Forester Resume Example and Template
A strong forester resume demonstrates field expertise in inventory, health assessment, and sustainable harvesting practices. Include GIS, remote sensing, and timber cruising skills, plus any experience with regeneration or pest management.
Forest Service agencies and timber companies look for field competency, safety compliance, and the ability to work in remote areas independently. They want fieldwork experience backed by formal forestry education.
A complete, realistic Forester resume, laid out in an ATS-tested template. The candidate is illustrative: the name, employers and figures were written for this example and identify no real person, so you can copy its structure and wording freely.
Updated September 2026
Also searched as
Forestry Manager, Forestry Technician
Derek Sorenson: Forester
Bend, Oregon, United States
Summary
Forester with 6 years of forest management experience across 50,000+ acres of mixed conifer stands. Proficient in timber cruising, growth modeling, and GIS inventory. Led reforestation efforts that established 12,000 seedlings on 8 acres of clearcut land; monitored growth achieving 87% survival rate after 3 years.
Work Experience
Forestry Manager, Cascade Timber Lands LLC
Mar 2022 – Present. Private timberland owner, 28,000 acres Central Oregon
- Managed all forest operations for 28,000 acres; developed cutting plans and harvest schedules
- Conducted timber cruises on 1,200 acres quarterly using DBH and height measurements
- Designed defensible space treatments reducing wildfire risk on 400 acres; collaborated with county fire
- Supervised contractor crews during 3 major thinning projects; kept operations 8% under budget
Forester, U.S. Forest Service Deschutes National Forest
May 2019 – Feb 2022. Federal agency, 1.8 million acre forest
- Completed inventory and health assessments on 5,000+ acres using GIS and field plot data
- Analyzed forest health and created treatment prescriptions for 8 fire-adapted management zones
- Coordinated with ecological teams to monitor 3 reforestation projects; achieved 91% stocking standards
- Presented findings to stakeholder meetings and local timber boards
Forestry Technician, Pacific Northwest Research Station
Jun 2018 – Apr 2019. USDA research unit, ecological forestry focus
- Established and measured 20 permanent plot locations for long-term growth studies
- Collected core samples and tree ring data from 150 trees across 6 stand types
- Entered and verified spatial data in ArcGIS; created stand maps for 2 research publications
- Assisted with prescribed burn preparation and monitoring
Education
Oregon State University
B.S., Forest Resources. Sep 2014 – May 2018
Skills
GIS and ArcMap, Timber cruising, Growth and yield modeling, Remote sensing, Harvest planning, Reforestation and regeneration, Pest management and disease identification, Wildfire risk assessment, Forest health monitoring, DBH and height measurement
Languages
English
Certificates and Awards
- Certified Forester, Society of American Foresters, 2021
- GIS Fundamentals Certificate, Esri, 2019
Why this look works
Forestry is a land-management profession where credibility and precision matter. Earth tones and structured layouts communicate environmental stewardship. Agencies and timber companies respond to clear, professional formatting that shows you respect both the work and the landscape.
Resume tips for this job
- Include acreage managed and specific forest types. Employers want to see scale: 5,000 acres of mixed conifer is different from 500 acres of pine plantation.
- Highlight GIS and remote sensing skills. Nearly every forestry job now requires some mapping and data analysis capability.
- Show your safety record and certifications. Federal and timber companies take OSHA compliance and hazard training seriously.
Common questions
Do I need a Certified Forester credential to work?
No, but it helps with promotion and credibility. SAF offers certification if you meet experience and education requirements. Many positions don't require it starting out, but it's worth pursuing if you plan to stay in the field.
What if my experience is mostly fieldwork without formal inventory?
Lead with what you have: thinning, planting, maintenance, harvest operations, safety training. Agencies hire experienced fieldworkers and train them on inventory methods. Don't oversell skills you're learning.