FORESTER TRAINEE
New Jersey classifies Forester Trainee as non-competitive, which skips the exam-and-list step and turns on whether you meet the minimum requirements.
What it takes is a bachelor's degree. Pay on the FY 2027 schedule runs $55,691 to $58,222.
How to apply
This title is not filled by examination — agencies appoint directly.
See every real route in, and where to apply. We don't track live vacancies.
See where to apply for this title →Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under supervision of a Regional Forester or other supervisory official in the Department of Environmental Protection, assists in the implementation of forestry programs on state, municipal, and private lands; provides professional forestry review, planning, and recommendations for forestry programs within an assigned region or central office; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
Under close supervision, as a trainee and productive worker: Learns to implement comprehensive multiple-use resource management plans involving assistance in forest reconnaissance, timber cruises, data acquisition and analysis for defining forestry objectives and goals, including the development of short and long-term forest resource recommendations. Learns to implement the sale of forest products involving aerial photo interpretation, forest reconnaissance, designation of harvest trees, and sale areas, volume calculations, mapping, traversing boundaries, and the compilation of a sale prospectus. Assists in the showing of sale areas to prospective bidders, conducting logger orientations, and monitoring of harvesting activities to ensure contract compliance. Cooperates in forest product sales and contract administration as delegated by a higher-level forester or other supervisor. Learns to implement the Homeowner Firewood Program which provides fuelwood to New Jersey residents, which include locating harvest sites, marking, mapping, and volume calculations. Learns to implement all activities pertinent to the protection of the forest resource from insect, disease, and wildfire destruction including insect and disease surveys, mapping, designating areas in need of prescribed burning to reduce wildfire potential, fuel hazard reduction measures, and aerial spraying program for insect and disease control. Learns to implement the reforestation needs on state lands which includes planting plans, site preparation (prescribed burning, herbicide treatments). Assists in the scheduling and supervising of tree planting operations, and contract compliance. Learns to implement the urban and rural forestry assistance programs which include federal and state cost-sharing programs with corresponding inspections, certification and annual award presentations, Consultant Forestry Referral Program and the Municipal Tree Cutting Ordinance Program. Assists the local and county tax assessors relative to forestry and the Farmland Assessment Act. Provides information and assistance to environmental commissions, and municipal and county parks. Learns to conduct detailed inspections and analysis of proposed harvesting sites, maps, and technical review of forest management plans resulting in a letter of comment for the Pinelands Commission to comply with standards as listed in the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan. Participates in the operation of the State Forest Tree Nursery which includes the procurement of genetically superior seed, dale, harvest, and distribution of forest planting stock along with the knowledge and application of herbicides and pesticides, and vehicle operation. Prepares statistical, technical, and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations concerning silvicultural research, marketing, and related fields involving the use of modern data processing techniques Participates in information and education programs that provide a multimedia exposure of relative forestry activities directly to the public involving the preparation of technical articles, illustrated lectures, slide programs, award presentations, tours, and displays. Contributes towards publishing a quarterly Forest Products Marketing Bulletin for the primary and secondary forest product manufacturers in the state. Maintains essential records, files, reports, supplies, and equipment orders for the bureau. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree or higher in Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Urban Forest Management, Silviculture, Forest Biometrics, or other closely related Forestry curriculum.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of forestry equipment and materials, including aerial photos (infra-red, color transparencies, and black & white), clinometer, hypsometer, staff compass, biltmore stick, prism, angle gauge, increment borer, and calipers after a period of training. Knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of forestry, including but not limited to silviculture, entomology, computer science, forest ecology, soils, mensuration, statistics, genetics, forest product utilization, surveying, sensing removal, urban forestry, forest resources law, logging, timber inventory, recreation, wildlife, hydrology, and fire management after a period of training. Knowledge of fire science and management principles, wildfire control procedures, prescribed burning techniques, fire-weather influences, and fire effects on the environment after a period of training. Knowledge of modern nursery practice as related to the production of forest seedlings after a period of training. Ability to give talks and illustrated lectures on forestry, including the operation of various audio-visual equipment. Ability to address forest management and conservation concerns and develop effective solutions. Ability to be the field authority to initiate, recommend, and oversee all job activities performed according to contracts such as logging, yarding, tallying of products received, reforestation, and application of pesticides. Ability to prepare technical correspondence and clear, technically sound, accurate, informative reports, planning documents, and data summaries continuing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other professional and para-professional staff. Ability to understand, compile, and analyze technical forest terminology and data. Ability to appraise forest resource values and evaluate losses to be utilized in court case documentation. Ability to understand and comprehend technical forestry publications, necessary to maintain professional ability and knowledge current in forestry. Ability to maintain essential records and files. Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible. ADVANCEMENT: Appointees who successfully complete the twelve (12) month training period will be eligible for advancement to the Forester () title in accordance with New Jersey Civil Service Commission procedures. The inability of an employee in this trainee title to attain a level of performance warranting advancement to Forester () shall be considered as cause for separation.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.