FORESTER DIRECTOR 82091

3/16/90 A

This is the single class in the Forester Director series. Positions in this class have overall responsibility for diverse statewide programs of forest management and are directly responsible for the effective protection, development and utilization of forest management resources. Positions in this class function as director of field operations or program/administrative operations on a statewide basis. This class is distinguished from the Forester Manager class by its total responsibility for the statewide field/administrative operations and for acting as the State Forester in his/her absence.

Complexity of Work: Performs work of unusual difficulty in managing a variety of complex forest resource programs which involve a wide range of managerial and administrative duties requiring independent actions to identify problems and opportunities, needs, and concerns and to determine and take appropriate actions to assure that adequate forest resource programs are being maintained statewide. Positions plan and direct current and future program activity by developing policies and/or regulations which affect programs such as forest management, fire management, entomology, pathology, applied forest research, procurement, accounting, finance, communications, budget, contracts and public relations. Acts as State Forester in his/her absence; and coordinates, directs and controls various programs and operations of personal interest to the State Forester. Provides direct advice, information and recommendations to the State Forester regarding policies/procedures/ functions on certain issues that require the State Forester's approval or decision. Develops and maintains administrative management systems to monitor program progress, goal attainment, quality control, and policy compliance. Represents the State Forester at meetings, conferences and hearings. Chairs various staff meetings/conferences to determine the status of projects and accomplishment of goals; to present information, guidance and clarification regarding new or revised policies;to coordinate programs, projects and functional lines of authority; and to present views, desires and instructions from the State Forester. Ensures state and federal programs are uniformly managed, implemented, and administered. Assists and advises the State Forester on policy development, personnel deployment, organizational evaluation, strategic planning, budget development and legislative proposals. Responsible for fiscal accountability of department units. Establishes procedures; oversees operational budgets; and coordinates procurement activities. Prepares studies and reports at the request of the State Forester for use by the General Assembly in legislative matters regarding the state's forest resources. Visits various locations throughout the state to determine progress of projects/programs and/or to provide on-site direction to staff. Reviews the work of and assigns projects/goals to subordinate Forester Managers in accordance with the agency's mission, goals and objectives. Directs the development of new forest resource programs and projects.

Supervision Given: Positions in this class have direct supervisory responsibility over Forester Managers who provide direct supervision to other professional, technical or program support positions. Directs, coordinates and plans overall departmental goals/objectives and program/project assignments. Selects, rewards, counsels and disciplines employees and establishes goals and objectives. Reviews departmental accomplishments; and assures that quantity and quality requirements are being followed and statewide agency objectives/goals are being accomplished or have been met.

Supervision Received: Receives administrative direction from the State Forester on matters involving legislation, regulations, and resource management issues and concerns regarding forest resource management. Positions in this class have considerable freedom to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate program activities within very broad program and policy parameters.

Scope: Positions in this class direct the activities of a major organizational unit essential to the accomplishment of the agency mission. Assignments directly affect the general public, landowners, forest industry, and the state's forest resource program on a long-term basis.

Impact of Actions: Positions in this class make independent judgments on matters which have long-term and consequential impacts on the effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of the Commonwealth's forest resource. The need for accurate and correct decision making is extremely important in order to protect the forest resource of the state as well as to assure the best use of public and private funds expended in planning, development and operation of the Commonwealth's forest resources. Decisions affect overall agency accountability as position acts as State Forester on any given day.

Personal Contacts: Positions in this class have frequent contacts with other state agencies, out of state agencies, federal agencies, the State Forester, landowners, private industry, government representatives, Board of Forestry members and the general public regarding long-term state forest resource management and to give status reports, resolve issues/complaints, and provide information.

Knowledge: Comprehensive knowledge of principles of scientific and practical forest resource management allowing for directing, planning and controlling the agency's operations; and of agency goals. Working knowledge of budget development and monitoring, and managerial techniques to effectively direct staff projects/programs.

Skills: None identified for this class.

Abilities: Demonstrated ability to establish, plan, and direct agency-wide projects and programs; to develop long-range, strategic plans, analyze problems, and offer solutions; to interpret and apply policies, guidelines and directives as related to specific program areas; to organize, direct and evaluate statewide programs and staff activities; to communicate effectively orally and in writing; to represent the State Forester in a variety of circumstances; to resolve or develop solutions to difficult and/or unusual problems/situations; and to supervise work of a large staff involved in diverse administrative, professional, and technical operations/programs.

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDE*

Licenses or Certification: None.

Education or Training: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a major in forestry or a related field.

Level and Type of Experience: Progressively responsible managerial experience in a variety of forest management programs, including supervision of professional staff and responsibility for directing an entire program or a combination of forest resource programs.

An equivalent combination of training and experience indicating possession of the preceding knowledge and abilities may substitute for this education and experience.

This class was established in March, 1990, as a part of the Classification Review/ Specification Update Program. This class replaces the Forestry Director C and the Deputy State Forester classes.