Forest Regeneration Specialist

Job Posting Title

Forest Regeneration Specialist

Agency

040 DEPT OF AGRICULTURE FOOD & FORESTRY

Supervisory Organization

AG, Food & Forestry – CW Area–Oklahoma Forestry Services

Job Posting End Date (Continuous if Blank)

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the posting end date above.

Estimated Appointment End Date (Continuous if Blank)

Full/Part-Time

Full time

Job Type

Regular

Compensation

$46,762.00 Annually

Job Description

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) is seeking a full time Forest Regeneration Specialist in the Forestry Division’s Seed Orchard. This position (PIN #04000184) is in state government, located in Idabel, OK. The State of Oklahoma offers a comprehensive Benefits Package, including a generous benefit allowance to offset the cost of insurance premiums for employees and their eligible dependents. The annual salary for this position is up to $46,762.00 based on education and experience.

Basic Purpose:

Positions in this job family are assigned responsibilities involving skilled and specialized work associated with forest regeneration and tree improvement programs, providing genetically improved forest tree and shrub seed and seedlings for natural resource and conservation projects including windbreaks, erosion control, wildlife habitat, reforestation, and other purposes. This includes specialized cultural practices such as seed processing, stratification and sowing, application of nutrients and soil conditioners, diagnosis of pest problems; pollination, grafting and tree breeding, fumigation and pesticide application, handling of tree and shrub seedlings, and other related activities.

Typical Functions:

• Locates, collects, cleans and processes seeds from forest trees and shrubs; prepares fields for planting, including sub soiling, plowing, disking, fumigating, tilling, bed shaping, land leveling, and sowing.
• Performs or supervises root management practices such as undercutting, lateral root pruning, irrigation, and grafting; applies proper amounts of nutrients and soil conditioners to maintain proper pH and nutrient levels.
• Conducts and supervises seed analysis, seed treatment including stratification, scarification, germination testing and determining moisture content and purity of seed and seed storage.
• Supervises and trains regeneration specialists, equipment operators, farm hands and laborers in the areas of equipment maintenance, planting, weed control, seed collection, irrigation, harvesting, and other duties; performs or supervises harvesting procedures and storage of nursery stock; ensures that shipping operations are conducted at maximum efficiency; conducts and prepares annual pre-harvest seedling inventory.
• Maintains inventories and records of time, materials, chemicals, fertilizers, seeds and other supplies; analyzes data and prepares reports.
• Provides general forest management assistance and planting recommendations to landowners upon request.
• Coordinates maintenance of equipment and facilities used in program operations.
• Conducts and supervises management of forest seed production and seedling test areas, including tree and shrub planting and maintenance, applying pesticides to control weeds, insects, and disease, tree pruning and grafting, pollinating, and other related duties.
• Supervises or provides input into seed and seedling production goals, program objectives, operational and strategic plans.
• Coordinates program activities with other agencies and cooperators.
• Performs various administrative tasks as required, including work planning, budget preparation, writing contracts, purchasing, and accomplishment reporting.
• Plans, organizes, directs and coordinates tours, meetings and other agency and public events.

Level Description:

This is the leadership level where incumbent is assigned responsibilities for directing and supervising the overall operation of a state nursery or seed orchard. This will include planning and organizing the work to be done, training and supervising personnel responsible for various parts of the total operation, coordinating the program with various agricultural agencies, landowners, and other states, coordinating seedling marketing programs, and performing related administrative tasks.

Education and Experience:

Requirements at this level consist of a bachelor’s degree in forestry, nursery management, horticulture, agronomy or botany, plus four years of experience in a bare root tree nursery or seed orchard.

Knowledge, Skill, and Abilities:

Requirements at this level include knowledge of bare root forest tree nursery or seed orchard operations; of the propagation of tree and shrub seedlings; of tree and shrub physiology; silvicultural requirements of the species grown; of growing bare root seedling nursery stock; of common plant pests and appropriate pest control measures; and of report writing; of the treatment and protection of seed, and seedling trees and shrubs from insects and disease; of fertilizers and insecticides; of farm machinery and implements; of record keeping; of seed collection, processing and storage; of tree growth and maintenance; of mulching, chemicals, treatments and fertilizers utilized in bare root nursery or seed orchard operations; of selective pollination techniques and grafting; of data collection and analysis; of field operations, cultural practices and equipment utilized in a bare root nursery or seed orchard operation; of controlled pollination techniques and grafting; of communication and public speaking, public relations and promotional techniques; of long-range planning; of purchasing and budget administration; and of effective supervisory principles and practices. Ability is required to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; to express ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; to follow written and oral instructions; to supervise operations in a bare root nursery or seed orchard operation; to establish realistic direction for the state forest regeneration and tree improvement program; and to supervise the work of others.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

This position will be working in an office setting as well as outdoors. Field work sometimes occurs in extreme environmental conditions, such as: high/cold temperatures; high winds; smoke; and dust. Must be able to transport up to 50lbs and operate heavy machinery.

Special Requirements:

Applicants must be willing and able to fulfill all job-related travel normally associated with this position. Certification by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry as a Pesticide Applicator must be obtained prior to the completion within in 12 months of hire.

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry has determined that some positions in this job family are safety sensitive as defined by 63 O.S. § 427.8

Equal Opportunity Employment

The State of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information, race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability.

Current State of Oklahoma employees must apply for open positions through their Workday account. Go to Careers app on WD home screen>Click on ‘Find Jobs-Internal State of Oklahoma’.