Program Supervisor jobs in Baton Rouge, LA

Job # FOR-50725-4.19.24-CH

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is an Equal Opportunity Employer and State as a Model Employer (SAME) to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

This position (#50725) is located in the Office of Forestry. 

This position is domiciled in DeSoto parish. 
 
This position may be filled by probation or by promotion of a classified employee of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry serving with permanent status. Applicants who are not permanent employees of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry will be required to serve a probationary period of up to 24 months. 

For recruitment purposes, applicants who are within 90 days of graduating with a bachelor’s degree may be eligible for this position. 
 

As part of a Career Progression Group, vacancies may be filled from this recruitment as a Forestry Parish Supervisor or Forestry Program Trainee depending on the level of experience of the selected applicant(s).  Please refer to the 'Job Specifications' tab located at the top of the LA Careers Current Job Opportunities' page of the Civil Service website for specific information on salary ranges, minimum qualifications and job concepts for each level.  
 

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities.
 
Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.
 
Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing the work experience sections of the application.
 
This agency participates in the E-Verify system for verification of citizenship and employment authorization.
 
 All candidates for hire must undergo drug screening.
 
 For further information about this vacancy contact:
Cody Hulbert
HR Specialist
5825 Florida Blvd., Suite 1001
Baton Rouge, LA 70806

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

A baccalaureate degree with thirty semester hours in any one or combination of the following: forestry, forest management, natural resource ecology and management, forest resource management, forest enterprise, wildlife habitat conservation. 

NOTE: 

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

Incumbent of this position manages the daily operation of an Office of Forestry Unit, consisting of one or more parishes, within the Department of Agriculture & Forestry. All agency programs in this geographical area are delivered through or coordinated by this employee. Work is performed in accordance with rules, regulations, and policies of the Office of Forestry and the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. General supervision is received from an Agriculture & Forestry Regional Administrator. Supervision is exercised over Forestry Parish Assistant, Forestry Crew Supervisor, Forestry Crew Leaders/Heavy, Forestry Crew Specialist Leader, Forestry Crew Specialists 1 and 2. This position is eligible for the Hazardous Duty Services Retirement Plan.

40% Forest Management
Incumbent conducts land examinations, collects and analyzes data and prepares written resource management plans to advise forest landowners of proper management techniques for timber services. Routinely answers written and oral questions relative to forestland management.

Incumbent provides technical expertise relative to landowner participation in state and federal cost-share forest management programs. These duties include evaluation and determination of practices needed, supervision of technical services, and mandatory compliance checks prior to the disbursement of state or federal cost-share monies. Incumbent assists and/or advises forest landowners with timber sales in accordance with department policies and guidelines. Assistance may include land cruises to determine timber volume, size class, growth rate and species composition. Provides sample contracts and vendor list or handles actual bidding process for eligible landowners and makes periodic checks during and after timber harvest to determine compliance with contract.
Incumbent assists in the detection and evaluation surveys for insect and disease outbreaks utilizing aerial and ground checking methods, makes recommendations and assists forest landowners in the control of outbreaks. Incumbent initiates public information and education efforts through direct contacts with wood-using industries, timber contractors, forest landowners, forestry consultants, private citizens, homeowners, public officials, local fire department and emergency response personnel, local media, etc.

Incumbent assembles and maintains landowner case files, technical reference date and literature for distribution. 

35% Forest Protection
Incumbent coordinates and supervises forest fire detection and suppression activities within assigned area. Conducts ongoing training and planning related to fire behavior and forest conditions. Allocates resources including personnel to address all agency programs while maintaining adequate capability for wildfire response and control.

Serves as fire boss for large, erratic or difficult to control fires requiring multiple fire crews. Initiates and/or assists with parish and district wildfire prevention efforts, including the Fire Wise Program. Plans and conducts forestry prescribed burns to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations.

Serves as dispatcher for wildfires during designated on-call duty assignments.

Evaluates, prioritizes and initiates the purchase of supplies and equipment necessary for the repair and maintenance of agency equipment, including bulldozers and transport trucks, as well as agency buildings and facilities.

25% Administration
Incumbent directs unit personnel activities by preparing and assigning work schedules and details. Provides routine training and conducts inspections in equipment and facilities for compliance with Department policy and safety programs.
Incumbent interviews applicants for employment and makes recommendations to Agriculture & Forestry Regional Administrator, may make recommendation on pay adjustments, approve requests for leave and attendance reports for subordinate employees, and conduct Personnel Performance Evaluations. 

Other duties as may be assigned.

Functional Requirements

• Moderate light lifting, 30 pounds with occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds
• Reaching above shoulders and carrying specialized equipment needed to perform duties 
• Requires considerable walking over irregular ground and standing for long periods of time 
• Occasional demands maybe 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 routine neighborhood/residential and wild land hazards
• Will be required to wear appropriate safety protection/clothing