Agency:
South Dakota Department of Agriculture
Division of Resource Conservation and Forestry
Salary: $16.12 – $ 19.14 per hour; depending on experience
For more information about the South Dakota Department of Agriculture, please visit http://sdda.sd.gov/
Duties: This position will be part of the forest health team within the division. Duties include tree insect and disease identification and management. Implement, coordinate, and administer forestry activities and programs with individual landowners, city or county governments or agencies, and conservation districts; provide technical assistance; write forest stewardship plans; and provide educational information to ensure effective conservation practices related to trees, forests, and the protection of the state’s resources.
Normal work hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Day travel is frequent and overnight trips will average about 2-3 nights per month; and some air travel may be required to attend meeting or training out-of state.
The successful candidate will be required to obtain a pesticide application certificate from the State of South Dakota; and must have a valid driver license.
If you possess a National Career Readiness Certificate, please submit the certificate with your application. For more information on how to acquire a National Career Readiness Certificate contact a South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation Local Office.
Qualifications: A formal education or experience in forestry or a related natural resource profession with an emphasis in forest entomology or pathology is preferred. Experience may be substituted for education and experience if that experience has prepared the candidate to successfully carry out the duties of this position.
Knowledge of:
- dendrology, arboriculture;
- biology;
- biometrics and botany;
- forest ecology, mensuration;
- forest entomology and forest pathology;
- geographic information systems (ArcGIS);
- horticulture, hydrology, plant physiology, and silviculture;
- range and timber management;
- state and federal laws regulating the use of pesticides;
- forest fire management, forest insects and diseases, tree biology, forest economics, forest planning;
- project design and management, urban forestry, agroforestry, and forest certification programs.
Skills:
- use a variety of forestry tools and equipment;
- use forestry tools: clinometer, hypsometer, biltmore stick, measuring wheel, compass, diameter tapes, prisms, increment borers, cruiser axes, data recorders, global positioning systems (GPS);
- use Microsoft Office products: Word, Outlook, Access, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint.
Ability to:
- speak at public meetings;
- explain complex forestry concepts and practices in easy to understand terms;
- analyze extensive resource data and draw logical conclusion from that data;
- write professional and technical reports on forest health projects that can be understood by both professional and lay persons;
- drive a 4-wheel drive truck and an ATV in a variety of weather conditions;
- conduct literature and technical reference searches;
- conduct soil survey research;
- use and interpret topographic maps;
- use digital graphic software, mapping programs, and GPS information uploading, downloading, and interpretation;
- deal tactfully with others;
- work independently with minimal supervision, or with a group in a team setting;
- use lab techniques for sample and culture preparation.
Additional requirements: To be considered, attach your responses to the questions below. Your responses must be clear, concise, and numbered.
- Employees in this position meet with private individuals, local city governments, federal agencies, the media and others to share or disseminate forestry related information. Describe your experience communicating, establishing working relationships and/or coordinating with various agencies, groups or individuals.
- Describe your experience in training or educating persons in technical issues. Describe your audience and level of responsibility.
- Describe your experience in preparing written reports, memos, or correspondence that includes gathering of information, analysis of alternatives, and recommending a course of action. Include your level of responsibility for the final product.
- Describe your experience in writing grant proposals, administration of grants, and implementation of grants and grant reporting requirements.
- Describe your experience in diagnosing tree problems in urban and natural forest environments.
- Describe your experience in working or coordinating with other agencies to assure compliance or consistency with their regulations. Please describe: a) the specific agencies you have worked or coordinated with, b) the nature of the rules or regulations involved, and c) your role or level of responsibility for the coordination.
- Describe your experience working in a laboratory environment.
VETERANS’ PREFERENCE ELIGIBLE
The State of South Dakota offers paid employee health insurance plus ten paid holidays, generous vacation leave accrual, and medical, dental, vision, and other benefits. For more information visit http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus/workbenefits.aspx
Apply at: http://tinyurl.com/y7m9m8cf
South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources
500 East Capitol
Pierre, SD 57501-5070
Telephone: 605.773.3148 Fax: 605.773.4344
“An Equal Opportunity Employer”