Employment Opportunities

This page contains information about careers and employment opportunities within the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF), current job openings, anticipated job openings, how and where to apply and other information about the positions and the functions of the division.

The mission of the Division of Forestry is “to develop, implement, and promote public forestry programs and policies that protect, conserve, manage, and efficiently utilize the forest resources of Tennessee”. The Division pursues this mission by providing professional, timely, up-to-date, science-based technical and financial assistance to forest landowners, communities, non-government organizations, forest industry, and others with an interest in the conservation of Tennessee’s forests. The Division promotes the wise use of forest resources by helping landowners, fighting wildfires, providing quality seedlings, monitoring insects and diseases, improving urban forests, managing state forests, protecting water quality and collecting forest inventory data.

The division employs more than 350 people that work across the state and are found in all 95 Tennessee counties. We seek to recruit highly qualified professional, technical, and administrative personnel. We offer challenging work, training opportunities, attractive employee benefits and a pay for performance compensation plan.

Full-time permanent employees receive the following benefits

• Opportunities for employment across Tennessee or the headquarters in Nashville.
• State benefits including retirement, paid leave, health insurance and life insurance.
• Training opportunities.
• Outdoor working environment.
• Opportunities to assist wildfire suppression and management efforts on wildfires out West.
• Opportunities for advancement within the agency. 

Job Classification Summaries

Forester - State – Director of the Division of Forestry.

Forester - Assistant State – Responsible for the administration of several units.

Administrative Assistant – Provides administrative support to Districts, Units, or provides specialized subject matter expertise.

Secretary – Provides clerical and administrative support in general.

Forestry Management Administrator (Unit Leaders) – Foresters responsible for an administrative unit within the division.

Forestry Program Specialist – Foresters responsible for designated program areas within a unit or district.

Real Property Agent – Manages real and lease property acquisition, disposal, easements, encroachment, boundary line disputes and real property coordinator of capital construction/demolition projects.

Forestry District Manager – Forester responsible for the administration of all operations within a geographic area.

Forester 3 (Area Forester) – Forester responsible for landowner assistance and personnel administration within a 2-5 county area.

Forester 2 or 3 (State Forest) – Responsible for the management of state forest lands.

Forester 1 or 2 (FIA Forester) – Responsible for gathering statewide USFS Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data.

Forestry Technician – Primary crew leader for fire prevention and suppression and for the implementation of other program duties and projects.

Forestry Aides (1 or 2)  – Primary responsibility for fire suppression and heavy equipment operation. Other duties include implementation of program duties and projects.

Contacts

Tammy Lawrence
Human Resources Analyst 3
(615) 837-5167
Tammy.Lawrence@tn.gov

Heather Slayton
Assistant State Forester
615-837-5432
Heather.Slayton@tn.gov