Intermediate Forester Timber Program Assistant - NR Forestry Specialist Int

Working Title: Intermediate Forester - Timber Program Assistant

Job Class: Natural Resources Forestry Specialist Intermediate

Agency: MN Department of Natural Resources

• Job ID : 98189
• Location : Cloquet
• Telework Eligible : No
• Full/Part Time : Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary : Unlimited
• Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers
• Date Posted : 11/04/2026
• Closing Date : 11/24/2026
• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Department of Natural Resources
• Division/Unit : Forestry
• Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift
• Days of Work : Monday - Friday
• Travel Required : No
• Salary Range: $26.89 - $39.22 / hourly; $56,146 - $81,891 / annually
• Classified Status : Classified
• Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
• FLSA Status : Exempt - Professional
• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

The DNR is looking to hire one Natural Resources Forestry Specialist Intermediate position, located in Cloquet, MN.

The Forestry Specialist Intermediate position exists to perform forest resource management work by administering one or two forestry sub-programs at the Area administrative level under limited supervision. The primary sub-program assignment for this position is the Cloquet Area Timber Sales subprogram, where the position will assist with the planning, establishment, and administration of the Area's annual timber sale program as a member of the Area timber team. The Forestry Specialist Intermediate also performs field assignments across all Division programs so that forest resources are protected, managed, and utilized in accordance with department policy and procedure. This position occasionally functions as a lead worker to Forestry Specialists, Forestry Technicians, interns, emergency firefighters, temporary crews, and volunteers.

Area sub-programs may include Wildfire Prevention and Suppression, Cooperative Forest Management, Ecological Classification System, Timber Sales, Silviculture, Forest Inventory, Forest Health, Terrestrial Invasive Species, State Forest Roads, State Forest Lands & Leases, and Forestry IT Systems.

Forestry Specialist Intermediate responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Plan, implement, assign, and analyze Forestry Sub-program tasks within the Area, with primary responsibility for assisting in the delivery of the Area Timber Sales sub-program.
• Assist with the planning, design, cruising, appraisal, and establishment of timber sales to meet the Area's annual timber sale targets, including field layout, boundary marking, volume estimation, and product specifications.
• Prepare timber sale permit documents, sale maps, and associated records; participate in pre-sale meetings with permit holders and operators; and maintain accurate, up-to-date timber sale files.
• Administer active timber sales, conduct sale inspections, provide direction or corrective action to loggers, and scale cut forest products.
• Monitor timber sale compliance with permit conditions, water quality Best Management Practices (BMPs), and the Minnesota Forest Resources Council Site-Level Forest Management Guidelines, and complete sale closeout inspections.
• Track timber sale status and accomplishments and assist with timber sub-program reporting and target tracking.
• Visit forest stands, collect data, and apply knowledge of forest management science to develop silviculture prescriptions that meet forest plans, wildlife habitat goals, and department policy.
• Use GIS and 4Trees systems to input forest data, perform analysis, manage databases, and create maps, including timber sale maps and records.
• Engage in wildfire prevention and suppression activities to minimize threats to life, property, and resources.
• Perform actions as a Forest Officer to enforce fire and timber statutes.
• Receive and review burn permit requests from landowners and prescribed burn practitioners. Approve or deny requests based on knowledge of fire weather and fire science principles.
• Meet with private forest landowners, share management recommendations, and approve cost-share requests.
• Participate in outreach events to promote sustainable forestry and wildfire prevention to community or school groups.
• Operate various vehicles, equipment, and tools (pickup, trailer, ATV, snowmobile, fire engine, longhandled tools, etc.).

Occasional overnight travel required. Normal working hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Division employees must be able to work weekends, evenings, holidays, and occasionally on multi-day assignments away from home during times of elevated fire danger to protect life, property, and natural resources from wildfires or to respond to other natural disasters in Minnesota.

Minimum Qualifications

• 3 years (36 months) of forestry work experience.

A bachelor’s degree in forestry or closely related field may substitute 1 year (or 12 months) of forestry work experience; an associate degree in forestry or closely related field may substitute 6 months of forestry work experience.

In addition, applicants must also have:

• Knowledge of dendrology, plant ID, and forest measurements sufficient to collect forest inventory, regeneration data, and native plant community data.
• Knowledge of forest economics, mensuration, and harvest systems sufficient to design, appraise, administer, and scale timber sales.
• Knowledge of forest ecology and silviculture techniques sufficient to prescribe reforestation, tree release, and stand improvement activities.
• Ability to use GIS, aerial photography, and surveys for mapping and data collection.
• Ability to earn National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) basic firefighter (FFT2) qualification within 6 months of hire.
• Planning skills sufficient to manage a forestry sub-program; make schedules, assign job tasks, lead Area teams, track and report progress, make programmatic decisions, and exercise discretion under limited supervision.
• Human relations skills sufficient to assign and monitor work progress of others, resolve task conflicts with loggers, contractors, the public, and other employees, and represent the division on committees or work groups.
• Ability to communicate orally and in written form sufficient to clearly teach or train others and convey complex forest management practices or policy to coworkers, contractors, special interest groups, or the public.
• Knowledge of multi-use forestry concepts sufficient to plan, conduct, and evaluate management activities that benefit wildlife species, ecosystem health, recreational opportunities, and wood marketing and utilization.
• Computer skills sufficient to keep records, analyze data, manage databases, write reports, and communicate and collaborate with partners and colleagues using various applications (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, SharePoint, Adobe, ArcGIS).

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’sdegree,orhigher,in aforestryprogramaccreditedbythe SocietyofAmericanForesters.
• Leadershipskillsortraining(suchasL-280,“FollowershiptoLeadership”)sufficienttocollaborate,make decisions, give direction, motivate, and influence others.
• Experience completing tasks in programs administered by the Division of Forestry including Wildfire PreventionandSuppression,CooperativeForestManagement,EcologicalClassificationSystem,Timber Sales, Silviculture, Forest Inventory,Forest Health,Terrestrial Invasive Species, State ForestRoads, and State Lands & Leases.
• Qualified as a National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Fire Fighter Type 1 (FFT1), Incident CommanderType5(ICT5),EngineOperator(ENOP),TrackedVehicleOperator(TVOP),orBasicFaller (FAL3).
• Currentlicensuresorcertificatesrelatedtotheposition,whichmayincludepesticideapplicator,forest officer, fire investigator, or certified blaster.
• Knowledgeof DivisionofForestrypoliciesandproceduressufficienttoimplementassignedtaskssafely and within legal and ethical guidelines.
• SuccessfulcompletionoftheDivisionofForestry'strainingprogramforforestrytechniciansandforestry specialists.

Additional Requirements

This position requires an unrestricted Class D Driver’s license with a clear driving record. Per DNR Fleet Policy, only those 18 years of age or older with a valid driver’s license may operate equipment and vehicles on behalf of the Agency.

Applicants must have the ability to meet the physical requirements and work in the environmental conditions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H1B status).

It is policy of the Department of Natural Resources that all candidates submit to a background check prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components:

• Conflict of Interest Review
• Criminal History Check
• Education Verification
• Employment Reference / Records Check
• License / Certification Verification

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.