As a lead and/or specialist, performs work in one of the following areas:  

1. Controlled felling of large and hazardous trees, climbing, rigging, manlift operation, aerial work and directional topping, limbing, or lowering of tree material;
2. Preliminary cruising on all timber types and verifying local unit cruises on second-growth conifers, hardwoods, thinnings, and salvage sales.  Inspects sale preparation considerations and recommends changes;
3. Development and maintenance of forest areas, buildings, equipment and grounds that involves logging operations, heavy equipment operations and the use and maintenance of logging and sawmill equipment. Duties also involve the repair and maintenance of buildings and equipment.

Performs skilled tree service work in technical tree climbing, controlled topping, an directional falling of large trees and snags, ornamental tree pruning and debris removal (chipping or stump removal); 

Operates manlift, log skidder, D-4 dozer, seven and ten-yard dump trucks with equipment trailers, trucks, boom trucks, portable sawmill and forklift; 

Uses brush chipper, spray equipment, stump grinder, power winch and rigging on horticulture project; 

Determines and plans best sampling method; cruises the area by examining each tree in sample; marks and measures and/or examines each tree to be removed in a thinning sale; determines species, height, gross volume, log grades, extend of defect and net volume for each tree cruised; 

Inspects sale layout, including boundaries, road locations, logging methods, environmental and stream protection considerations, market information, etc.; 

Visits sawmills to observe processing of logs from area to aid in the identification of hidden defects and to determine the actual cutout; visits bureau scaling stations to gain grading experience from bureau scalers; 

Leads crew in fire suppression, tree planting, tree thinning, and in the maintenance of roads and facilities; 

Maintains buildings and grounds including student quarters, class, meeting, rooms, garage and shops; 

Performs sub-journey level carpentry, plumbing, painting, and electrical work; 

Fights fires and inspects equipment, buildings, and remote areas for fire safety; 

Trains staff in tree pruning, equipment operations; forestry techniques, tools, and safety; 

Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge of:  timber cruising methods and procedures including measurement and marketability by species, grade and defect; timber sales layout including the location of boundaries, roads and equipment settings; timber sales appraisal and basic surveying; methods, materials, tools and equipment used in technical tree service, carpentry, paining, plumbing and electrical work; occupational hazards, special techniques and safety precautions applicable to tree climbing, topping, snag falling, and heavy equipment operation, servicing and maintenance of equipment; mixing and application of pesticides; maintaining roads and facilities; tree planting. 

Ability to:  read, interpret, and work from plans, sketches, or verbal instructions; operate and maintain heavy equipment; use power saws, use tree climbing equipment and recognize tree defects creating special hazards; sustain long periods of heavy physical exertion under hazardous conditions; estimate tree height and diameter; identify species; identify log grades; estimate gross and net volume; estimate logging and hauling costs; conduct timber cruises in remote areas; travel frequently and for extended periods; use timber measurement instruments.

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.

Three years of experience using technical tree climbing skills or performing forestry activities such as working in a sawmill, timber cruising for land exchange or timber buying and selling, bucking, felling, operating heavy equipment such as bulldozer, graders, logging equipment, and/or heavy trucks.

New class consolidates: (formerly 94060 Forest Crafts Specialist; 94880 Forest Cruiser; 5166 Woods Utility Lead ) Adopted May 11, 2007 Effective July 1 2007
Revised.  Class title change, formerly Forest Cruiser and Craft Technician 2; adopted 11/8/2012, effective 11/9/2012 (bu).