Area Forester

The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) is seeking a field forester in Tidewater Virginia, focused primarily on the Northern Neck including Westmoreland, Richmond (County), and Northumberland counties. VDOF foresters spend most of their time in the woods providing professional forestry assistance and advice to Virginia's forest landowners to support the DOF mission of protecting and developing healthy, sustainable forest resources for Virginians.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Assisting forest landowners with management of their forestland through technical assistance and forest management plans.

• Evaluating forestland and harvested sites to provide scientific forest management and regeneration guidance.

• Promoting and assisting with the development of riparian buffer projects.

• Connecting private forest landowners to state and federal cost share programs that support forest and wildlife habitat management projects.

• Responding to and identifying forest health issues, including invasive pests and plants, and providing management advice to protect & improve forest health.

• Promoting conservation of the forest land base to landowners and local governments.

• Conservation education and outreach to groups and individuals.

• Coordination with local governments, state agencies, conservation groups, and citizen organizations.

• Prevention and suppression of wildfires, inspection of timber harvests, and enforcing silvicultural water quality, timber theft, and wildland fire laws.

Location: This forester position is part of the DOF Tidewater District focused on serving the Northern Neck. Work area offices are in Bowling Green, Tappahannock, and Gloucester; however, this field position is 100% mobile. State vehicle, computer, and cell phone provided.

Within 6 months of hire, the incumbent must live within Westmoreland, Richmond (County), or Northumberland county or reasonable driving distance negotiable with the regional forester.