SUPERVISING FORESTER

Code: 02660 State Competitive Range: S28 (FY 2027) Work week NL: FLSA exemptOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $91,628.18 - $134,900.38/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 the general direction of the Chief, Bureau of Forest Management in the Division of Parks and Forestry, Department of Environmental Protection, plans, organizes and supervises: (a) the development of forest management programs for state and private lands, and the operation of the State Forest Tree Nursery; (b) the Marketing and Forest Product Utilization Program; or (c) Resource Planning and Administration activities; does related work as required.

Examples of work

• Forest Management Planning and Supervision:
• Supervises the preparation of forest management plans and oversees the implementation of forest management of state forests and parks and other public lands administered by the Department.
• Oversees cooperative efforts with Bureau of Forest Fire Management for provision of overhead personnel on wildfires and supervision for prescribed burning crews.
• Oversees the operation of the State Forest Tree Nursery, including the clonal and seedling orchards and the sale and distribution of forest planting stock for necessary reforestation projects.
• Supervises a program of assistance to municipalities in the establishment and operation of shade tree committees and/or local commissions, in developing ordinances regulating tree removal, and for the required re-vegetation of worked-out sand and gravel operations and other open areas.
• Plants, initiates, and supervises surveillance programs instituted for detection, evaluation, and control on state, federal, and privately-owned woodlands from fire, insects, insecticides and disease; directs safe operation of gypsy moth suppression programs using insecticides.
• Communicates with Regional Park Superintendents to create and clarify policies and procedures.
• Supervises financial plan implementation and controls all federal cost-sharing forestry programs relating to the Bureau of Forest Management including: Cooperative Forest Management, Agricultural Conservation Program, Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention, Rural Development, Resource Conservation and Development Projects, Cooperative Production and Distribution of Forest Tree Planting Stock, General Forestry Assistance, Forest Pest Control, Tree Improvement, Reforestation, Agricultural Act 1956, Title IV, Forestry Incentives Program.
• Supervises the implementation of the mandated requirements of the Water Quality Act, cooperating with designated areas and Department assigned areas to identify and control to the extend feasible, sources of non-point water pollution related to silvicultural activities.
• Supervises the development, certification, and completion of forest practices for agricultural conservation programs and forestry incentive programs providing cost-share funds to private forest landowners.
• Marketing and Forest Product Utilization
• Oversees the sale of forest products from State-owned forests and parks.
• Plans, conducts and oversees specialized forestry programs including: wood products and utilization, silviculture, forestry awareness, farmland assessment, forest policy, forest decline, and genetics.
• Supervises and plans the program of silvicultural research involving the establishment, reproduction, and development of timber stands, site preparation, controlled burning, and other related activities to insure that technically sound, economical procedures and methods be used in meeting Bureau objectives.
• Supervises the program of assistance to New Jersey's Forest Product Industry in encouraging the efficient procurement, manufacture, and marketing of wood and wood products.
• Supervises the program of assistance to statewide industrial wood energy interests by providing technical assistance in raw material supply, system election, conversion feasibility, and financing.
• Supervises the development and implementation of a Statewide 'barter system' within the timber sales process to meet Divisional wood products needs available through the management of State forest resources.
• Supervises the preparation of articles, bulletins, reports, assessments, and listings needed to support and encourage growth of New Jersey's Primary and Secondary Wood Product Industries.
• Supervises the preparation and maintenance of Statewide lists and directories including: lumber suppliers, kiln operators, equipment dealers, sawmill, secondary manufacturers, loggers, and other primary processors.
• Resource Planning and Administration:
• Supervises the collection, organization, and maintenance of data used for directories, pamphlets, and lists published by the Bureau and required by forest product industries, the general public and governmental agencies as aides in implementing forestry activities.
• Supervises Bureau representation to soil conservation districts, New Jersey Christmas Tree Growers Association, New Jersey Forestry Association, New Jersey Tree Farm Committee, and similar organizations.
• Develops and supervises in-service training programs for Bureau personnel, general public, forest industry cooperators, consulting foresters, and other agencies, emphasizing safety, technical proficiency, and assistance to the public.
• Oversees the preparation of programs, tours, brochures, publications, television tapes, and slide tape programs which will raise the public understanding and/or awareness of New Jersey forests and forestry.
• Writes proposals for funding of personnel, operating accounts, and/or special projects from the legislature (the budget process), Federal Government, and the private sector.
• Supervises the implementation of policy and regulations concerning the Pinelands Area and writes operating procedures and memoranda of understanding relative to the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan.
• Meets with and coordinates with municipal officials to solve complex problems concerning tree harvesting ordinances, preparation of municipal ordinance, and other forest related matters.
• Develops guidelines and materials to reflect the Bureau's policy on forestry activities relating to Air Pollution Control Code, Farmland Assessment Act, the Forest Renewable Resources Planning Act, and other areas where regulations affect the management of forest resources.
• Supervises the review of Costal Area Facility Review Act and Environmental Impact Statements regarding the impact of housing and industrial developments on vegetation; provides recommendations to alleviate or lessen the effect on vegetation and recommends disapproval when ecological damage will be too severe.
• Coordinates and training consulting foresters in providing service to landowners and marketing forest products.
• Supervises the preparation of prime forestland maps, type maps, and forest cover maps.
• Writes a Statewide forest resource plan which identifies forest related goals and talks to be accomplished to reach the goal
• Common to all:
• Manages the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for employee evaluations and for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees.
• Prepares and oversees the preparation of clear, sound, accurate, and informative correspondence, and statistical, financial, and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Prepares and/or supervises the preparation of specifications for tree planting contracts, takes action to allocate funds, and ensures that contracts are processed.
• Gives public testimony in support of forestry policy.
• Prepares quarterly and annual reports for the U.S. Forest Service on cooperatively funded forestry programs and projects, and annual reports for the Bureau and provides statistical data on accomplishments to allied State agencies. Assists in implementation of the Tree Farm Program.
• Provides and presents professionally competent illustrated lectures and talks on all aspects of forest management in New Jersey to professional societies, service clubs, women's clubs, shade tree and environmental commissions, and other organized groups.
• Trains and encourages principal foresters in the use of positive interpersonal skills necessary for the success of forestry programs.
• Supervises, establishes and maintains essential records and files.
• May be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording 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

Four (4) years of experience in Silvicultural, Forest Management or Product Utilization, and/or reforestation work; two (2) years of which shall have involved responsibility for program planning, implementation and/or supervision.

<b>LICENSE and PERMIT</b>:

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 essential duties of the position.

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

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Ability to acquire thorough knowledge of the laws and forest history of New Jersey relating to forest management and reforestation problems, including the knowledge of forest types and ecological and physiographic regions.
• Ability to acquire thorough knowledge of the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures of the Department of Environmental Protection relating to forestry and the conservation of forests and their application to specific cases.
• Thorough knowledge of modern techniques of Silviculture, involving problems in marketing timber from wooded tracts or varied sizes, of the taking of inventories of trees suitable for cutting, or the carrying out of investigations involved the methods of cutting timber in order to increase the yield, and in determining the growth and financial yields from woodlands.
• Ability to acquire knowledge of current and pending legislation as pertaining to forestry matters.
• Ability to acquire thorough knowledge on the layout and supervising the work of the State Forest Tree Nursery and seed orchards, and in carrying on forest planting operations.
• Ability to acquire thorough knowledge of insect and disease detection and control programs for forest land in New Jersey.
• Thorough knowledge of interpersonal and modern personnel management techniques.
• Ability to acquire wide knowledge of computer geographic information systems including LANDSAT.
• Ability to supervise programs for insect and disease control on forest land in New Jersey, including the application of proper measures for their control.
• Ability to supervise staff to ensure the work programs and operations are implemented effectively.
• Ability to supervise the establishment of an assistance program for woodland owners, and to develop effective cooperative working relationships with primary and secondary wood product users, and the purchasers of all forest products.
• Ability to plan, obtain the adoption of, and take a leading part in promoting reforestation projects throughout the state.
• Ability to supervise technically competent, realistic, and feasible planning on State and private woodlands and make the required contacts with civic, business, and other cooperating groups and organizations.
• Ability to assume a high degree of responsibility for final conclusions, decision, and recommendations and to present final results in an administratively understandable manner to supervisors, public officials, or general public.
• Ability to prepare technical correspondence and supervise the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate, informative correspondence, reports, and planning documents containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
• Ability to supervise, establish and maintain essential records and files.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording 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 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.