Become a Forester II (Supervisory)

  • Entry Level
  • Supervisory
  • Full Time
  • Seasonal
  • Benefits Eligible

The Forester series describes professional work concerned with forest, range, and watershed management and protection, which is accomplished by: providing encouragement, advice, and assistance to landowners, individuals, organizations, and agencies; regulating use; demonstrating good wildland management; and seeking through research, assessment, risk analysis, and studies the necessary knowledge to utilize forest, range, and watershed lands while protecting all their benefits. Foresters are also required to participate in fire protection, fire prevention, and all-risk response.

Work assignments involve the planning, development, and administration of resource management programs; surveys, research, and demonstration projects in the fields of forest pest protection, reforestation, climate change, forest utilization, and forest nursery operations; mapping and inventory of wildland soils and vegetation; emergency revegetation and rehabilitation; range improvement; forest practice and fire prevention inspections and regulation; criminal and civil law enforcement; State forest management; studies in forest economics, engineering, genetics, and appraisal; watershed management; environmental protection; forest products utilization; forest and wildland improvement and restoration; environmental review; forest policy; urban forestry; vegetation management; pre-fire engineering; all-risk response; and land-use planning. Individuals entering the series must successfully complete basic fire control training prior to the end of probation.

Forester II (Supervisory)

Foresters II (Supervisory) perform the more difficult, sensitive, and complex professional forestry duties in connection with forest, range, watershed management, protection, and planning, and interpret, develop, and implement regulations and policy to ensure consistent application. In units with large Resource Management staffs, Foresters II (Supervisory) supervise two or more staff, which may include Foresters I (Nonsupervisory), Forestry Assistants or Forestry Technicians, and fire protection and prevention staff. At the largest State Forest, Foresters II (Supervisory) serve as supervisors in charge of a segment of State Forest operations. In region offices and at units with large resource management staffs, Foresters II (Supervisory) serve as THP Review Team Chairpersons. In region offices and headquarters, Foresters II (Supervisory) supervise staff in performing the activities of a major resource management, resource assessment, fire risk assessment, or planning program. This level may also be involved with the drafting and development of policy and regulations for the Department. Incumbents with appropriate training, ICS qualifications, experience, and certifications may serve in emergency assignments.

This classification is eligible for the following pay:

$7,998 - $10,372 Base Salary (paid every month) 

$1,200 - $1,556 Extended Duty Pay (15% of base pay paid every month)

$1,851 Recruitment and Retention Differential (paid every month)

$132,588 – $165,348 Annual Compensation

In addition to the above pay items, employees are eligible for medical benefits (health, dental, vision) and may be eligible for other pay differentials.

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website. 

Minimum Qualifications

Breadth of experience through a variety of job assignments is a factor in planned manager development in the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Although Foresters develop highly specialized assignments at higher levels, rotation in assignment is anticipated at all levels within the series.

License Requirement: Possession of a valid license as a Registered Professional Forester issued by the California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection; (and) Either:

Either I
Experience: Two years of experience in the California state service performing forest, range, or watershed management duties in a class comparable in level to a Forester I (Nonsupervisory).

Or II
Experience: Three years of experience in forestry work requiring professional skill involving the management of a forest area, management of forest resources, appraisal of forest resources, forest engineering, regulating forest practices, controlling forest pests, reforestation or tree nursery production, urban forestry, or range and watershed management duties. (Graduate work in forestry may be substituted for up to one year of the required experience on a year-for-year basis.); (and)

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with specialization in forestry, range management, or a closely related natural resource field. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for up to two years of the required education on a year-for-year basis.)

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of: All of the above, and program administration; forest policy development and application; principles of effective supervision; and a supervisor’s responsibility for promoting equal opportunity in hiring and employee development and promotion, and for maintaining a safe work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.

Ability to: All of the above, and accept increasing responsibility and accomplish objectives without close guidance and review; effectively plan and organize work programs; effectively promote equal opportunity in employment and maintain a safe work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment; and demonstrate leadership.

Additional Desirable Qualifications
Possession of a valid driver license of the appropriate class issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Special Personal Characteristics
Willingness to work long and irregular hours under stressful conditions, in remote parts of the State, and during the fire season; remain available for duty assignments 24 hours a day as required; ability to meet physical and medical standards established by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection; color vision and visual acuity sufficient to perform the duties of the position; ability to perform and exercise good judgment under emergency or other stressful situations; and ability to operate specialized equipment (e.g., personal computers, audio-visual equipment, fire apparatus, vehicles, and cameras).

Felony Disqualification
Existing law provides that persons convicted of a felony are disqualified from employment as peace officers. Such persons are not eligible to compete for, or be appointed to, positions in this class. This felony disqualification applies only to those positions designated as peace officers within this class.

No examinations at this time.