Forest Technician (Seasonal) - Weiser Forest District, Columbia County

If you have a profound love for our local forests and thrive in the beauty of the great outdoors, we encourage you to consider joining the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. This is not just a job; it's a chance to make a meaningful impact on the community while actively contributing to the preservation of our invaluable natural landscapes. As a member of our team, you will engage in fulfilling work that allows you to serve the public and protect the environment, all while enjoying opportunities for professional development and career advancement. Experience the rewarding feeling that comes from dedicating your efforts to the conservation of our natural resources, and be part of a mission that values sustainability and ecological stewardship.

In this position, you will be responsible for surveying timber sale boundaries, delineating block lines, and mapping haul roads, as well as identifying areas with vegetation that may hinder regeneration and establishing deer fence boundaries. It is essential to maintain thorough survey notes, which will be submitted to your supervisor or their designated representative upon completion of each task. The surveying process may involve traditional methods such as using a compass and chain, or employing GPS technology for greater accuracy.

Additionally, you will measure and mark trees according to the silvicultural prescriptions provided by foresters, which encompasses assessing tree diameters, heights, grades, cull deductions, and volumes. The data collected during these assessments should be recorded on tally sheets or data collectors for review by your supervisor or their designee. You will also conduct regeneration field assessments in specified areas, focusing on counting seedlings and saplings while identifying tree species. Your role will include assisting your supervisor with forest resource planning, which may involve scouting for disturbances caused by windstorms, insects, or diseases, as well as maintaining the boundaries of State Forests.

Furthermore, you will support the district's forest regeneration initiatives by evaluating competing vegetation, participating in tree planting efforts, monitoring and maintaining planting sites, and collecting seeds. In addition, you will contribute to the district's deer exclosure projects, which entails designing, constructing, maintaining, inspecting, and evaluating these areas, while providing relevant data to your supervisor or their designee. You will also be tasked with scaling logs and trees for sale as timber or fuelwood, as directed, and reporting tallies or volumes to your supervisor. Collecting technical information for landscape examinations and other inventories will be part of your responsibilities, along with utilizing various outreach methods to promote management activities. Building relationships with natural resource managers and professionals, such as consulting foresters, industrial foresters, loggers, sawmill owners, and timber buyers, will be crucial in fostering forest stewardship and ensuring long-term sustainability. Lastly, you will conduct and assist with various programs aimed at enhancing forest management practices.

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• This is a seasonal, full-time position with no healthcare benefits. There is not an option to buy into health care benefits. The season runs from approximately 9 March 2026 until 13 November 2026 at which time the employee will be placed on leave without pay. The employee will automatically be returned to employment March 2027.
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.

• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.

• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• An associate's degree in forest technology; or
• Completion of equivalent formal education in forestry.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 6 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Conditions of Employment:

• This position requires possession of a valid PA non-commercial Class C driver's license or equivalent.

Other Requirements:

• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
  
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

Veterans:

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.