State of Connecticut Executive Branch

Environmental Protection Forester 1 (37.5 Hour) (3992IE)

$36.42-$52.59 Hourly / $2,731.31-$3,944.10 BiWeekly /
$71,287.00-$102,941.00 Yearly

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Division of Forestry this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in planning and coordinating forest resource management and protection activities primarily involving the preparation of comprehensive land management plans.

May be assigned to assist in the administration of the State Nursery Program and/or the Cooperative Forest management program.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the general supervision of an Environmental Protection Forester 2 or other employee of higher grade.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

May lead/supervise forest technicians, trainees, seasonal employees, work crews and/or other workers as assigned. May oversee the work of logging and construction contractors and/or firefighting crews.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Examines, compiles data on and evaluates forest areas in regard to most effective use and maintenance considering such factors as the care and cultivation of forest trees and forest land management including but not limited to economic factors, fire protection, access, recreation and effects on soil, wildlife and fish; 
  • Writes and implements comprehensive land management plans, providing recommendations for timber and fuelwood harvesting, planting, pruning, building of access roads and waterholes, tax benefits, legal requirements and marketing; 
  • Leads and/or coordinates timber cutting, fuel wood harvesting, road building and other activities on state lands assuring that procedures and requirements are followed by those involved; 
  • Develops estimates, bids and contract specifications for timber, cord wood sale and other projects; 
  • Maintains records, accounts for monies collected and reports on transaction; 
  • May assist and advise private owners and towns in various technical aspects of forestry and land management; 
  • May prepare reports, write correspondence, write or assist in writing educational or informative materials; 
  • May speak before interested groups regarding various aspects of forest management and conduct educational tours; 
  • May lead and perform boundary marking; 
  • May lead and assist in fire prevention and control activities including the training and direction of fire wardens and crews; 
  • May be required to assist other states or federal agencies on emergency assignments; 
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge of principles and practices of silviculture and forest resource management, silvics, forest mensuration, aerial photogrammetry, forest products marketing and utilization, forest surveys and type mapping, forest recreation, forest insects and diseases; 
  • Knowledge of forest fire prevention and control; 
  • Skills
    • interpersonal skills; 
    • oral and written communication skills; 
  • Ability to
    • read and interpret laws and regulations pertaining to forest lands and related resources; 
    • develop short and long range forest management plans; 
    • utilize computer software;
  • Supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Six (6) years of experience performing technical analysis in forest management.

NOTE: Forest management is defined as professional level forestry work requiring a knowledge of such scientific fields as dendrology, silvics and silviculture, engineering, forest economics, forest influences, and forest pathology and entomology and the application of their principles to the production of goods and services.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

  • College training in forestry or forest management as defined in the note above, or arboriculture may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years.
  • A Master's degree in forestry or forest management as defined in the note above may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
  • Successful completion of an Environmental Trainee program approved by the Department of Administrative Services may be substituted for the General Experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Incumbents in this class must be willing to accept assignment or transfer to any area of the state.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required by the appointing authority to possess and retain appropriate current licenses, permits and/or certifications including a standard first aid certificate. Incumbents may be required to perform emergency first aid as needed.
  • Incumbents in this class must obtain a Commercial Operator Certificate for the use of pesticides issued by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection within one (1) year of appointment.
  • Incumbents in this class will be required by the appointing authority to possess and retain certification as a Forester in accordance with Section 23-65h of the Connecticut General Statutes.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Incumbents in this class must have adequate physical strength, stamina, physical agility, and visual and auditory acuity, and must maintain such physical fitness as to be able to perform the duties.
  • A physical examination may be required.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some risk of injury or personal harm from on-site field conditions and a moderate degree of discomfort from year-round weather conditions.

COMPENSATION GUIDELINES

  • The classification of Environmental Protection Forester 1 is assigned to Salary Group LS 22a.
  • Employees shall proceed through that salary group and then shall proceed to the maximum salary of Salary Group LS 23.
  • The Job Code is identified as Salary Plan IE in CORE-CT.

JOB CLASS DESIGNATION

Classified/Non-Examined

OCCUPATIONAL GROUP

(39)-Environmental Protection

BARGAINING UNIT

(15)-ENG, SCIEN, TECH P-4

EEO

(2)-Professional

SALARY INFORMATION

IE 22

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.

CANCELLATION CLAUSE

This replaces the existing specification for the class of Environmental Protection Forester 1 (37.5 Hour) in Salary Group IE 22 approved effective July 1, 2022. (Revised to modify the Minimum Qualifications – Substitutions Allowed section and modify content) Final No. 23-053

EFFECTIVE DATE

03/22/2023
CLASS: 3992IE; EST: 5/29/1970; REV: 4/14/2023;