Program Specialist 2 - GNA Timber Sale & Restoration Specialist
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- 25141522 Requisition #
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- Jul 07, 2025 Post Date
Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's mission is to help ensure that Montana's land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations.
The DNRC believes employees are their most important asset. The DNRC empowers employees to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. Employees are provided with the training and tools necessary to achieve the mission. Both team effort and individual employee expertise are supported and sustained.
Core Values:
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Forestry and Trust Land Division recognizes that building a collaborative, professional, and inclusive work environment is critical to fulfilling our mission of managing, protecting, and promoting stewardship of Montana’s forests and lands for the benefit of current and future generations and our trust beneficiaries. We hold ourselves to these high standards as we are accountable to the people of Montana.
- We value and respect each other.
- We create collaborative work environments.
- We build and maintain strong relationships.
- We practice accountability.
- We celebrate our successes and take pride in our work.
Work Unit Overview:
The Good Neighbor Authority Bureau (GNA Bureau) oversees the development and implementation of the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) Program for the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC). The purpose of the GNA Program is to increase the pace and scale of forest management and restoration on federal forest lands by adding capacity to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as authorized by GNA per the 2014 Farm Bill. This Bureau provides to the Areas and Units: program oversight, strategic development, and direction; policy interpretation and guidance; training; technical and fiscal support; and operations support as needed. This Bureau also serves as the principal contact with the statewide and regional offices of the BLM and USFS for purposes of statewide strategic development, policy interpretation and guidance, and training development for interagency personnel engaged with GNA.
Job Overview:
The overall purpose of the GNA Timber Sale & Restoration Specialist is to oversee the contracting and procurement processes conducted by the GNA Program and to ensure the GNA program meets State and Federal partner rules and regulations pertaining to the procurement of services and preparation of contracts. The position provides administrative and technical support to partnering contractors and GNA field staff responsible for drafting solicitations, service contracts. The Specialist ensures that contracts and solicitations for services are clear and concise documents, contracts and solicitations are professionally prepared, and that customers and/or contractors are treated fairly and consistently during the procurement and contract development process. The Specialist also ensures that clear policies, procedures and training are available to support GNA Program staff involved with preparation of service procurement and contract related documents.
The GNA Timber Sale & Restoration Specialist will work and collaborate with DNRC’s Contracting Officer, DNRC State Procurement Bureau staff, the GNA Program Manager, the GNA Bureau Chief and the GNA Financial Specialist to meet current and anticipated workloads supported by a variety of state and federal funding sources. The GNA Timber Sale & Restoration Specialist will also be responsible for providing leadership, technical and administrative support to GNA field staff in the advertisement, award and preparation of service contracts. The Specialist will also have duties associated with tracking and reporting data associated with planned, awarded and completed contracts.
Essential Functions (Major Duties or Responsibilities): These job functions are the essential duties of the position and are not all-inclusive of all the duties that may be assigned to the incumbent.
Program Management and Development:
- Strategically develop program goals and strategies required to successfully and consistently manage GNA contract development and procurement methods. Coordinate with the GNA Program Manager, GNA Bureau Chief and Business Specialist to solidify annual operating plans.
- Maintain tracking records and data related to planned, active and completed contracts and solicitations.
- Serves as GNA Bureau subject matter expert on state and applicable federal procurement policies and procedures.
- Works with appropriate federal and state personnel to ensures service projects are conducted in compliance with federal land management plans, NEPA requirements and the Good Neighbor Authority or other enabling authorities.
- Define business processes for program requirements to document and ensure efficient workflow and achievement of results.
- Develops Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistent and efficient business practices.
- Provides training and guidance regarding, contract development, procurement practices and procedures and contract enforcement. Ensures all policies and procedures are followed.
- Coordinates with other DNRC programs to identify cross boundary projects and determine the tools and processes to implement cross boundary projects.
Contract Development and Process Administration:
- Develop standard solicitation documents and contracts in accordance with DNRC procurement policies and procedures for common service work items performed by GNA Program to simply processes, increase efficiency, improve quality, and ensure consistency across the GNA program and DNRC Forestry Division.
- Ensure contractors documents are submitted and filed properly prior to award of contracts. Monitor status of contractor submitted documents such as insurance certificates, workmen’s compensation certificates, performance bonds, bid deposits while contracts are active and upon completion.
- Track status of projects through all phases of procurement, award, and contract completion.
- Monitor emerging needs and develop contract templates and solicitation for more complex projects and solicitations.
- Provide technical assistance, strategic input, and budgeting assistance to field staff preparing procurement and contract documents.
- Provide training and programmatic oversight to field staff and project partners.
- Share project objective statuses by developing a real-time dashboard of program accomplishments, expenditures, and activities by conducting research, determining feasibility, and making recommendations.
- Support GNA Business specialist in development of cost projections, monitoring project budgets, and development of financial strategies.
Stewardship of GNA Requisitions and Limited Solicitations, Invitation for Bids, and Request for Proposals:
- Shephard requisitions and limited solicitations through their respective processes.
- Coordinate with DNRC Contracting Officer and GNA Business Specialist to determine funding availability, ensure appropriate allocation of funds and confirm proper coding.
- Create and maintain a database for developing project cost projections by collecting data, conducting QA/QC on data, querying data from large databases, conducting data analysis (e.g., average cost per acre) and developing reports that enable timely provisions of data to leadership and the legislature.
- Provide advice and guidance to internal customers on procurement and contract administration options and approaches.
APPLICATION MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION ARE:
- Online State of Montana application
- Resume
- Cover Letter
HELPFUL HINT: You must check the “relevant document” box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application.
Benefits:
- Paid Vacation, Sick Leave and Holidays
- Health, Dental, Prescription, and Vision Coverage
- Retirement Plans
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) – Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF. Look here, https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service to learn more and see if you may qualify!
Required knowledge, skills, and abilities:
Requires experience in preparing contract documents and solicitation for contracted services; understanding of standard contract terms and conditions; understanding of procurement method and policies, fundamentals of contract administration; budgeting and fiscal system maintenance; and the department’s funding and accounting structure.
The position requires knowledge of public relations and communications; technical writing; business English, spelling and grammar; records management and state retention rules; the functions and operations of various office software applications (e.g., word processing, database, spreadsheet, presentation, etc.).
This position requires skill in researching, interpreting, and analyzing information obtained from manuals, written and verbal communications, and on-line resources. The ability to provide clear and concise written and verbal explanations of technical issues and procedures to Forestry Division program staff, agency partners, and service providers in an easily comprehensible manner is required. Competence in operating personal computers and business software applications such as Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word is required.
The position requires the ability to independently conduct research and analyze resulting facts; communicate effectively verbally and in writing; establish and maintain effective and positive working relationships; work independently within program goals and objectives; and to organize work.
The position also requires knowledge of DNRC and State Personnel and Procurement policies, procedures, precedents, organizational structures, employment law conflict resolution and program requirements.
SPECIAL INFORMATION:
Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. A valid driver's license is required with less than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months.
ELIGIBILITY TO WORK:
In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the person selected must produce within three days of hire documents that show authorization to work in the United States. Examples of such documentation include a birth certificate or Social Security card along with a driver’s license or other picture I.D., or a U.S. passport, or a "green card"
