Natural Resources Professional - Forester

Requisition Id15939

Overview:

We are seeking a Natural Resources Professional who will focus on conducting activities assigned to the ORNL Natural Resources Management Team (NRMT) by U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) throughout the Oak Ridge Reservation. The successful candidate for this position will act as the subject matter expert in forest management and in wildland fire management. Tasks may include timber management, forest inventory, wildfire planning, habitat restoration and reforestation, detection and control of exotic forest insects and plants. More information about NRMT can be found atnerp.ornl.gov. This position resides in the Natural Resources Management Team in the Environmental Protection Services Division, Environment, Safety, Health and Quality Directorate, atOak Ridge National Laboratory(ORNL).

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

Function as Wildland Fire Program Manager:

• Develop burn plans with requestors and annually submit to the Federal Manager for approval.
• Maintain and regularly update contact lists for burn notifications and make such notifications prior to all controlled burns.
• Perform as liaison and technical point of contact for Tennessee Division of Forestry (TDF) during wildfire events requiring their mutual aid and function as Technical Point of Contact for landowner services contracts with TDF.
• Prepare and update pre-fire plans for wildland management units with maps that include fuel types, topographic features, access, cultural asset locations, protected natural resources, contaminated areas, and potential hazards.

Function as Forest Stewardship Program Manager:

• Prepare, update, and implement approved management/stewardship plans for ORR forest resources.
• Monitor forest threats such as southern pine beetle, emerald ash borer, oak wilt, gypsy moth, hemlock wooly adelgid and thousand-canker disease of walnut. Prepare and implement integrated pest management plans to address how to deal with active threats.
• Provide information on forest health and related issues to general Laboratory population as appropriate.
• Provide forester assistance to Federal Manager and Real Estate Officers, etc. (timber valuations/salvage, urban interface issues, historic forest management data). Identify salvageable timber associated with DOE projects or natural events.
• Monitor timber harvesting operations for compliance with DOE timber sale contracts.
• Provide consultation, mapping and technical guidance on site forest resources as appropriate.
• Coordinate with other ORNL Natural Resources Management Program subject matter experts (ecologists, wildlife manager, entomologist) and other on-site experts working toward maintaining a successful integrated natural resources management program for the ORR.
• Deliver ORNL's mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace - in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• A BS degree in forest resource management, or other related environmental field from a college or university accredited by the Society of American Foresters, with a curriculum that includes dendrology, forest measurements, silviculture, and forest management.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in professional forestry, wildlife, natural resources, or any other related work(This is not a research position).
• Experience in wildland fire management including burn plan development, fire weather, hazard analysis including WUI assessments, public notifications and interaction, the conduct of controlled fire and response to wildfire(There are no actual fire-fighting responsibilities associated with this position).
• Experience in timber sale preparation/administration, harvest oversight, including current forestry BMPs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Expertise in GPS use and data collection, GIS Mapping (ArcGIS preferred) and data curation/sharing. Photointerpretation/GIS analysis skills and boundary demarcation are helpful.
• Experience with safe forest pesticide applications and efficacy assessment. A TN Pesticide Certification would be helpful.
• Working knowledge of dendrology and silviculture. Familiarity with forest ecology, TN ecoregions, plant communities, flora, and plant identification are helpful.
• Experience in habitat restoration, particularly invasive plant control through mechanical and chemical methods.
• Competency in assessing hazard trees and impact targets.
• Familiarity with forest road and trail construction and maintenance practices.
• Awareness of current regional forest health threats and management approaches. Familiarity with management and treatment of hemlock wooly adelgid (HWA) and southern pine beetle (SPB).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.

Special Requirements:

• Physical Requirements:Work involves various physical requirements and working conditions. As such, a pre-hire physical will be required after offer. Including the below:
  • Possess and maintain a valid vehicle operator's license in some positions.
  • Capable of operating a 4x4 vehicle on rough roads.
  • Work in outdoor field environments; vehicle and foot patrol of forests; remote locations as well as urban environment; physical demands and travel from site to site, including walking/hiking on various surfaces including flat, dry, wet, slippery, uneven, rough, steep terrain, hills, and slopes; potential exposure to all types of weather and temperature conditions.
  • Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in a field environment: frequently stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, run, crawl, climb, reach, twist, grasp and make repetitive hand movements in the performance of daily duties.
• The position requires to be an active participant in safety briefings and to deliver safety messages to a broad audience when called upon.
• The role will require a general understanding of and the ability to identify safety hazards and report any unsafe working conditions.
• Visa Sponsorship:Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements:

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain an HSPD-12 PIV badge.
• For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real ID compliant form of identification will be required.
• Additionally, ORNL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post-employment background investigation.
• To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

About ORNL:

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation's most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email:ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.