Reforestation Forester

Overview

Mendocino Redwood Company, (MRC) is seeking an experienced Reforestation Forester to join their forestry team based in Fort Bragg, CA!  This is an exempt position, the base salary for this position is $72,000.00 to $84,000.00.  Your final base salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as geographic locations, skills, education, and/or experience.  Please keep in mind the range published is the full base salary. We also offer a generous benefits package; Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K matching and company paid Life Insurance. To learn more about our benefits click Here

Application Timeline: Applications are currently being accepted. This position will remain open until filled, but no later than June 2027. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

The Mendocino Companies (Mendocino Forest Products Company, Mendocino Redwood Company, Humboldt Redwood Company, Humboldt Sawmill Company, and Allweather Wood) own nearly 450,000 acres of Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC® C031337) certificated redwood and Douglas-fir timberland, constitute the largest waterborne wood treater in the Western USA, and is the largest producer of redwood lumber in the world. Collectively providing 950 employees and their families with excellent wages and benefits in communities throughout the Western USA. Additionally, the Mendocino Companies own and operate a 25-megaWatt biomass cogeneration power plant and wood pellet plant.

Responsibilities

The Reforestation Forester is responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing all phases of reforestation activities, from initial site preparation and tree planting through the establishment of free-to-grow stands. This includes vegetation management, sourcing of planting materials, and monitoring reforestation success to ensure long-term forest productivity and sustainability. The position ensures that all reforestation activities are conducted safely, comply with applicable state and federal laws and regulations, support the Company's financial and operational objectives, and align with its core values and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Promote Safety - Ensure a safe working environment, oversee safety programs, and develop Job Safety Analysis procedures to address the hazards associated with forestry activities.
• Vegetation Management - Develop and implement prescriptions to control unwanted competing vegetation in young conifer stands with cost effective treatments to promote conifer growth and survival. Tasks involve ensuring employee and contractor safety, planning, budgeting, inspections/monitoring, mapping, government permitting, database updating, and experimentation.
• Reforestation/Planting – Oversee planting activities and re-plant sites as necessary to achieve desired stocking levels of appropriate conifers in compliance with California’s Forest Practice Act stocking standards and those set by the Company. Tasks involve ensuring employee and contractor safety, planning, budgeting, inspections/monitoring, mapping, database updating, and experimentation.
• Site preparation- Oversee and/or advise area managers and RPFs as to appropriate methods to prepare areas for planting, this may include, broadcast or prescribed burning, brush piling and soil ripping.
• Monitoring - Conduct systematic surveys of various random planting projects to test whether Company goals are being met and to confirm compliance with the stocking standards required by California’s Forest Practice Act. Such surveys will be needed to:
  • Confirm the efficacy of treatments.
  • Compare planting performance to expectations based on financial analyses.
  • Assess clone performance; and
  • Prescribe additional stand management treatments.
• Pre-commercial Thinning - Releasing overstocked stands by selection thinning at the ten-to-fifteen-year age groups promotes the continued rapid growth of the stand into the free-to-grow status. Tasks involve employee and contractor safety, planning, budgeting, contracting and conformance inspections, database updating, and experimentation.
• Tree improvement program- Carry out all necessary steps in continuing and growing the Company’s tree improvement program. This will include oversite, maintenance and expansion of Company hedge farms, supervision of clone collection and propagation, testing of clone out plants and oversight of Company contacts with outside vendors and partners participating in the Improvement Program.
• Conduct Federal Worker Protection Safety Standards training for employees and contractors.
• Plan and conduct tours and address various groups interested in Company programs.
• Interact with Forestry department to ensure integration and cost-effective execution of projects.
• Assist Forestry department with preparation of Timber Harvesting Plans as time allows.
• Purchase materials and equipment for projects.
• May assist with return-on-investment analyses as directed.
• Oversee, but does not directly supervise, Company sub-contractors for tree planting and vegetation management projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in forestry or a related field.
• This position requires a California Registered Professional Foresters license (RPF) and The California Pest Control Advisors (PCA) License or the ability to qualify for and take the RPF exam and obtain the PCA license within two (2) years of hire date.
• Must maintain a valid Driver’s License and be eligible to operate a company vehicle under company policy guidelines.
• Strong knowledge in the California Forest Practices and Department of Pesticide Regulation rules is required. 
• Ability to work without supervision and manage multiple projects in a timely manner.
• Must have good leadership and supervisory skills and the ability to maintain positive working relationships with Company groups, state agencies, and concerned citizen groups. 
• Project experience including planting, burning, pesticide use, and pre-commercial thinning and tree improvement technology.
• Knowledge of or proficiency with Geographic Information Systems, spreadsheets, and database software.

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 position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to traverse uneven, steep, and rugged terrain for extended distances, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to perform physical activities such as standing, bending, kneeling, climbing, and moving materials weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to safely operate or use hand tools, forestry equipment, and standard office equipment necessary to perform the essential functions of the position.
• Ability to work outdoors for extended periods and work additional hours as operational needs require.
• Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus, necessary for navigation, data collection, and safety awareness.
• Manual dexterity is required to operate forestry tools and equipment, including chainsaws, hand tools, and data collection devices.
• Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus, necessary for navigation, data collection, and safety awareness.
• Manual dexterity is required to operate forestry tools and equipment, including chainsaws, hand tools, and data collection devices.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work is performed primarily outdoors in adverse weather conditions, including exposure to heat, cold, rain, snow, and rugged or steep terrain.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but may be loud when operating chainsaws, vehicles, or other mechanical equipment.
• This position requires regular travel within a local area (typically within 100 miles) by truck or other vehicles.
• Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is required while in the field, including eye protection, hearing protection, safety footwear, leather or rubber gloves, sleeve protection, and a hard hat.

We are an equal opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment based on any, or a combination of, the following characteristics: race (including hair texture and styles), color, caste, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic conditions), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, reproductive health decision-making, age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran or military status, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other characteristic protected by state or federal anti-discrimination law covering employment.