Forester
TURNER RANCHES
With approximately two million acres of personal and ranch land, Ted Turner is the second largest individual landholder in North America. Turner lands are innovatively managed to unite economic viability with ecological sustainability. Turner ranches operate as working businesses, relying on bison, hunting and fishing, and ecotourism as principal enterprises. In addition, Turner ranches support many progressive environmental projects including water resource and timber management, and the reintroduction of native species to the land.
Turner Enterprises also manages over 51,000 bison across the various Turner ranches.
LOCATION SUMMARY
Vermejo Park Ranch, located in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, spans over 560,000 acres, making it the largest Ted Turner Reserves vacation property. With its unique location in the southern Rocky Mountains, Vermejo is home to abundant wildlife populations such as elk, deer, pronghorn antelope, bison, black bears, mountain lions, and more. Through extraordinary guest service and our expert adventure guides, Vermejo provides guests of all ages unparalleled opportunities for outdoor exploration with activities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing and wildlife viewing for a truly unforgettable getaway.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The successful candidate will be an integral member of the Natural Resources Division responsible for managing Vermejo Park Ranch’s forests for wildlife habitat, reduced risk of catastrophic fire, natural ecosystem function or (ecological processes), and long-term value. Approximately 60% of the Forester’s time will be spent in the field on a variety of tasks including timber harvest supervision, harvest boundary layout, marking stream buffers, prescribed fire planning and implementation, and other similar tasks in a variety of weather conditions over difficult terrain. Approximately 40% of the Forester’s time will be spent in the office documenting forest practices, forest products production and sale, including carbon sequestration, administration of harvesting crews, and forestry planning.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Planning and preparing sale areas for timber harvesting, road design, and silvicultural activities.
• Collecting forest and woodland management data regarding location, character, extent, volume, rate of growth, and quality of timber.
• Inspecting and reporting on timber sale areas to determine compliance with contract requirements and environmental standards.
• Marking and/or designating timber to be removed in timber sale areas.
• Reporting and/or correcting hazardous conditions and unsafe working conditions that can cause injury to fellow employees, contractors, the general public, or damage to property.
• Ability to operate heavy equipment-dozer, skidder, backhoe. etc.
• Assisting with prescribed fire planning and execution. Candidate should possess or be able to obtain a Red Card. Wildland/Prescribed Fire experience at Engine Boss or higher desirable.
• Serving as a member of VPR Volunteer Fire Department and being on-call for wildland fire suppression and mop-up work. Willingness to become a volunteer structural firefighter in the VPR Volunteer Fire Department.
• Often required to work outdoors in conditions that include steep and rough terrain.
• Other duties may be assigned as Ranch Management deems appropriate.
• Candidate must be willing to work in remote locations alone and around logging equipment in the field.
• Working knowledge of Excel, Access, Word, and ArcGIS software. Willingness to develop the necessary skills to utilize the forest service FIA database.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This job has supervisory responsibilities.
COMPETENCIES AND CHARACTERISTICS
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:
• Flexibility to handle frequent changes, delays or unexpected events.
• Excellent problem- solving skills, ability to work alone or with a team, and taking initiative when appropriate.
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members and management.
• Willingness to take direction from management.
• Experience with Microsoft Office
• Must demonstrate care and compassion for team members both in and out of the department.
• Must show needs of team members above their own.
• Speaks about others in and out of department in a positive light.
• Must be self-directed, energetic, and motivated with multi-tasking capabilities.
• Must be creative and willing to work with existing core resort philosophy and style.
• Facilitates positive employee image and effective guest and coworker relations by demonstrating attention to detail, congeniality, integrity and sound judgement.
• Must demonstrate clean work habits and strong attention to detail.
• The successful candidate will always conduct themselves in a professional manner in and out of the work setting.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Position may require applicant to live on Vermejo headquarters approximately 40 miles from the closest town. Ranch location is approximately 4.5 hours’ drive south of Denver or 4.5 hours’ drive north of Albuquerque.
Vermejo Park Ranch offers dorm room style company housing (subject to availability) and 3 meals per day served in the Employee Dining Room.
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE
The qualified applicant will have a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry or related field from an accredited university or college and two years’ experience.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
If positions requires the operation of a vehicle, must possess a valid Driver’s License or be able to obtain one within 30 days of employment. Driving record must meet the standards and requirements of the Company and the Company's insurance carrier.
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS
• Must adhere to Company and Ranch policies and procedures, which are included in the Company’s Employee Handbook.
• Must present documentation establishing both identity and employment authorization within three days of hire, pursuant to federal law.
• May be subject to undergo pre-employment drug test, (after offer is given but before applicant has commenced work). Random drug tests are given throughout the year.
• Must have a personal vehicle to travel from ranch location to local town for personal needs.
• The Company operates as a drug free/smoke free workplace. Smoking is not allowed on the ranch property, to include but is not limited to; ranch housing, ranch vehicles, ranch offices or on ranch machines.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk and hear. The employee must frequently lift and/ move 50 pounds or more. The position requires being on feet and moving 10 or more hours per shift.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to wet or humid conditions; work near moving mechanical parts; outdoor weather conditions; extreme cold; extreme heat.
In accordance with applicable law, the Company will reasonably accommodate any disabled individual who requests an accommodation that will allow him/her to perform the essential job duties or functions of his/her position. Accommodation inquires must be made to the Company’s Human Resources Department for consideration.
Turner Enterprises, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Smoke Free/Drug-Free Workplace.