Class Series Concept

See NATURAL RESOURCE SPECIALIST 1.

Definition

As the designated expert within a division or region, positions research, analyze, recommend and provide consultative services for a specialized portion of a natural resource program. Examples include, but are not limited to, land management, timber sales, fire control, agricultural leases, shellfish and public tideland recreation, forest practices, reforestation and stand management, and/or environmental education. Some positions serve as the designated coordinator for various entities or programs such as fire protection and prevention, emergency management, volunteers, or forest stewardship.  These positions do not normally work on a consulting basis in the course of performing their duties.

Typical Work

Serves as the designated region land management specialist responsible for lease administration and land management activities primarily involving non-forested lands; 

Supervises and directs a professional staff in support of a region’s timber sales program; 

Serves as the department specialist responsible (a) program development and management of the fire prevention and fire detection program (b) develops and implements the department’s fire control training program, initiates acquisition of fire equipment and fire equipment development; 

Responsible for the (a) review and correction of all agricultural leases submitted by the regions, acquisition of water rights for use on all DNR lands, and develops new methods and forms for lease construction and management by region staff; (b) grants statewide rights-of-way by the department and statewide development and acquisition of rights-of-way all of which include negotiations with industry and governmental entities; 

Serves as the department specialist responsible for management, including development of the shellfish and public tideland recreation program; 

Serves as the Forest Practices staff forester responsible for providing technical advice on forest practices, rules, policies and procedures to department staff, other agencies and the public; assists program manager and Forest Practices Board with analysis and drafting rule language; serves as Service Forestry staff forester responsible for responding to technical inquiries from other states, industry or the public; assists the program manager with analysis and planning for improvement of the services forestry program; 

Monitors and evaluates the department's reforestation and intensive stand management programs;  prepares guidelines and instructions to improve methods, techniques, or equipment by developing program alternatives and implementing program improvements; 

Conducts formal and informal training providing technical assistance for the presales of timber;  proposes alternatives and develops methods to increase timber production or income to the state; supervises the checking of department cruisers; serves as the department expert on timber volumes and consultant on all presales matters; develops and acts as the department's technical advisor and authority for timber sales contract administration; develops and manages the department's log scaling and felling and bucking program; 

Serves as the designated region intensive management forester; manages the region's Computerized Geographic Information System which produces data that aids field foresters in resource management; provides silvicultural prescriptions and plantation maintenance assistance and training on new intensive management developments; 

Serves as the agency representative on special environmental education projects, the Smoke Management Working Committee and the Pacific Northwest and Alaska Bioconversion Task Force;   responds to questions generated or received by Executive Management regarding the department's operations, programs and public issues and concerns; 

Conducts fire protection and prevention activities, working directing with counties, rural fire districts, other agencies, homeowner associations, and fire cooperatives to negotiate mutual aid and protection contracts and cooperative fire equipment agreements; 

Develops and implements the Emergency Management Plan with the department and with the Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan; 

Provides program development and database management for the upland special use leases issued by regional offices; 

Defines the department volunteer program; develops polices and procures, and designs systems and networks for recruiting, training, and recognizing volunteers; 

Coordinates forest stewardship activities such as Landowner Assistance, Urban Forestry, and Arbor Day Programs; 

Positions may supervise lower level staff.

Legal Requirement(s)

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position. 

Desirable Qualifications

A Bachelor’s degree in forestry or area of specialty and two to three years of professional experience in a program area or specialty area.  For some positions, paraprofessional experience as an Administrative Assistant in natural resources may substitute for the professional experience; three years of paraprofessional experience to two years of professional experience.

Class Specification History

New class effective January 1, 2006; Natural Resource Specialist 3 (replaces 95800 Natural Resource Program Specialist, 95820 Natural Resource Program Coordinator).
New class code, formerly 523K, effective July 1, 2007.