MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: One year of experience in forest management or forest conservation.

SUBSTITUTIONS: College training which included six semester hours per year in forestry, horticulture or botany will substitute for the required experience on the basis of thirty semester hours for one year of experience.

Completion of a forest technology program of at least eighteen months duration from a technical college will substitute for all of the required experience.

NOTE: A forest technology program includes a course of study such as Forest Technology, Forest Ranger, Forest Technician, or Forest Management.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:Possession of a valid Louisiana driver's license is required.

NOTE: Any college hours or degree must be from an accredited college or university.

Function of Work:
To serve as lead worker of an autonomous crew and as such provides assistance in forestry management and protection functions to forestry personnel.

Level of Work:
Advanced.

Supervision Received:
Direct from Forestry Crew Supervisor or Forestry Parish Supervisor and functional from Forestry Parish Assistant.

Supervision Exercised:
Functional supervision over Forestry Crew Specialists 1 and 2.

Location of Work:
Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

Job Distinctions:
Differs from Forestry Crew Specialist 1 and 2 by presence of lead worker responsibilities.

Differs from Forestry Crew Specialist Leader-Heavy by the absence of responsibility for transporting and operating heavy dozers (John Deere 750 equivalent or larger) and wildland fire engines during wildfire suppression and forest management activities.

Differs from Forestry Parish Assistant by the absence of assisting a parish supervisor in forest management and protection activities.

Differs from Forestry Crew Supervisor by the absence of direct supervision.

Incumbent of this position will perform duties related to fire prevention and suppression of wildfires in the forestlands of Louisiana for the Office of Forestry within the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry. The Office of Forestry's primary responsibility includes: suppress timberland wildfires; promote sound forest management practices, disseminate information; facilitate educational programs; enforce timber-related laws; investigate timber theft; and assist community urban forestry programs. Supervision for this position is received from the Forestry Crew Supervisor.

The incumbent is on-call day and night and is responsible for maintaining a twenty-four hour state of readiness and equipment preparedness, for themselves and employees they may supervise, to respond to calls for fire suppression or other emergencies. This includes supervision of forestry crew and working with crew members, other leaders, and supervisors in such activities, determining point of initial attack on fires in order to accomplish suppression with the maximum degree of safety and with a minimum loss of forest land and other real property and determining the effects of weather on wildfire. The incumbent is also responsible for making reports of forest fires, including gathering data such as location and number of acres involved in fire and possible causes of fire, and making referral to an enforcement agent when arson is suspected. May supervise out-of-state firefighting crews when called in under the South Central States Forest Fire Protection Compact Commission. The incumbent may also be dispatched between units andDistricts to fight fires, as well as to member states, as required under the South Central States Forest Fire Protection Compact.

The incumbent participates and directs others in the performance of forest management activities including cruising, and prescribed burning, detecting and controlling forest insects and diseases and may also include marking timber on the state forest. The incumbent is responsible for learning, applying and staying informed on the latest technology required for the job performance and data collection. The incumbent is responsible for the collection of data and measurements needed for the administration of forest programs, including federal and state cost-share programs. The incumbent participates in Information & Education programs related to all forestry fields as required.

The incumbent is responsible for the repair and maintenance of transport trucks, dozer (crawler) tractors, various fire suppression equipment, portable and mobile two-way radios, multiple GPS devices, computers, clothing, PPE and a variety of hand and power tools, and is responsible for training and directing others in the use and maintenance of such equipment. The incumbent is responsible for performance and supervision of repair and maintenance buildings, equipment, wildland substations and grounds or similar work.

In addition to fire reports, the incumbent is also responsible for the preparation of other assigned reports, including timesheets, vehicle reports, etc. The incumbent may also be required to determine fire danger through the collection of fire weather data by taking daily readings on anemometer, rainfall, and fuel moisture using prescribed tables.

Other duties as may be assigned.

Functional Requirements:

• Moderate light lifting, 30 pounds, with occasional lifting of 50+ pounds
• Reaching above shoulders and carrying specialist equipment needed to perform duties
• Requires considerable walking over irregular ground and standing for long periods of time Occasional demands may be required for moderately strenuous activities in emergencies over long periods of time
• Climbing on and off transport and tractor

• Working indoors and outdoors
• Excessive smoke, heat, humidity, cold, wet and extreme dry conditions
• Walking on irregular ground for long distances
• Working around neighborhood/residential and wild land hazards
• Will be required to wear appropriate safety protection