Woodland Ecologist I

Job Title

Woodland Ecologist I

Agency

Texas A&M Forest Service

Department

Region 6

Proposed Minimum Salary

$4,500.00 monthly

Job Location

San Antonio, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

The Woodland Ecologist I provides program leadership to multi-county Forest Health, Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and Rangeland-Forest Stewardship initiatives by providing technical assistance and educational programs which promote and conserve the social, economic, and environmental benefits of trees, forests, woodlands, and other related natural resources. Also participates in Incident Response and other agency program delivery.

Responsibilities:

• Deliver the Texas Oak Wilt Suppression Project and/or Forest Health Program Initiatives to public and private stakeholders. Respond to concerned landowners with oak wilt problems by phone, email and performing site visits. Construct treatment plans and supervise implementation of cost-shared control measures. Prepare and deliver oak wilt presentations. Talk to landowner associations, write oak wilt articles and give workshops which also integrate stewardship, forest health, WUI and PLT.
• Deliver the Texas Forest Stewardship Program to communities and private, non-industrial landowners in Central Texas. Establish and maintain relations with state and federal agencies involved in conservation tree planting. Promote, through personal contact and mass media, the values of conservation tree planting. Provide on-site assistance to private landowners in the planning and planting of trees to achieve resource conservation goals.
• Provides and/or assists with development and delivery of local and regional workshops, training sessions, seminars and presentations to professional, partner and civic groups along with associated media events.
• Provides direct support/assistance to local, regional, and statewide Fire/Emergency Response efforts and other agency programs.
• Working Conditions: A combination of office work and field work. Occasional weekend and after-hours duties, extended-length assignments and some overnight travel will be required. May require working long hours with minimal rest and in primitive conditions. May required exposure to harsh environmental conditions such as wind, sunlight, rain and temperature extremes. May require walking long distances, standing for extended periods, twisting, bending, reaching and kneeling. May require lifting and carrying heavy objects. May require driving motor vehicles for long distances, operating heavy equipment with related exposure to equipment vibration and noise and may require operating computers with monitors for extended periods of time. Emergency response may result in exposure to emotionally stressful situations for extended periods of time. Employee must meet the moderate physical fitness standard of successfully completing a Work Capacity Test consisting of a 2-mile walk carrying 25 lbs. in 30 minutes or less and obtain required NWCG training and Red Card Certification.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits: Texas A&M University System strives to support the health and wellness needs of our diverse workforce. Texas A&M Forest Service offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance, retirement benefits, paid time off and health and lifestyle programs as well as educational incentives and tuition reimbursement opportunities. Some additional benefits include the ability to accrue compensatory time off, overtime on emergency response and a physical fitness incentive of $500 for passing the arduous test (walk three miles wearing a 45-pound pack in 45 minutes or less) each year.

Education and Experience:

Required Education: Bachelor's degree in Forestry, Wildlife Biology, Rangeland Science, Environmental Management, Horticulture or closely related course of study.

Preferred Education: Master's degree in Forestry, Wildlife Biology, Rangeland Science, Environmental Management, Horticulture or closely related course of study.

Required Experience: 0-1+ years of practical experience in forestry, wildlife biology, rangeland science, environmental management, horticulture or closely related course of study.

Preferred Experience: 2+ years of practical experience forestry, wildlife biology, rangeland science, environmental management, horticulture or closely related course of study.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Required Knowledge: Basic MS applications.

Preferred Knowledge: Working knowledge of ArcGIS and digital ortho-imagery applications.

Required Skills: Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Preferred Skills: Strong interpersonal skills

Required Abilities: Work effectively with minimal supervision. Multi-task and work cooperatively with others.

Preferred Abilities: Networking

Registrations, Certifications, and Licenses:

Required: Valid Texas driver's license. Must have or be able to attain Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) non-commercial Pesticide Applicators License within 180 days of employment. Must achieve and maintain Moderate level Work Capacity Test (WCT) - 2 mile walk in 30 minutes or less while carrying a 25lb pack) and obtain NWCF training Red Card Certification within 60 days of employment.

Preferred: ISA Certified Arborist. SAF Certified Forester. Current TDA Non-Commercial Pesticide Applicators License. NWCG Firefighter Type 2 or higher qualifications

Applicant Instructions:

Resume, cover letter and transcript are REQUIRED to be uploaded to application. References are required to be entered in the secondary questionnaire section of the application. Certifications are preferred to be uploaded to the application. Documents/certifications can be uploaded in the "My Experience" page in the "Resume/CV section. More than one document can be uploaded; just click the "Upload" button for each document. Documents can only be loaded at this time and cannot be uploaded once the application is submitted. If there are any issues uploading documents, please contact 979-458-6690. Please check your spam folder in case more information is sent in regards to this position.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution's verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution's procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.