Forest Manager 2 - Schroeder Seed Orchard Manager

Initial Posting Date: 02/10/2025 Application Deadline: 02/26/2025 Agency: Forestry Department Salary Range: $6,348 - $9,830 Position Type: Employee Position Title: Forest Manager 2 - Schroeder Seed Orchard Manager Job Description: Opportunity Awaits, Apply Today! Our Mission - To serve the people of Oregon by protecting, managing, and promoting stewardship of Oregon's forests to enhance environmental, economic, and community sustainability. The Benefits of Joining Our Team Work/life balance, 11 paid holidays a year, flexible work schedules, competitive benefits packages and so much more. Great Benefits Package - watch this video here You'll be part of the ODF team that serves our fellow Oregonians relying on regulation and protection of both public and private forest land in our great state of Oregon! Click here. Your New Role - Seed Orchard Manager As the Seed Orchard Manager you will lead and direct the J.E. Schroeder Seed Orchard work unit and coordinate the affairs of the cooperative programs and operation of the J.E. Schroeder Seed Orchard facility. This position is responsible for policy coordination, planning & development, cooperator relations, budgeting, administrative, supervisory, and regulatory compliance functions necessary to sustain the Seed Orchard as a viable, stand-alone business within the agency. In doing so, this position accomplishes Agency/Cooperator goals and objectives efficiently and effectively; consistent with the Agency/Program Mission, Vision, and Values. Seed Orchard Program Delivery Program Leadership and Relationships * Develops program goals and objectives in collaboration with State Forests, industry cooperators, Northwest Tree Improvement Cooperative (Oregon State University), USFS Cooperative Programs, USFS-PNW Research Station, ODF Seed Bank, Family Forest landowners, Willamette Valley Ponderosa Pine Conservation Association, and local tree breeding programs. * Develops program policies, resolves issues, and develops budgets by consulting with cooperators, the Forest Resources Deputy Chief, State Forest Program, and Budget Management Unit. * Develops and administers cooperative agreements that govern the membership, management, and cost structure of orchards. Interacts with 25 orchard management committees and stakeholder groups to implement these agreements. * Contributes to the development and review of legislation, agency strategic plans, and other mandates affecting the seed orchard program. Seeks legal opinions from Department of Justice when needed. * Responsible for effectively communicating information about the seed orchard program to the Department, Board of Forestry, cooperators, media, and the public. * Participates in professional organizations including the Northwest Seed Orchard Manager's Association and the Western Forest Genetics Association. Program Evaluation, Planning, and Development * Maintains a current Business Plan to articulate the program's mission, business model, issues, and strategic plans. Prescribes actions to meet the program's short / long-term goals and ensure its viability as a business. * Assesses the business environment in order to forecast resource needs, draw strategic plans, develop facilities, and modify organizational structure. Program Implementation * Develops long-range orchard management plans in collaboration with cooperators and forest geneticists. Prepares annual work plans and budgets for cooperator approval. Oversees orchard operations and reports to cooperators on the progress of work, seed produced, and costs incurred. * Oversees multiple concurrent orchard projects by synchronizing work, securing resources, assigning responsibilities, administering contracts, monitoring progress, tracking expenditures, and modifying approaches as conditions change. * Determines and applies best practices for orchard management and tree breeding by consulting with forest geneticists and entomologists, reviewing literature, and conducting studies to evaluate and refine methods. * Responsible for meeting high standards for orchard practices, pollen processing, and the physical and genetic quality of seed. * Applies for and administers federal grants to initiate new projects and solve technical problems. * Facilitates the exchange of statistical data and germplasm (pollen, cuttings, seedlings) with outside entities. * Oversees the operation of the agency's long-term seed storage facility. * Evaluates program performance in terms of general objectives, benchmarks, production targets, product quality, costs, and customer satisfaction. Conducts ongoing evaluation/review to ensure program is in line with the Department's Mission/Vision, and Cooperators needs. Minimum Qualifications: Six (6) years of natural resource experience in areas such as wildland fire suppression, forest management, etc., which include assisting with a) development of program rules and policies, b) development of long- and short-range goals and plans, c) program evaluation, and d) budget preparation; OR Bachelor's degree in forestry or closely related natural resources field and three (3) years of natural resource experience in areas such as wildland fire suppression, or forest management which includes which include assisting with a) development of program rules and policies, b) development of long- and short-range goals and plans, c) program evaluation, and d) budget preparation. Note: Driver's License Check - This position requires the operation of a state vehicle for the purpose of conducting official State business. If your license is from outside Oregon, you must submit at least a three-year court/DMV printout. If you have an Oregon driver's license, a record check will be conducted on the top candidate to ensure a valid license and acceptable driving record. Desired Skills: If you have these skills and attributes, let us know in your application materials! It's how we will choose whom to move forward! You do not need to have all these qualities to be eligible for this position. We may also use transferable skills, experience, and education to help us decide who will move forward. * Experience in the management of a tree seed orchard of similar experience. * Skills to Plan and manage annual budget for a large program * Experience in encouraging and promote economic forest sustainability, species diversity, forest health, climate adaptation, and gene conservation through partnerships to establish orchards with improved traits to meet needs for land managers * Lead and direct orchard work unit and coordinate the cooperative programs and operation of the orchard facility * Responsible for policy coordination, planning & development, cooperator relations, budgeting, administrative, supervisory, and regulatory compliance functions necessary to sustain the orchard as a viable, stand-alone business within the agency * Write and administer service contracts including contracting work on State facilities * Provide onsite training for Adults in Custody (AICs). * Coordinate work schedules, track and approve leave requests, review and approve monthly time entry, conduct quarterly and bi-weekly check-ins with orchard staff * Forest Resources Division manager cohort - meet regularly to participate in divisional programmatic planning, operational efficiencies, annual divisional conference planning, policy writing and administration, provide cross program managerial or staff assistance, discuss implementation and feasibility of agency policies, provide support and safe space for staff or program issues * Interpret and inform staff about agency policies and procedures, encourage healthy work-life balance, provide support, and offer learning opportunities for staff that help promote personal and professional development Application Instructions: * Please ensure the work history in your applicant profile is up to date. * Current State of Oregon employees - You must apply through your employee Workday account. * Cover letter and resume are both required - Failure to submit the required cover letter or resume will remove your application from consideration. Note: Your resume and cover letter may be uploaded in the Resume/CV field on the online application. * Cover letter instructions: Please be specific about your forest managment experience, reforestation, tree genetics and / or any closley forest management area. This includes relevant experience assisting in area * a) development of program rules and policies, * b) development of long- and short-range goals and plans, * c) program evaluation, and * d) budget preparation. Additional Details: * This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies. This position is management service and is not represented by a Union. * If you have questions about this position, please contact Hiring Manager: Mike Kroon, * Agency does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security's Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. * Veterans - If you are an eligible veteran and you meet the qualifications, veterans' preference points will be added to your score. After you have applied you will be sent a task in your Workday account to provide your veteran documentation at that time. For further information, please see the following website: Veterans Resources. * If you have questions about the job announcement, or need an alternate format to apply, please contact: ODF is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or any other class protected by state or federal laws in admission or access to our programs, services, activities, hiring, and employment practices.

Created: 2025-02-16