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Sawmill Timber Production Coordinator

If you’ve worked as a Timber Production Team member, know every job they do and are ready for the challenges of a leadership role, you’re ready to be a timber production coordinator.

You’ll lead your team and be responsible for producing your quota of the day’s output and also make a difference because you’ll be producing one of the world’s most environmentally friendly building materials – sustainably sourced timber.

As you gain skills you could advance to a Timber Production Manager.

Role:

As a timber production coordinator you could do a wide range of tasks including:

Managing people
Problem solving
Training your team
Timber grading and selection

Responsibilities:

The job responsibilities vary according to the role, however working safely and following appropriate OH&S practices is essential.

Ideal attributes:

You’ll enjoy leadership in a team environment, be a good communicator, be interested in the timber you are producing and understand the value of the product you are handling.

You won’t mind shift work and will always put your safety and that of your workmates first.

Qualifications:

You will have experience in working in a mill environment and have Certificate IV or higher qualifications.

Employers in the forest and wood products industry are very supportive of ongoing training and skills development.

Employers:

Employers include:

Hardwood and softwood sawmills and processors

Botanist

As a Botanist in the forest and wood products sector, you’ll not only have highly sought-after skills, but you’ll be working in reforestation and maintenance of habitat and species diversity. You could also be involved in developing and growing trees for optimum timber production.

Role:

Roles will vary according to the position, however your working day could include:

Investigating the impact of environmental factors on plant growth
Assessing the affect of environmental and genetic variables
Determining patterns of species evolution using biochemical and molecular techniques
Studying tree chromosomes, cells and tissues
Preparing scientific and management reports and papers
Supervising and coordinate the work of technical support staff

Ideal attributes:

Relevant experience, plus good analysis and problem solving, good written and verbal communication skills, able to accept responsibility and ability to work autonomously or as part of a team.

A high level of understanding and commitment to occupational health and safety is essential.

Qualifications:

A graduate or postgraduate degree in botany, plant sciences or the equivalent.

Employers in the forest and wood products industry are very supportive of ongoing training and skills development.

Employers:

Potential employers include:

Forestry companies
Research organisations
Universities
Government

Forester

You’ll find professional Foresters working everywhere from boardrooms to the bush, in areas ranging from conservation to production, and at local to global scales.

Role:

Employment prospects for graduate Foresters are excellent. As a graduate you’ll have opportunities to move into a range of roles – and switch between them.

Forestry can be many careers in one!

Ideal attributes:

As there are so many potential areas to work in there are a lot of potential attributes!

Forestry is science based, so scientific aptitude is a given. Foresters tend to be passionate about their work, keen to promote a naturally sustainable industry and maintaining our natural environment.

Check out the case studies for more information.

Qualifications:

There are many rewarding undergraduate and postgraduate degrees to choose from.

Undergraduate Courses include:

Australian National University

Southern Cross University

Postgraduate Courses include:

National Forestry Masters Program

Australian National University

Southern Cross University

Masters of Forest Science and Management

Melbourne University

Master of Forest Ecosystem Science

University of Queensland

Doctor of Science in Forestry

University of Tasmania

There are also a number of scholarships available for both Undergraduate and Graduate courses.

Employers:

Potential employers include:

State or territory forestry or national parks agencies
Federal and State governments
Private forestry or resource companies
Community and conservation groups
Universities and research organisations such as the CSIRO
Corporations and investors seeking advice about assessing risks and managing opportunities
International organisations such as the World Conservation Union, the World Bank and the Centre for International Forestry Research.

More Information:

http://www.forestry.org.au/masters/

Harvesting Supervisor

If you like working in the bush, leading a team operating a range of high-tech machines, you’ll enjoy being a Harvesting Supervisor.

You will have worked with all of the equipment yourself – and still operate one day-to-day. However, you’ll also be responsible for your team working safely, following environmental guidelines and maintaining their equipment.

You’ll ensure they produce quality logs, safely and efficiently – and you’ll earn the title of ‘Bush Boss”.

Role:

As a Harvesting Supervisor you’ll find a wide range of roles including:

Operating harvesting equipment
Operating chainsaws and other machinery
Grading sawlogs
Workingyour team to ensure the right outputs.

Responsibilities:

The job responsibilities vary according to the role, however working safely and following appropriate OH&S practices is essential.

Ideal attributes:

You’ll enjoy the challenges of leadership, like working outdoors in the bush and with machinery, be mechanically literate and understand environmental best practices and the value of the product you are handling.

Qualifications:

Typically a Harvesting Supervisor requires certificate III qualification, although some jobs may require Certificate IV or higher.

Employers in the forest and wood products industry are very supportive of ongoing training and skills development.

Employers:

Employers include:

Hardwood and softwood harvesting contractors

Transport and Logistics

As the Transport and Logistics Coordinator in the forest and wood products industry, you will be working with high-end technology and be able to innovate to solve problems.

Role:

Roles may vary between mills to manufacturing plants to forests, but may include the following:

Manage all import/export operations
Manage all trucking operations
Responsible for safety in the workplace and all adherence to regulation
Customer service
Shipping documentation and on time delivery
Warehousing where required
Meeting all business objectives
Managing budgets, timelines and staff
Reporting as required

Responsibilities:

This role is responsible for getting the product to the customer in the agreed timeframe whilst keeping the safety of workers top of mind.

Ideal attributes:

Experience in running logistics and transport operations is a must along with attention to detail, excellent communication skills and a ‘can-do’ attitude.

Qualifications:

Tertiary qualifications in transport, logistics or supply chain management.

Employers:

Roles will be across the industry from forests, to mills, to manufacturing plants to wholesales and product retailers; anywhere they sell wood products.

Education and Training Manager

As the Education and Training Manager in the forest and wood products industry you will be responsible for conducting training needs analysis, design and develop programs, ensure delivery and assessment and lead continuous improvement programs.

Role:

Tasks would vary upon the type of organisation but may include:

Conducting education needs analysis
Designing and developing programs
Deliver management, induction, communications and other training as required
Develop training material for all delivery modes including online
Lead other trainers and/or train the trainers
Manager consultants
Ensure processes and policies are followed
Conduct course evaluations
Report to management
Identify opportunities
Liaise with all stakeholders inside and outside the organisation
Manage any educational organisation reporting requirements specific to that organisation

Responsibilities:

The Education and Training Manager will be responsible for ensuring that all staff are operating at the appropriate and safe level and all training requirements are being fulfilled.

Ideal attributes:

You will have:

Strong skills in development, facilitation, presentation and the evaluation of education and training programs
Experience in identifying training needs and analysing gaps
Strong research and analytical skills
Good understanding of the forest and wood products industry
Strong time management and task prioritising skills
High level written, oral communication and computer skills
Ability to work unsupervised and within a team environment
Ability to work flexible hours and travel

Qualifications:

Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training or TAA04 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment plus experience.

Employers:

All organisations require a training and education specialist due to the high-level of on-the-job training.

Maintenance Fitter

As a Maintenance Fitter and Turner in the forest and wood products sector, you could be applying your trade skills and experience to equipment which process one of the world’s most environmentally friendly building materials – sustainably sourced timber.

Role:

Roles will vary according to the position, however your working day could include:

Preventative maintenance
Fault finding and repair
Testing and diagnosis
Using lathes, mills etc.
Ordering parts
Maintaining a parts inventory
Keeping maintenance reports and related documentation
Liaising with plant operators and supervisors.

Ideal attributes:

Relevant technical experience, plus good attention to detail, literacy and numeracy, problem solving skills and ability to work autonomously or as part of a team.

A high level of understanding and commitment to occupational health and safety is essential.

Qualifications:

Trade qualifications as fitter and turner (recognised by the Australia qualifications framework).

Experience in maintenance roles in processing plants will be an advantage.

Employers in the forest and wood products industry are very supportive of ongoing training and skills development.

Employers:

Potential employers include:

Saw mills and wood processors
Timber product manufacturers.

Mechanic

As a Diesel Mechanic in the forest and wood products sector, you could be applying your trade skills and experience working with large mobile and stationery equipment such as skidders, dozers, feller bunchers, chippers, mechanical harvesters, trucks, trailers, generators, excavators and loaders.

Role:

Roles will vary according to the position, however your working day could include:

Preventative maintenance
Fault finding and repair
Testing and diagnosis
Ordering parts
Maintaining a parts inventory
Keeping maintenance reports and related documentation
Liaising with plant operators and supervisors.

Ideal attributes:

Relevant technical experience, plus good attention to detail, literacy and numeracy, problem solving skills and ability to work autonomously or as part of a team.

A high level of understanding and commitment to occupational health and safety is essential.

Qualifications:

Trade qualifications as a diesel mechanic (recognised by the Australia qualifications framework).

Experience in maintenance roles in heavy equipment will be an advantage.

Employers in the forest and wood products industry are very supportive of ongoing training and skills development.

Employers:

Potential employers include:

Harvest and haulage contractors
Saw mills and wood processors
Timber product manufacturers

Electrician

As an Industrial Electrician in the forest and wood products sector, you could be applying your trade skills and experience to a wide range of maintenance and installation situations in timber mills, processing plants and wholesale and retail timber yards.

Role:

Roles will vary according to the position, however your working day could include:

Preventative maintenance
Fault finding and root cause analysis
Liaising with the maintenance department
Training plant operators
Providing technical support
Installation of new plant

Ideal attributes:

Relevant technical experience, plus good attention to detail, literacy and numeracy, problem solving skills and a high level of understanding and commitment to occupational health and safety.

Qualifications:

Trade qualifications as an electrician (recognised by the Australia qualifications framework).

Experience in a continuous process manufacturing environment may be an advantage.

Employers in the forest and wood products industry are very supportive of ongoing training and skills development.

Employers:

Potential employers include timber processing plants and merchandising outlets.

Ecologist

As a Forest Ecologist you’ll be a qualified scientist dedicated to sound ecologic science and ecosystems management, working with the environmental factors affecting forests. These include the relationships between plants, animals, microrganisms and their environment.

Your professional knowledge and administration skills will help manage the forest to preserve both its environmental and economic values.

Role:

Roles will vary according to the position, but may include:

Study design
Collection and interpretation of data
Preparation of reports and recommendations
Liaising and working with landowners and other stakeholders
Team management

Ideal attributes:

You’ll be interested in science and the environment, working indoors and out, enjoy applying theory to practice and able to clearly communicate scientific information and its implications to non-scientists in both verbal and written forms.

Qualifications:

Forest ecologists typically have a degree in biology or ecology and relevant experience.

Employers in the forest and wood products industry are very supportive of ongoing training and skills development.

Employers:

Employers include:

Forest managers
Government organisations
Academic institutions
Environmental organisations

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