Job Summary

To provide technical, supervisory, and administrative support to the Land Commissioner.

 

Supervision Received

Employees working in this job class work under general direction and are usually in charge of an organizational unit. They plan and carry out assignments with considerable independence, and have some latitude in developing procedures and methods. They report to a superior by occasional conferences to discuss work progress or problems requiring upper advisement.

 

Supervision Exercised

Manages Foresters, a Senior Forester, Land Survey Technicians, plus seasonal equipment operators. Also co-supervises a Forester/Parks Technician and clerical support staff.
 

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; addressing complaints; training and rewarding employees. Responsibilities also include, in collaboration with the Human Resources Department, interviewing, hiring, implementing performance improvement plans, disciplining employees, and resolving grievances.

Essential Functions

This position description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other essential and nonessential functions as assigned or apparent to meet the ongoing needs of the department and organization. Regular attendance is an essential requirement of this position.

 

1. Supervises forest management on County lands. Prepares, coordinates and supervises the implementation of forest management and timber harvest plans. Reviews timber appraisals and permits. Verifies that records and timber harvest (drain) reports are accurate. Integrates knowledge of laws, ordinances, and regulations related to department functions. Oversees third-party forest certification programs and audits (e.g. FSC®). Assist the Land Commissioner in or, in the absence of the Land Commissioner, perform administrative functions such as budgeting, policy development, approval of contracts, prioritizing projects and workload, etc.
2. Plans, supervises and monitors forest development, and other projects on County lands. Prepares contracts, ensures accurate records of costs, project reports, park records and projects. Implements innovative, critical and analytical thinking as it relates to department policy, procedure and problem solving. Uses working understanding of land survey and associated tools, instruments and techniques, and knowledge to interpret detailed real estate descriptions. Assists the Land Commissioner in overseeing and supervising the County Geographic Information System (GIS) program and the County land survey remonumentation program and Geographic Positioning System (GPS).
3. Effectively promotes and educates the public and others on the policies and management through field tours, public and committee presentations through written, graphic and interpersonal communication.
4. Supervises and performs field work necessary to accomplish department activities and goals. Timber management setup and supervision, forest development project, land sale review and appraisal, recreation projects.
5. Supervises employees, evaluates performance, provides training and continuing education direction. Oversees safety training and OSHA standards for the department.
6. Provides public relations, office administration, and customer assistance. Ability to use good judgment, integrity and tact when dealing with the public, other employees or other agencies.
7. Represents the County and Land department on County and Regional committees related to Natural Resource Management. Safety Committee, MHB, Water Planning Task Force, TEP panel etc. Interacts with agencies and departments during discussions and decision making.
8. Adheres to collective bargaining agreements, county policies and procedures, and applicable laws, including timely/accurate reporting and consistent/uniform administration of EEO, FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Workers’ Compensation and Return to Work programs, in close collaboration with the Human Resources Department. Completes departmental new hire orientations promptly and staff performance appraisals in accordance with county policy.
9. Conducts business in accordance with the Open Meeting law.
10. Appropriately responds to requests for government data in absence of the Land Commissioner. Maintains department data in accordance with records retention schedules.
11. Assists in coordinating annual emergency practice drills in department.
12. Attend conferences and continuing education courses as needed.

 

• Performs other related duties as assigned or apparent.

 

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university in Natural Resources Management, Forestry, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the position. Prior supervisory experience preferred.

 

Experience in logging equipment, heavy equipment and trailers beneficial.

 

Valid Minnesota driver’s license required. Employment reference checks and a criminal background check will be performed as part of the pre-employment process.

 

Must be willing to work flexible hours when required, including occasional evenings for meetings and rare weekends for training and other events.

 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

 

Knowledge of:

1. County and departmental policies, procedures, and practices.
2. Federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations relevant to the work performed in this position, including those related to department functions such as PILT, Con-Con, Timber Ownership, Tax-Forfieted lands, Contract for Deeds, Recording Laws, Real-estate laws, etc.
3. Forest Techniques, methods and tools required to accomplish department workload and objectives in an efficient and safe manner such as silviculture, forest mensuration, statistics, and basic accounting.
4. Computer knowledge and experience sufficient to proficiently operate computer software used by the department including but not limited to Forest Programs, GIS, MS Office and publishing software.
5. Working knowledge and understanding of rectangle land survey and associated tools, instruments and techniques as they relate to the remonumentation of the PLS corners. Interpretation of county boundaries.
6. Working knowledge and understanding of detailed real estate descriptions for land sales, property descriptions, contract for deeds, etc.
7. Knowledge of and experience with third-party forest certification programs and audits (e.g. FSC®)

 

Skill in:

1. Written and oral communication skills sufficient to communicate the policies and procedures of the department to County Board, subordinates, contractors, other agencies, customers and the public.
2. Typing skill sufficient to complete 30 net words per minute without errors.
3. Preparing and making presentations to groups.
4. Reading, writing, and speaking English proficiently. Includes writing departmental policies and procedures and precise memos to Boards, Committees, and other organizations.
5. Effectively organizing and prioritizing workload.
6. Supervisory skills and experience overseeing highly specialized personnel and technical staff.
7. Innovative, critical and analytical thinking as it relates to department policy, procedure and problem solving.

 

Ability to:

1. Present a positive attitude in the workplace, promote a spirit of teamwork and cooperation, and be able to treat co-workers, supervisors, and subordinates with respect, honesty, and consideration.
2. Maintain confidentiality.
3. Use good judgment, integrity, and tact when dealing with the public or other agencies.
4. Travel and work in excess of standard hours when necessary.

 

Language Skills

Very High Skills – Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or governing boards.

 

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.

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and

fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. Ability to apply advanced mathematical concepts such as exponents, logarithms, quadratic equations, and permutations. Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory, and factor analysis.

 

Reasoning Skills

Very High Skills - Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

 

Computer Skills

County Payroll Software, E-time, Webfusion, Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Publisher, Access, PowerPoint, Inventory Management Software: TAppr (access integration with GIS), RTVision reservation Program, GIS, Arc Map, Arc View, GPS (Terra Sync) and other job-related software.

 

Ability to Travel

Occasional travel required for trainings and meetings in and out of Aitkin County.

 

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should consistently demonstrate the following competencies (definitions attached or available upon request):

 

Ethics, attendance/punctuality, safety and security, dependability, analytical, design, problem solving, project management, technical skills, customer service, interpersonal skills, oral communication, written communication, teamwork, change management, delegation, leadership, managing people, quality management, business acumen, cost consciousness, diversity, organizational support, judgment, motivation, planning/organizing, professionalism, quality, quantity, adaptability, initiative, strategic thinking, visionary leadership, and innovation.

 

 

Work Environment

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

 

Job has a large range in the defined work environment from office hazards, to field work (e.g., lymes disease area), to working with heavy equipment operators (graders, and loggers), etc.

 

Equipment and Tools

Computer, copier, fax, telephone, printer, shredder, power tools, hand tools, surveying equipment, laser levels, construction calculators, measuring and metering devices, specific forest related tools such as prisms, clinometer, Biltmore sticks, statistical charts specific to forestry (i.e. stocking tables), county-owned vehicles, and personal vehicle (requires proof of insurance on file).

 

Physical Activities/Requirements

Climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, use of fingers, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions. Must have the ability to lift and/or carry up to 50 pounds.

 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee performs medium work, exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

 

The position requires working in an office setting the majority of the time. Approximately 10% of the time on average is spent working outdoors in a variety of weather conditions and may require walking long distances in difficult terrain. Seldom exposed to chemicals and annoying and hazardous insects.

 

Working safely is a condition of employment. Aitkin County is a drug-free workplace.

 

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by employees assigned to this job classification. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. Aitkin County reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs as necessary. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee.

 

Reasonable Accommodation Notice

The County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

 

05/13/2014

Our Vision: We strive to be a county of safe, vibrant communities that place value on good stewardship of local resources.

Our Mission: Aitkin County’s mission is to provide outstanding service in a fiscally responsible manner through innovation and collaboration with respect for all.

Our Core Values: Collaboration, Innovation, Integrity, People-Focused, Professionalism