Watershed Forester

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enriches the environment and protects public health for all New Yorkers by providing 1.1 billion gallons of high quality drinking water managing wastewater and stormwater and reducing air noise and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country with nearly 6000 employees. DEPs water supply system is comprised of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes throughout the systems 2000 square mile watershed that extends 125 miles north and west of the City.

The Bureau of Water Supply seeks to hire a City Planner III for a position with the Forestry Program Natural Resources Division Source Water Protection Directorate located in Carmel New York. The Forestry Program oversees DEPs Cityowned watershed lands and is tasked with protecting conserving and enhancing the water quality protection afforded by watershed forests. Forest management work is based on a Watershed Forest Management Plan that documents the extent and characteristics of the Citys forested landholdings and creates goals for the desired state of the forest over the long term to best protect water quality. The Forestry Program also oversees forest management activities on Cityheld conservation easements within the
watershed.

Under direction of the EastofHudson Regional Forester with latitude for independent initiative and judgement the City Planner III will serve as Watershed Forester and will be responsible for designing planning coordinating and directing the implementation of holistic forest restoration projects and contracts including multiple components (such as invasive species control planting forest vegetation commercial timber harvesting forest stand improvement thinning operations and deer exclusion) in compliance with the goals milestones and requirements of the Citys Filtration Avoidance Determination the 1997 NYC Watershed Memorandum of Agreement and the Citys 2010 Water Supply Permit. Specific duties include:


Designing and developing forest project plans that manage forest vegetation in a manner consistent with the NYC Watershed Forest Management Plan.

Assisting in programmatic review and development of updates to the NYC Watershed Forest Management Plan consistent with the goals milestones and requirements of the Citys Filtration Avoidance Determination.

Performing forest planning work including designing and implementing forest inventory data collection and other forest assessments as needed analyzing interpreting and summarizing data and information from multiple sources for presentation to management and the public incorporating feedback and finalizing plans.

Designing and managing effective forest management projects that implement approved forest plans through a variety of mechanisms including contracts use of DEP staff intergovernmental agreements and any other appropriate manner that returns maximum value to the City.

Coordinating implementation of forest management projects including overseeing contractor performance for adherence to approved forest plans quality of work waterprotection goals and health and safety compliance.

Shepherding complicated regulatory submissions and reviews through both internal and external processes to ensure appropriate compliance and timely delivery of project plans.

Reviewing and processing invoices contractor approvals and vendor insurance for Cityfunded contracts.

Preparing and submitting written reports annual reports and evaluation reports pursuant to specific deliverables and requirements of the Filtration Avoidance Determination.

Communicating and collaborating with local watershed stakeholders program partners and federal/State agencies to support program goals.

Supporting other programs within the Directorate and Bureau on projects that require forest and tree knowledge and expertise including reviewing construction projects for tree and forestrelated impacts and assisting with ecological research studies on Cityowned land.

Representing the Program to advisory boards coalitions associations public meetings workshops or tour groups. Some of these commitments may require occasional evening or weekend work.


(This is a brief description of what you might do in this position and does not include all the duties of this position.




Preferred Skills:

A degree from an accredited college or university in Forestry or closely related subject

Drivers license valid in the State of New York

Ability to travel to meetings work facilities and field locations utilizing a New York City vehicle

Knowledge and proficient use of Microsoft Office products such as Outlook Word Excel and PowerPoint

Knowledge and proficient use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Strong computer skills

Experience in preparing and implementing silvicultural prescriptions preferably in Northeastern forests.

Experience in timber harvest layout and administration including use of forestry Best Management Practices.

Experience interacting with loggers consultants regulators town boards landowners abutters and other parties potentially involved with timber harvests.

Experience with GPS software hardware data collection and processing. Experience with ESRI (Environmental Systems Research Institute) ArcGIS software.

Knowledge of forest ecology invasive species biology and control dendrology forest types stand dynamics and silviculture of northeastern forests; forest inventory data collection and processing; Best Management Practices to protect water quality; and environmental health and safety practices in forestry operations.

Ability to navigate effectively in the woods and to work alone outdoors in rough terrain during harsh weather conditions sometimes with limited means of communication.

Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written expression; to prepare and use charts graphs and tables; to communicate technical forestry concepts effectively to
groups including lay audiences; to work independently; to maintain accurate records; to use independent judgment to make decisions; and to act quickly in emergency situations.


Hours/Shift:

35 Hours per week / May be required to work shifts including nights Saturdays Sundays and holidays.



Work Location:

1286 US 6

Carmel NY 10512

Carmel is a town in Putnam County New York approximately 60 miles north of New York City.

CITY PLANNER 22122

Qualifications :

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and two years of satisfactory fulltime experience in city planning; or

2. A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience that is equivalent to 1 above. Graduate
education in city planning urban planning urban design architecture landscape architecture transportation engineering public administration economic development or related fields may be substituted for experience on the basis of 30 graduate semester credits from an accredited college for one year of experience. However all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree.

Special Qualification Requirements

Assignment Level III
To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level III individuals must have after meeting the minimum requirements one additional year of professional experience as described in 2 above.

Assignment Level IV
To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level IV individuals must have after meeting the minimum requirements two additional years of professional experience as described in 2 above.

Additional Information :

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic including but not limited to an individuals sex race color ethnicity national origin age religion disability sexual orientation veteran status gender identity or pregnancy.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Fulltime