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Hiring for Forester 2 Position
Position: Forester 2
Location: Missoula, MT
About Us: Montana Forest Consultants (MFC) is Montana’s largest forestry consulting firm, specializing in practical, science-driven forest management across private, state, federal, and local government lands. We are a small company growing with the demand for forest management solutions across Montana. Our team works on a wide range of projects—from reforestation and wildfire recovery, inventory, forest management planning, harvest and thinning layout, prescribed fire, project administration and supervision, and beyond. We are committed to responsible resource management, landowner service, and building resilient working forests.
We are adding a Forester 2 to our Montana Forest Consultants team. This is a professional-level forester role for an individual with at least 10 years of forestry experience, and proven success overseeing complex projects, budgets, and mentoring and supervising foresters and/or technicians. This role ensures the smooth administration of projects and fosters a positive and productive working environment. This position will report directly to the MFC COO.
Key Responsibilities and Duties
Project Management & Administration
Independently plan and execute forest management projects of all sizes and complexity. Oversee forestry activities, including fuels reduction, timber cruising, project layout, timber harvests, development of silvicultural prescriptions, reforestation, and prescribed fire, plus project admin including budgets, scheduling, and bidding/proposal creation.
Manage subcontractors and MFC staff in delivering project outcomes on time, within budget, and to prescription.
Ensure technical accuracy, data quality, and timely completion of all project deliverables.
Coordinate and sustain relationships with clients, contractors, and partners to align project objectives and outcomes.
Create and approve project reports, maps, and GIS data.
Technical Forestry
Participate in and lead field work, especially for complex and/or high-value projects.
Develop forest management plans, NEPA support documentation, and silvicultural prescriptions, and mentor other team members in building these skills.
Provide technical and field oversight for inventory, stand modeling, and data analysis.
Leadership & Supervision
Mentor and manage Forester 1 and Technician-level colleagues.
Schedule and assign project workloads, field work, and reporting responsibilities for projects you lead.
Offer staff training, safety meetings, and learning experiences on a regular basis for the MFC Operations Team.
Foster a positive, accountable, and safety-oriented work culture.
Represent the company professionally with clients, agencies, and the public.
Qualifications
Required
Minimum of 10 years experience in forestry.
Experience delivering complex forestry projects across multiple ownerships (e.g. private land, DNRC, USFS, NRCS, BLM), including coordinating and directing multiple resources to complete project objectives and ability to deliver multiple projects simultaneously.
At least 5 years experience managing logging or forestry contractors.
Applied knowledge of western U.S. silviculture, harvest systems, and forest operations, including Montana BMPs.
Experience writing and managing large-scale, long-term contracts.
Proficiency in standard forestry tools, GPS/GIS systems, and data collection software.
Prior experience supervising forester or technician-level staff.
B.S. or equivalent in work/education in forestry, forest management, or a closely related field.
Ability to maintain a valid U.S. driver’s license.
Comfort operating and performing basic maintenance on ATVs, UTVs, and snowmobiles.
Demonstrated ability to adapt and apply knowledge in a dynamic work environment.
Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Flexible schedule for changing work dynamics, ability to travel across Montana for short to moderate periods of time, sometimes overnight.
Ability to spend long periods of time (up to 80%) on your feet traveling through challenging terrain and working in varying weather conditions. Ability to lift or carry up to 70 pounds.
Preferred
SAF Certified forester.
NRCS Technical Service Provider (TSP) credentials.
Knowledge of wildfire, reforestation, carbon protocols, and other forestry-related fields.
Compensation and Benefits
Annual salary range $65-$75k
IRA retirement plan with company match
ICHRA Healthcare reimbursement plan
Vehicle or mileage reimbursement for field work
Paid time off, holidays, and flexible scheduling during field season
Professional development support (training, conferences, SAF membership)
Opportunity for advancement within a growing Montana forestry firm