Forester

General Description: Located within 30 miles of Salem, MO, this position will work as part of the Pioneer Forest team, collaborating on all aspects of delivering excellence in forest management. Foresters are responsible for administering timber sales and helping to monitor programs, records, and activities on or relating to the Forest. This position reports to the Chief Forester.

Pioneer Forest is interested in researching symbiotic management techniques that may further our desired outcomes for a naturally regenerative uneven-aged forest in the Missouri Ozarks. The ideal candidate has an inquisitive nature, with an interest in continuing to learn and understand the changing forest. Pioneer is a predominantly mixed hardwood forest, with a large component of oak and shortleaf pine.

General Field Responsibilities:

• Become familiar with sawmills and loggers doing business within the
• Monitor market prices for
• Become familiar with the land boundaries of Pioneer
• Work with the chief forester to recommend when and where cutting is to occur each
• Maintain mechanical and other equipment used while on the job and assist
• Assist with the CFI every 5th year (last completed March 2023) or boundary line maintenance each
• Assist with timber cruises required for land acquisition, disposal, or
• Assist in updating Pioneer Forest’s annual cutting
• Assist in building the organization’s Natural Features Inventory and in management of invasive
• Provide leadership on special projects including forestry, research or monitoring, recreation, protected areas, and community outreach.
• Assist with prescribed fire, wildfire, and feral hog eradication, as

Timber Sale Responsibilities:

• Understand and apply the method of single-tree selection forestry utilized by Pioneer
• Assume responsibility for marking timber for one or more timber sales at a
• Monitor the work of sawmills and loggers operating on Pioneer Forest as they cut and remove
• Determine where best management practices are appropriate, including directional felling, minimizing damage that may occur to leave trees, keeping equipment out of stream and creek bottoms, and adjusting marking to benefit forest reserve buffers, glades, drainage areas for sinkhole ponds, and other areas important to the forest.
• Ensure the quality of cutting by loggers through regular inspection of work
• Inspect sales, including logging roads and skid trails, install and inspect water bars where needed, and inspect trails in the area for damage.

Other Responsibilities:

• Understand and act to implement the Pioneer Forest Management Plan, and the L-A-D Ecological Management Plan for Pioneer Forest.
• Serve as a contact for the local community on matters that may arise and may affect the
• Be the “eyes and ears” for all activities that affect Pioneer Forest in the district to which the individual is assigned, and to the community at large.
• Provide leadership to the public in forest conservation
• Monitor lands that may be of interest for Pioneer’s consolidation goals and recommend suitable purchases whenever opportunities may be available.
• Maintain the issued truck in good working order, including ensuring regular maintenance is
• Assist with writing of reports and other documents as
• Work cooperatively with the L-A-D ecological management staff as needed to help implement the treatments required to meet the goals of the L-A-D Ecological Management Plan
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in forestry, forest management, or closely related
• A strong interest in application of forest management from a conservation-oriented perspective
• Ability to work independently and as part of a
• Willingness to do physically demanding work for sometimes long, irregular hours in remote areas under a variety of weather conditions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Experience with common software applications such as Word, Excel, and web
• Ability to work well with a wide variety of people in sometimes stressful
• Must have a valid driver’s

Desired but not Mandatory Attributes:

• Experience in varied landscapes through prior employment, internships, or work study that may bring new perspectives to Pioneer Forest’s uneven-aged management.
• Interest in researching new methodologies for forestry operations or conservation more broadly that may be applied on Pioneer Forest to improve management techniques and achieve desired
• Experience with scientific research methodology, reporting, and
• Understanding of landscape-scale conservation management techniques and
• Experience with various timber management projects such as timber stand improvement and evaluating outcomes from those projects.
• Ability to use, maintain, and train others on the safe operation of chainsaws, 4×4 trucks, trailers, UTVs, pumps, and hand tools.
• Training in First Aid, CPR, EMT, or Wilderness First Responder

Disclaimer: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; an employee will also perform other reasonably related job responsibilities as assigned by immediate supervisor and other management as required.  The organization reserves the right to revise or change job duties as the need arises.  This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.  Management reserves the right to change job descriptions, job duties, functions, and requirements.

To learn more about the L-A-D Foundation & Pioneer Forest visit www.ladfoundation.org.

To apply: Please submit a cover letter and resume to brandon.kuhn@pioneerforest.org, and indicate Forester Application in the subject line of the email. The position is open until filled, with interviews starting on December 9. Resumes received by 11:59 pm November 24, 2024, will be in the first round of consideration.

EOE Statement:

L-A-D Foundation/Pioneer Forest is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, country of origin, or gender.