Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's mission is to help ensure that Montana's land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations. The DNRC believes employees are their most important asset. The DNRC empowers employees to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. Employees are provided with the training and tools necessary to achieve the mission. Both team effort and individual employee expertise are supported and sustained. Core Values: The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Forestry and Trust Land Division recognizes that building a collaborative, professional, and inclusive work environment is critical to fulfilling our mission of managing, protecting, and promoting stewardship of Montana’s forests and lands for the benefit of current and future generations and our trust beneficiaries. We hold ourselves to these high standards as we are accountable to the people of Montana. * We value and respect each other. * We create collaborative work environments. * We build and maintain strong relationships. * We practice accountability. * We celebrate our successes and take pride in our work. Work Unit Overview: The Forestry Division of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) ensures the sustainability of Montana forests, rural lands, and communities through cooperative wildland fire protection and sound forest management practices; protects the state's natural resources from wildfire, insect pests, and disease; sustains or improves the natural resources of private forestland for the good of all Montanans; promotes and supports conservation practices on all lands in Montana; enforces the State's forest practices laws in a manner that is both fair and consistent to all parties and that complies with the intent of the legislation; and encourages the maintenance, planting, and management of trees and shrubs in Montana communities. The Division consists of the Fire Protection Bureau, the Forestry Assistance Bureau, GNA Bureau and the Forestry Division Administrative Office, and six area offices located throughout the state.Forestry Assistance provides resources, tools, and forestry expertise to create resilient forests, sustainable economies, and vibrant communities. There are seven inter-related programs within Forestry Assistance that are delivered across the state. Bureau staff in Missoula lead, support, and build capacity to enable program delivery by the Land Offices, Unit Offices, Service Foresters, and other personnel committed to the mission of the program. This framework facilitates program delivery that is aligned with state- level strategies and priorities but customized for the unique conditions in each of the field areas. The programs we deliver include; Urban and Community Forestry (UCF), Stewardship, Forest Pest Management, Forest Products, Nursery Program, Forest Practices and Local Government Assistance. Job Overview: Consistent with H.B. 510 passed by the 2015 Montana legislature and signed by the Governor, the Local Government Forest Advisor is responsible for assisting local governments in engaging federal forest land management agencies and collaborative efforts regarding projects that reduce wildfire risk and or improve forest health. The Local Government Forest Advisor serves as a DNRC subject matter expert on a wide range of issues related to federal forest policy, management and how they affect local government and the State of Montana. The position also identifies and cultivates relationships with other DNRC programs and partners including collaboratives groups, the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Essential Functions (Major Duties or Responsibilities):/These job functions are the essential duties of the position and are not all-inclusive of all the duties that may be assigned to the incumbent./ The Local Government Forest Advisor duties include program development, management and administration, technical service provision; professional training; public outreach, and partnership building. A. Program Administration, Development and Management (50% of time) The Local Government Forest Advisor provides overall direction, planning, and coordination of DNRC’s technical and financial assistance to local governments and collaborative groups in engaging federal forest land management agencies. The position serves as consulting subject matter expert for DNRC personnel, local governments and collaborative groups on issues related to improving forest health and/or reducing wildfire risk on federal, state and cross boundary forestlands. Specifically, the position works with local governments and other partners on projects, land management plans (forest plans), federal processes and authorities, and legislation such as the National Forest Management Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. The position provides information on how these may impact resources, human health and safety, local economies, and county budgets. The Position provides advice, templates and tools, to local governments and DNRC personnel during the collaborative and administrative processes of federal, state and cross boundary projects. The Position oversees financial assistance to local governments during the collaborative and administrative processes of federal projects. 1. Engages with the Montana Coalition of Forest Counties and the Montana Association of Counties (MACo) on wildfire and forest health issues. Works with these organizations to support active federal forest management. Work to raise awareness of the importance of forest management in rural resource dependent economics. 2. Assists local government in effectively engaging collaborative groups and processes. 3. Manages a local government forestry assistance grant program which provides funding to counties and collaborative groups for their engagement with federal land management. 4. Assists local government and collaborative groups in supporting projects through the objection process and in court. 5. Engages with local government and collaborative groups as part of the DNRC’s Montana Forest Action Plan implementation. A major component will be on cross boundary solutions to forestry and fire issues. 6. Provides leadership and support that builds capacity at DNRC land offices and units enabling them to provide assistance to local governments and collaborative groups and partner agencies in engaging federal forest land management agencies. 7. Engages and coordinates with Fire Protection Bureau and GNA Bureau personnel to ensure that the mutually beneficial goals of the Division are met. 8. Provides field support to DNRC unit and area offices, responds to partner agency requests for technical assistance, and tracks accomplishments. 9. Working in concert with the Fire Protection Bureau and local field staff help county commissioners understand the importance of the concepts of Fire Adapted Communities. Be able to speak knowledgeably and advance the fire mitigation approaches adopted by DNRC. 10. Provide a link between local government and Division programs. 11. Be knowledgeable about DNRC templates and tools to develop Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) and individual counties CWPP’s and Hazard Mitigation Plans and work with DNRC Bureau and field staff during revision. 12. Engages with DNRC legal staff and line officers to track federal litigation and develop DNRC legal filings in support of federal forest management. This position works to build and enhance partnerships with local government, other agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholder groups. The position serves as the central coordinator for DNRC engagement with collaborative groups and serves as the primary DNRC contact with the Montana Forest Collaborative Network and works with the Montana Watershed Coordination Council. The position represents the goals, objectives, and tasks associated with program delivery to a range of clientele and partners through skilled written and verbal communication. B. Federal Forest Policy (40 % of time) The position serves as the DNRC subject matter expert and coordinator for policy issues and administrative procedures affecting federal forest management Specifically, the position works on projects, Land Management Plans (forest plans), federal processes and authorities, and legislation such as the National Forest Management Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. The position provides information on how these may impact resources, human health and safety, local economies, and county budgets. 1. Coordinates with other DNRC programs and maintains relationships with timber industry, and other partners to advocate for policy and management actions that ensure a stable supply of timber to Montana’s current milling infrastructure and encourages new timber industry investment in Montana. 2. Tracks USFS forest management projects of importance to the counties or DNRC through the NEPA process, and coordinates with DNRC field staff and other programs to comment on projects and forest plans for the DNRC. 3. Funds and leads an annual Forest County Summit with partner agencies to bring county commissioners and staff together for information and discussion. 4. In coordination with DNRC field staff the position tracks USFS projects of importance to the counties or DNRC throughout implementation, compares it to the NEPA decision, and analyzes effectiveness of tools used by federal agencies. 5. In consultation with DNRC legal staff, the position coordinates analysis and engagement in objections and litigation on federal forest management projects. 6. Assists DNRC legal staff in compiling Declarations and Amicus Briefs in support of federal projects. Assists legal staff if the DNRC is an Intervenor Defendant on behalf of the Forest Service. 7. Provides program and project expertise and responds to and answers questions of internal and external specialists, other agencies, and the general public regarding the DNRC’s Federal Engagement Program and projects. Promotes goals and objectives, fosters awareness of issues affecting forest resources, and delivers information on project outcomes and progress as requested or appropriate. Physical and Environmental Demands: * Work is performed in both an office and field environment with frequent travel (30%) required to perform basic duties of the position. Fieldwork may involve long working hours, adverse weather conditions, isolated areas, steep terrain, potential conflicts with wildlife, and exposure to heavy forestry equipment and machinery. *Benefits: * Health Insurance * Retirement * Paid Vacation, Sick Leave and Holidays * Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) – Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF.  Application Materials Required for this Position Are: * State of Montana Application * Resume * Cover Letter Special Information: Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. A valid driver's license is required with less than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months. Qualifications: The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor's degree in forestry, natural resources conservation or business, political science or law with approximately 5 or more years of job-related work experience. Knowledge This position serves as a resource for local government, collaborative groups and other partners, to engage federal land managers on projects of mutual benefit within their county. As such, it requires extensive knowledge of advanced forestry principles and practices, forest economics, and forest management policy including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Forest Management Act (NFMA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Farm Bill, and other applicable regulatory principles, rules, and enabling legislation. It also requires a thorough understanding of trends and issues affecting Montana’s forests and related industries. The position works within a multi-use and collaborative framework and must have knowledge of the terminology, principles, methods and theories of silviculture, ecology, fire suppression, and fuels management, hydrology, wildlife and fisheries biology, and range management. The position performs advanced professional forest management activities, as such it requires knowledge of program and project planning; contract administration, equipment and techniques used in forest management projects and operations, data collection and sampling techniques, harvest systems and road layout, silviculture, and resource protection related to NEPA, forest plans and the ESA. Skills This position requires skill in researching, synthesizing, and communicating information from diverse sources, conflict resolution and negotiating solutions to complex and sometimes controversial forest management issues including fuels reduction, commercial timber harvest, watershed enhancement, changing forest ownership patterns, and work across multiple ownerships. The position requires excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate with diverse stakeholders that may have divergent views. Other essential skills include project planning and administration, managing multiple projects and establishing priorities; budget development and management, and monitoring and analysis; The incumbent must have excellent skill in establishing, enhancing, and preserving interpersonal and inter-organizational relationships. Abilities This position requires the ability to work with diverse groups with unique priorities, including local government, public land management agencies, NGO’s, volunteers, elected officials and the media. This position will be providing leadership, guidance and advice to local government entities wanting to participate actively in management of national forest system or other federal forests within their jurisdictions. The position also requires the ability to interpret and apply project plans, technical rules and guidelines, and contract stipulations; oversee multiple projects and balance priorities. The incumbent must also demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with staff, landowners, members of the public, and others regarding program goals and objectives, operational achievements or deficiencies, compliance issues, and other sensitive or contentious subjects. The position requires the ability to communicate and coordinate with diverse and sometimes conflicting interests, while advancing individual and public benefits from forests including a healthy and resilient environment, economic vitality, and social stability. Title: Program Specialist 2 - Local Government Forest Advisor Location: Missoula Requisition ID: 24141286