POLK SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT POSITION DESCRIPTION Title: Time Frame:
Forest Resource Technician Annual Position: Full Time (This position will be reviewed each year and the focus may be modified or the duration continued for a period of time based on the availability of funds.) Starting Salary: $2,558.50 ($30,702 year) APPLICATION MATERIALS & QUESTIONS ARE DUE NOVEMBER 13, 2012 BY 12 PM (NOON) INTRODUCTION This annual position with the Polk Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) in Dallas, Oregon is designed to attract a forestry resource professional. The Forest Resource Management Technician will provide professional technical service directed towards education, outreach, grant assistance, and the development and implementation of forest management plans and fire prevention. These plans will be aimed at implementing conservation practices such as reduction of soil erosion, improvement of water quality, and salmon habitat in furtherance of the Oregon Plan and Oregon Forest Practices Act. The position provides educational and technical assistance on forest issues addressing local environmental concerns. The position requires working directly with state and federal agencies, such as Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODF&W), Farm Service Agency (FSA), Polk Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and other partners. The Technician will assist the District Manager and other Polk SWCD Staff with Outdoor School and various education lessons. This position will be for one year, with the possibility of extension based on available funding. POSITION QUALIFICATIONS This position requires a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree with major course work in forestry sciences, natural resource management, soils and water quality, or a related discipline. Having an additional degree, coursework, or experience in education or communications is desirable. Interpersonal communication and interaction with others shall be accomplished in a professional and courteous manner. The employee will provide their own vehicle with insurance coverage, be willing to use it for work related travel and be reimbursed at the current state mileage rate and do so within budgeted travel levels. POSITION DUTIES (Duties may include but are not limited to the following nor are they listed in any particular order of importance): Assist the Board in setting priorities; developing an annual work plan and assisting in implementing actions and/or strategies to accomplish the District’s goals and objectives. Support the Directors in implementing programs based on the District’s annual plan in cooperation with federal, state, and local agencies; landowners; private groups; and the general public. Work directly with the District Manager o Communicate with District Manager, Co-Workers, Landowners, Directors, and Other Agencies o Assist Co-Workers when instructed by District Manager Be an effective team player with a demonstrated collaborative working style Conduct a public outreach program approved by the District Manager to increase public awareness and participation in Polk SWCD activities. This outreach may include: o Writing news articles, compiling and issuing resource information for the public, and assisting in the development and production of brochures, CD’s, and other informational materials o Staffing the District’s display at events and conducting conservation contests o Organizing District sponsored educational tours, working with the schools, and representing the District in appropriate forums o Conduct Workshops Organize, promote, and host. Prepare presentations for agencies, Extension, Staff, Directors, and the Public. Write articles or press releases about the workshops for local papers, newsletters, etc. o Develop Outreach / Resource Management Tool Kits for use in workshop training and on-site consulting with land owners/operators. Document the contents and their source and function, with Page 1
priority to using available USDA, NRCS, OSU, ODA, OWEB, Watershed Councils, SB1010, and other information sources. Consult with Landowners. o Assist with individual land and forestry management plans Develop forest conservation plans and restoration projects. o Provide technical assistance for the implementation of these projects. o Research and obtain funding for these projects. o Collect inventory information (plants, wildlife, soils, venders list, etc) Work on Wild land Urban Interface project (WUII) o Assist with WUII Plan that meet Oregon Department of Forestry requirements Assist in projects (surveying, plantings, riparian enhancement, plant identification, etc) and other activities involving field work Coordinate technical assistance delivery from other agencies and other programs Conduct follow-up inspections and document practice completion in cooperation with other agencies Assist in community activities (develop & work at a booth, planning workshops & activities, etc) Assist with the Polk SWCD’s Annual Work Plan Activities. Activities included but not limited to: o Annual Meeting and Annual Native Plant Sale o Restoration and Conservation Projects o Volunteer Program and Outdoor School Explore various funding sources for District’s operations, activities, and projects. Research, write, and submit grant proposals after receiving approval from the District Manager or Personnel Committee. Be proficient on the Computer o Ability to communicate and use excel, PowerPoint, Photoshop, Microsoft Office, and project management programs o Create spreadsheets, maps, and other outreach materials o Produce soils maps or other related maps for customers using GIS. Work in a timely manner Answer the telephone and assist walk-ins and/or telephone customers. Research and present information on successful restoration activities in other Counties. Coordinate activities with partners as directed by the District. These may include but are not limited to, other watershed councils, cities, counties, state and federal agencies, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), ODA, other SWCD’s, Resource Conservation and Development areas (RC&D), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and etc. Prepare and submit various written and oral reports on activities o Document and report progress as required including maintenance of a daily job schedule. Attend Meeting and Trainings o SWCD monthly Board evening meetings (2nd Wednesday of month) o SWCD Employee Conference o Any other meetings or training the Polk SWCD may have an interest in Adhere to Polk Soil & Water Conservation District Policies and the ability to understand site protocols, policies, and procedures o All duties and actions taken by the incumbent while on official duty will be performed in a safe and healthful manner and will be of a nature to reflect favorably on the Polk SWCD. Obtain or possess a valid Oregon driver’s license, have a good driving record and have appropriate car insurance coverage for the State of Oregon. Other duties as assigned by the District Manager or Personnel Committee.
WORK SCHEDULE/WORKING CONDITIONS Full-time District employees are required to work 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday. However the schedule will be flexible to allow for adjusting work hours around meetings and other events that may take place during evening hours and/or weekends. The employee is expected to post and review their schedule with the District Manager or designated District Director(s). The employee’s job involves both office and field work. Office work may include assisting clients, writing conservation plans, writing reports, computer work and attending meetings. Field work may require regular and recurring physical exertion that requires walking, hiking, wading in water, and climbing in all types of weather and on steep or rough terrain. Field visits will be made to project Page 2
locations to gather data and make assessments of needs. Occasional overnight travel may be required to represent the District and their interests at various seminars and conferences. Work also requires attendance at night meetings of the District Board and/or meetings in which the District has an interest. SUPERVISION The Polk SWCD District Manager or Chair of the Board will provide overall supervision, orientation and administrative training. Technical support may be provided by the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) as requested by the Polk SWCD District Manager, District Directors or through other local, state or federal agencies as needed. ANNUAL WORK PLAN A work plan is required to describe the workload, direction, and District goals. This work plan will be consistent with the Polk SWCD’s Annual Work Plan objectives. While intended as a program guide for the employee, the District will use this work plan as a tool to measure and evaluate performance. The employee and the District Manager will sign the position description/work plan. REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE The first six (6) months of employment with the District will be considered a trial period. This affords the District and employee an opportunity to evaluate each other and to decide whether or not to continue employment. Employees are considered “At–Will” and can be terminated at any time. Employees will meet with the District Manager at the end of one month (verbal review), three months and following the six-month trial period with the District’s Personnel Committee (the District Manager and three designated Directors. A written assessment of performance signed by both parties will be included as part of the performance review for months 3 and 6. Evaluations are then conducted yearly. However, evaluations can be conducted at more frequent intervals if necessary. The purpose of the review is to determine the amount and quality of work performed by the employee in accordance with specified duties. Deficiencies may be an indication of needed training and outstanding performance levels may be deserving of special District recognition and/or pay adjustment. The employee’s duties will be reprioritized quarterly during the course of employment upon mutual agreement of the employee and the District. BENEFITS The District provides retirement membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP) and 90% of the employee’s medical and dental coverage. District policy allows employees up to 10 paid Federal holidays, annual leave (maximum of 200 hours) and sick leave (up maximum of 200 hours). Annual and sick leave are awarded at the rate of 8 hours per (FTE) month on the first day of each pay period once an employee completes 6 full months on the job. Should an employee leave or be terminated, any unused annual leave will be paid. Any unused sick leave will not be paid. Both leaves’ can be taken beginning the second pay period following removal from the 6 month trial period. As funds allow, and contingent on approval by the employee’s supervisor or the board, the District will cover most or all costs incurred in job-related training or courses. OVERTIME As a full-time employee of the District, you are considered salaried and will be expected to work your regular assigned schedule. However, extra hours of work may be necessary and credit time may be accrued with the District Managers advance approval. Employees cannot carryover more than 60 hours of credit/comp per month. To Apply
APPLICANTS COMPLETED APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING FOUR (4) ITEMS 1) RESUME 2) POLK SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION (Available online) Page 3
3) SIGNED AND DATED RELEASE AND WAIVER FORM (Last page of Job Description) 4) QUESTIONS: PLEASE RESPOND IN WRITING AND ATTACH TO YOUR APPLICATION FORM. 1. Explain your experience in forest management. Include analyzing/�cruise� tree stands for species, growth conditions, qualities of timber, soils, disease & insect infestations, invasive identification & control, and forest practices. Describe who you worked with work (Landowners, managers, agencies, public, etc.) 2. Describe your experience in technical forestry practices such as reforestation, riparian restoration, large wood placement, habitat improvements, fish passage, integrated pest management and silviculture. 3. Detail your experience conducting a natural resources outreach program. Include details about your role in workshops, tours, outreach methods, producing educational materials, displays, and topics you have taught pertaining to natural resources and age ranges. Feel free to include examples in your application. 4. Public involvement at trainings/workshops has decreased over the past few years; describe how you would address getting the information about WUI and other Forestry Natural Resources to the public. 5. You are giving a presentation at a workshop and a person from the audience asks a question which is really a statement, about radical views on government policy. How would proceed? The person continues to interrupt with comments. What would you do to address the situation? Finally, the person approaches you after the workshop. 6. A landowner wants to remove all the timber on his property, including some historic oaks, and convert to vineyard. How would you proceed? Detail what resources you would use. 7. A landowner reports his neighbor, a commercial timber company, is over spraying a chemical which has resulted in plants on their property dying and blindness in their horse. What would you do? 8. Detail your grant writing/fund raising experience. Include donations and grants proposals (number successfully funded, types of grants, and to whom they were written). Feel free to include an example of an application you submitted. 9. A Criminal History background check is required by the School Districts and the Natural Resource Conservation Service; have you ever been convicted, plead guilty, or received a diversion to any felony, misdemeanor, or violation, in municipal, justice, state, or federal court? If yes, please explain. APPLICATION MATERIALS ARE DUE NOVEMBER 13, 2012 BY 12 PM (NOON). MAIL, DELIVER, EMAIL, OR FAX YOUR COMPLETED APPLICATION MATERIALS TO: Polk SWCD ATTN: Jackie Hastings 580 Main Street, Suite A Dallas, OR 97338 Telephone: (503) 623-9680 Ext. 110 Fax: (503) 623-3489 Polk.swcd@polkswcd.com Postmarks are NOT accepted as on-time applications. Faxes and emails are accepted but the SWCD is not responsible for problems with fax or email transmittals. If faxing or emailing application, you must mail a hard copy with signatures. Please make copies of any application materials you wish to keep as copies will not be provided. APPLICATION MATERIALS ARE DUE NOVEMBER 13, 2012 BY 12 PM (NOON). Incomplete or late Applications will not be considered. Applications must include all required documents The Polk SWCD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. The Polk SWCD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act Page 4
RELEASE AND WAIVER IMPORTANT - Please read carefully and initial each paragraph before signing. I authorize any person, school, current employer (except as previously noted), past employer(s), listed references, and organizations named in this application form (and accompanying resume, if any) and any other person or entity with knowledge of me to provide the Polk Soil and Water Conservation District with any information and opinion which the company regards as useful to it in making a hiring decision, and I release such persons and organizations from any legal liability in making such statements or furnishing any and all information that the company may seek. ___________Initials
I authorize the investigation of all statements contained in this application (and accompanying resume, if any) and any other person or entity with knowledge of me. I understand that if my position is one that warrants such an inquiry, the company may request an investigative consumer report from a consumer reporting agency that includes information as to my character, general reputation, personal characteristics, and mode of living. I understand that the investigative consumer report may involve personal interviews with my neighbors, friends, relatives, former employers, schools, and others. I also understand that under the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act I have the right to make a written request to the company, within a reasonable time, for the disclosure of the name and address of the consumer-reporting agency so that I may obtain a complete disclosure of the nature and scope of the investigation. __________Initials By my signature and initials placed below, I promise that the information provided in this employment application (and accompanying resume, if any) is true and complete, and I understand that any false information or significant omissions may disqualify me from further consideration for employment, and may be justification for my dismissal from employment, if discovered at a later date. I agree to immediately notify the company if I should be convicted of a felony, or any crime involving dishonesty or a breach of trust while my job application is pending, or during my period of employment, if hired. __________Initials I give permission for a complete pre-placement physical examination and psychological tests and interview, if appropriate for the position to which I am applying, including a drug screening exam and x-rays, and I consent to the release to the company of any and all medical information, as may be deemed necessary by, the company in judging my capability to do the work for which I am applying. __________Initials
Signed: _____________________________________________ Date:________________________ THIS APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT WILL REMAIN ON FILE FOR 24 WEEKS.
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