Forester

Full Job Description

At Collins, we are committed to building a better world. As a family-owned company founded in 1855, this begins with our commitment to land and resource stewardship on our 370 thousand acres of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified forest lands. With operations in California, Oregon, and Pennsylvania, we manufacture softwood and hardwood lumber, particleboard, and hardboard siding.

Position Summary:

The Forester supports all aspects of forest management at an FSC-certified forest products company with lands in Modoc County, California and Lake County, Oregon.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Support the Lands Manager with reforestation, marking, thinning, planting, disease, and pest control.
• Support Log Procurement Forester in the acquisition of material to support the sawmill.
• Evaluate federal timber sales.
• Administer federal timber sale contracts.
• Assist with budgets and forecasts.
• Develop and maintain relationships with state, federal, and private entities including partners, lessees, and contractors.
• Collect, manage, and report federal timber sale compliance data.
• Support tracking the inventory of logs from all sources.
• Support log yard staff and ensure that logs are properly stored.
• Perform and lead log quality control.
• Collect, enter, manipulate, and manage forest inventory plot data.
• Conduct pre and post-harvest forest inventories.
• Perform data analysis.
• Successfully implement various uneven-aged silviculture prescription regimes.
• Flag project boundaries, watercourse protection zones, and other areas as needed.

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Comprehensive technical forestry skills and knowledge about timber marking, mensuration, forest management, logging, silviculture, and timber harvest planning.
• Must be able to perform rigorous, field-based work in all weather conditions, on steep, brush-filled terrain.
• Exceptional curiosity and willingness to learn.
• Demonstrated collaborative problem-solving skills.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage and motivate team members.
• Chainsaw and general mechanical know-how, and/or experience operating light and heavy equipment.
• Competent skills in ArcGIS and Microsoft 365.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent education and/or experience in forestry, biology, forest engineering, natural resource management, economics, business, plant biology, plant genetics, or agriculture science.

Environmental Conditions:

May be exposed to rough terrain, dust, noise, pesticides, herbicides, biting and stinging insects, trip hazards, and extreme weather and temperatures. 

Required Personal Protective Equipment:

Individuals must be willing to wear the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at all times. Positions may require additional PPE at specific times. Examples of PPE which may be required include high visibility garments, hand protection, eye protection, hearing protection, a hard hat, foot protection, a face shield, and a respirator.