Josephine County, Oregon

Human Resources Office Josephine County Courthouse 500 NW 6 th Street Dept 11 / Grants Pass OR 97526 (541) 474-5217 / FAX (541) 474-5218 / TTY (800) 735-2900

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Project Specialist II Department: Forestry FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Job Code: 52 WC Code: 8601 Effective Date: Last Revised: Pay Grade: A09 Union: AFSCME

SUMMARY Performs a variety of silvicultural and timber harvest pre-sale tasks in connection with resource objectives on the County’s forestland.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES An employee in this classification is responsible for assisting the Project Foreman and/or Forestry employees of a higher classification with necessary tasks regarding silvicultural or timber harvest presale work as pertaining to crew productivity and the use of proper techniques for work in a safe manner. Work is performed under the general supervision of the forestry Project Foreman and/or employees of a higher classification. In the absence of the Project Foreman, the Specialist II will be lead worker of Forestry Program Specialist I(s) and seasonal field staff, ranging from one to four employees. Position is to be expected to provide leadership on average of twice a week for majority of work day but may vary as schedules fluctuate.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (Illustrative only. Any single position of a class will not necessarily involve all of the duties listed, and many positions will involve duties which are not listed.)

1. Perform duties using hoedads, or augers to plant tree seedlings to specified standards and production.

2. Performs site preparation duties (i.e. stack and burn debris piles, hack and squirt hardwoods).

3. Able to use to clear trees and brush from designated areas, survey lines and/or roads. Able to select and cut out, with a , undesirable vegetation from a stand of sapling size trees and leave desirable trees to a preferred spacing (pre-commercial thinning).

4. Performs back pack spraying duties on uneven terrain.

5. Safely perform all duties with proper techniques and procedures that have been covered by the Forestry Project Foreman. Wear Personal Protective Equipment necessary for the job duty. 6. Assists the Project Foreman in the training of subordinate employees in the use of forestry necessary to perform silvicultural activities, including but not limited to, , site preparation, pre-commercial thinning and backpack spraying.

7. In the absence of the Project Foreman this position is responsible for carrying out all crew functions as it pertains to the duties of the Project Foreman; including but not limited to production record keeping, weather records, maintaining crew productivity levels, notifying crew of breaks/lunch and perform corrective measures to crew members that are working in unsafe manner.

8. Assists the Project Foreman in designating stream and resource protection buffers as required under the Oregon Forest Practices Act.

9. Assist the Project Foreman in conducting property line surveys with a hand and designating unit boundaries for silvicultural projects. Must accurately use forestry tools such as compass, string box, and range finder.

10. Performs reading and aerial photo interpretation for project locations and to calculate production acres.

11. Assist Project Foreman and/or Forestry employees of higher classification to work in timber sale (presale) layout, contract administration and timber sale close-out activities. Work includes marking trees for harvest, determining new road centerline location, timber cruising/scaling, and assisting in reviewing areas that were harvested for contract compliance.

12. Assist the Project Foreman in salvage , including falling and bucking timber, choker setting, fire watch, equipment servicing, and operation.

13. Assist Project Foreman in ensuring that the crew is outfitted with the proper PPE’s and safety equipment before a job begins. During work activities, the position will assist the Project Foreman in monitoring the crew for following safety procedures and techniques.

14. Assist the Project Foreman with examining equipment for wear and replacement. Ensure that equipment is being used in a safe and non-abusive manner. Keep crew equipment and tools clean, serviced and sharpened for the next days use.

15. Performs emergency services (i.e. fire suppression, flood relief, search and rescue).

16. Performs various other forest related activities as required by Josephine County Forestry Program.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES In the absence of the Project Foreman, the Specialist II will be lead worker of Forestry Program Specialist I(s) and seasonal field staff, ranging from one to four employees.

QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Considerable knowledge of the correct and accurate use of forestry tools and equipment; crew dynamics, functioning, and operation and the use of proper safety equipment and techniques; map use and interpretation; silvicultural prescriptions as pertaining to tree planting, site preparation, precommercial thinning, backpack spraying, marking timber and cruising timber. Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, verbal or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several different objectives while maintaining a safe work environment with minimum production standards. Must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE 6 months of previous employment at the Forestry Project Specialist I classification, or any satisfactory combination of experience and training which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the above description.

JOB IMPACT The consequences of errors would result in financial loss and possible litigation to the County due to errors in trespassing, inappropriate safety considerations, and/or lack of following County, Department, and Program protocols. Problems encountered revolve around assisting and providing leadership for forestry crews. The use of forestry tools on uneven, loose terrain can resort in additional safety concerns.

JOB CONTACTS Occasional contacts are made with the general public, most notably with adjacent property owners.

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.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITIES Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES Requires mechanical ability to operate basic and advanced machinery and knowledge and skill in using simple hand tools. These tools include but are not limited to , , shovels, hoedads, hazel hoes, chainsaws, chainsaw augers, gas powered trimmers, brushcutters, and all terrain vehicles. Possess working knowledge of sound safety practices for tools, machinery, materials, and methods used in forestry

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Oregon Driver’s license; safe driving record, and First Aid Certification and or any other certification that may be required.

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 use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, rarely lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT Work is performed in the field and requires working in all types of weather conditions and various types of terrain and situations including steep slopes, rocky and moderate to heavily vegetated areas. Walking and carrying equipment and/or supplies are required. Due to the demanding nature of the job, individual must be in good physical condition and able to work for long hours in hot, cold, or wet conditions. Individual will be exposed to poison oak, ticks and stinging insects.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION May be subject to background check depending on position assignment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Check if Activity Never 0% Occasionally Frequently Continuous required for 1-33% 34-66% 67-100% essential job function Standing Sitting - 1/2 hour plus Moving about work area Bending forward Stoop position - 1 minute plus stairs - 1 floor Crawling - hands & knees Reaching overhead Lifting strength # of pounds = 50lbs Lifting Patient Lifting Lifting Overhead Moving carts, etc. Carry items Dexterity/Coordination Keyboard Operation Rapid-mental/hand/ eye coord. Operation of motor vehicle Speech, Vision & Hearing Distinguish colors Yes: No: Distinguish shades Yes: No: Depth perception Describe: Ability to hear Normal Speech Level: Other Spec. Hearing Req. Describe: Exposure - Environmental Factors Heat Cold Humidity Wet Area/Slippery Noise Dust Smoke Vibration Chemical Solutions Uneven Area /Scaffold Ionization Radiation Body Fluids