees and to assist local government, community groups, and volunteers in planting and sustaining healthy trees and vegetation wherever people live, work, and play in Washington State. The mission of UCF is to provide leadership to create self-sustaining urban and community forestry programs that preserve, plan, and manage forests and trees for public benefit and quality of life.
 
Recruitment #2022-8-7989
Full-time, Permanent, Represented position
Location: Natural Resources Building- Olympia, WA
Telework and location flexibility may be considered
 
As part of this division and program, you will work along side a talented team of professional planners, scientists, and implementers providing service to local, state, private, and federal partners to increase the resiliency and health of Washington’s forests and landscapes. In this position, you will be part of a team focused on providing services to those managing urban forests throughout Washington. You will serve as the primary urban forest data collector and analyst. This position works with the program team under the supervision and guidance of the Urban Forest Inventory Specialist.
 
Our Urban Forest Inventory Technician collects, analyzes, and helps communities make use of street and park tree inventory data. This position reports to the Urban Forest Inventory Specialist to support a broader body of work including developing and implementing a statewide Urban Forest Inventory and Analysis (UFIA) project, developing and maintaining a statewide geodatabase of urban tree inventory data, providing oversight for data collected by contractors in the field, and providing technical assistance to communities to help them incorporate data from urban tree canopy assessments and tree inventories into actionable work plans, management plans, or strategic plans.
 
 
Responsibilities:
Collect and analyze urban tree inventory and urban tree canopy data through tasks such as:
• Collect UFIA and tree inventory data across the state under direction of the Urban Forest Inventory Specialist.
• Conduct community tree inventories.
• Perform preliminary analysis on urban forestry data collected in-house and by contractors.
• Work with DNR staff and contractors to collect tree inventory data and ensure accuracy of data collected.
• Communicate results, observations, trends, and other relevant information through various methods.
 
Provide technical assistance to constituents through tasks such as:
• Provide technical advice to stakeholders related to tree inventories
conduct community tree inventories using GIS and web-based mapping and data collection tools. Help cities analyze tree inventory data, assess resource vulnerabilities, and determine management actions.
 
 
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required Qualifications:
  • A Bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources, urban forestry, horticulture, urban landscape planning, or similar field AND 1 year of experience in a natural resource program area.
  • OR An Associate’s degree in forestry, natural resources, urban forestry, horticulture, urban landscape planning, or similar field AND 3 years of experience in a natural resource program area.
  • 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.
  • Highly developed understanding of ecosystem services and how ecosystem services are measured, analyzed, and reported.
  • Proficiency using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), including ArcGIS On-line, ArcMap and other applications such as Survey 123 and Collector.
  • Direct experience performing data analyses using statistical and GIS-based methods.
  • Experience of effective oral and written communications and can convey messages clearly and persuasively, including 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 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.
  • Good understanding of urban forestry policy issues.
DNR Core Competencies:
  • Personal Accountability
  • Value Others
  • Compassionate Communication
  • Inspire Others
  • Commitment to Excellence

 

Conditions of Employment:

  • Valid International Society of Arboricultural Arborist certification or ability to obtain within 6 months of employment.
  • 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.
  • Most work is performed indoors in office environments but includes regular onsite, outdoor settings.
  • Travel is required and may include site visits statewide, may be multiple days in length, and will require overnight stays.
  •  
    Employees of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are required to be fully
    vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. This position is based in an office/fieldwork setting and requires in-person attendance/interactions with no option for fulltime telework. Please note that any offer of employment is contingent upon you providing verification of your vaccine status. No start date will be approved until you verify your status.

 

Desired Qualifications:

  • Professional experience working with or for a municipal urban forestry program, including direct experience with tree inventory and municipal work order software systems.
  • Skills and experience with general forest health issues such as insects, diseases, invasive species, drought, wildland fire, etc.
  • Valid Tree Risk Assessment Qualification from the International Society of Arboriculture or ability to obtain within 6 months of employment.
  • Experience working with underserved or historically marginalized residents, neighborhoods or communities; firm understanding of social and environmental justice issues.
  • Direct experience working with Forest Inventory Analysis (FIA) or Urban Forest Inventory
  • Analysis (UFIA) data collection protocols.
  • Experience with remote sensing and advanced technologies such as LiDAR, etc.
  • Advanced skills with Excel or programming experience.
 
 
Questions?
Please contact Ben Thompson at ben.thompson@dnr.wa.gov or e-mail us at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov

Tags:
Professionals, Graduates, Forestry, Urban Forestry