ASSISTANT REGIONAL FORESTER

Code: 02653 State Competitive Range: P22 (FY 2027) Work week NE: FLSA coveredOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $69,668.2 - $101,950.9/year FY 2027 schedule (last updated 2026-07-27)

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 general supervision of a Regional Forester or other supervisory official in the Department of Environmental Protection, plans and implements and/or may assist in the oversight of forestry programs which include contract monitoring in an assigned region of the state, provides professional advice to forestry personnel, industrial organizations, and residents of the state; may serve as field authority in the scientific discipline of forestry; provides professional forestry reviews, planning, and recommendations for forestry programs within an assigned region or central office; does related work as required.

Examples of work

• Plans and implements comprehensive multiple-use resource management which may include sale of forest products, the conduct of forest reconnaissance, aerial photo interpretation, timber cruises, designation of harvest trees, mapping, data acquisition and analysis for defining forestry objectives and goals, and development of short and long term forest resource recommendations.
• May direct functional forestry programs on a daily basis.
• Oversees and coordinates procedures to achieve a successful sale of forest products including the showing of forest product sale areas to prospective bidders, being present at all bid openings, notifying all bidders of results, presenting an orientation program to successful bidders, collecting performance deposits and payments, and supervising and serving as field authority of harvesting activities.
• Oversees the entire harvest operations for the sale of timber and forest products and functions as the state representative on all state sale contracts.
• Plans and implements the Homeowner Firewood Program which provides fuelwood to New Jersey residents which includes locating harvesting sites, marking, mapping, and volume calculations.
• Coordinates and implements all activities pertinent to the protection of the forest resource from insect, disease, and wildfire destruction including insect and disease surveys, mapping, and aerial spraying for insect and disease control.
• Plans, oversees, and implements contracts for the reforestation needs on state lands which includes planting plans, site preparation, designating areas in need of prescribed burning to reduce wildfire potential, and fuel hazard reduction measuring, herbicide treatments, scheduling and supervising of tree planting operations, and contract compliance.
• Implements the urban and rural forestry assistance programs which include all pertinent federal and state cost-share programs with corresponding inspections for compliance of federal and state specifications and standards, Tree City USA certification and annual awards presentations, Consultant Forestry Referral Program, Municipal Tree Cutting Ordinance Program, assistance to local and county tax assessors relative to forestry and the Farmland Assessment Act, assistance to shade tree and environmental commissions, and assistance to municipal and county parks and governments.
• Conducts 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 in accord with the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan for forestry on lands not under direct jurisdiction of the division.
• May be involved with activities or operation of the State Forest Tree Nursery including the procurement of genetically superior seed, sale, harvest, and distribution of forest planting stock, application of herbicides and pesticides, vehicle and equipment operation, and may oversee seasonal employees.
• Prepares statistical, technical, computerized, and/or other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations concerning silvicultural research, utilization and marketing, and related fields.
• Participates in public information and education programs that provide a multimedia exposure of forestry activities involving but not limited to the preparation of technical articles, bulletins, illustrated lectures, slide programs, award presentations, tours, and displays.
• Assumes the duties of Regional Forester in emergency situations when required.
• Maintains essential records, files, reports, supplies, and equipment for the region.
• Will be required to learn 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.

Experience

Two (2) years of experience in Silvicultural, Forest Management, and/or Reforestation Work.

License

Appointees must possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey.

Appointees may also be required to possess a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and applicable endorsements for the class and type of vehicle being operated.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of forestry equipment and materials including aerial photos (infrared, color transparencies, and black and white), clinometer, hyposmeter, staff compass, biltmore stick, prism, angle gauge, increment borer, and calipers.
• 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, remote sensing, urban forestry, forest resource law, logging, timber inventory, recreation, wildlife, hydrology, and fire management.
• Knowledge of modern nursery practice as related to the production of forest seedlings.
• Knowledge of the use of herbicides and pesticides for the purposes of site preparation, forest stand protection, and urban tree maintenance programs.
• Knowledge of forest fire science and management principles, wildfire control procedures, prescribed burning techniques, fire-weather influences, and fire effects on the environment.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply current federal and state laws and other regulations that affect the management of forest resources.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply provisions of the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan Act 1978, New Jersey Pinelands Protection Act 1979, Farmland Assessment Act 1964, municipal tree ordinances, and the Agricultural Retention and Development Act 1983, and any amendments made thereto.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply information on soil surveys as published by the US Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service within the assigned region.
• Ability to plan, organize, and implement a comprehensive forest management plan.
• Ability to plan and direct forestry programs and activities.
• Ability to be the field authority to initiate, recommend, and oversee all job activities associated with contract operations.
• Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate, informative reports, correspondence, planning documents, and data summaries containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other professional and paraprofessional staff.
• Ability to estimate work hour requirements for specific project planning.
• Ability to give talks and illustrated lectures on forestry and the operation of various audiovisual and photographic equipment.
• Ability to appraise forest resource values and evaluate losses to be utilized in court case documentation.
• Ability to keep current and understand and comprehend technical forestry publications.
• Ability to establish and maintain essential records and files.
• Ability to learn 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, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the 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 as long as 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.

Note

The definition and examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular 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.

A Master's degree in Forestry may be substituted for one (1) year of experience.

Appointee may be required to possess a valid New Jersey Certified Pesticide Applicator's Permit.

The responsibility for ensuring that employees possess the required motor vehicle license, commensurate with the class and type of vehicles they operate, rests with the appointing authority.