Road Engineer​/Forester

Job Summary

Freres Engineered Wood seeks a full‑time Road Engineer Forester who reports to the Timber Manager. The role focuses on building and maintaining forest roads on federal, state, and private timberlands and manages projects and contractors.

• Work 80% in the field and 20% in the office.
• Apply sustainable forest management practices with an emphasis on road engineering—including road design, project layout, construction management, mapping, road inventory, harvest layout, and harvest administration.
• Manage road construction and maintenance operations on company timber sale contracts.
• Supervise, manage, and schedule the road crew that builds and maintains forest roads on company lands and timber sales.
• Plan and oversee all road building and forestry engineering activities.
• Appraise road and project work for bidding on timber sales.
• Negotiate, prepare, and administer contracts.
• Lead projects from start to finish independently while working under limited supervision.
• Demonstrate strong work ethic, self‑starter attitude, and team‑player spirit.
• Show proven leadership skills and professional conduct as a company representative to contractors, landowners, agencies, employees, and stakeholders.
• Operate safely on long days and remote, rough roads under all weather conditions.
• Perform additional duties such as quarterly road use agreements, landowner terms, and understanding of road maintenance responsibilities.
• Use contracts and contractor relationships effectively.
• Make important decisions under pressure.
• Apply local resource knowledge of western Oregon forestry.
• Navigate remote locations using mapping and GIS skills.
• Organize multiple tasks to meet timelines.
• Conduct cost analyses for logging, road, and rock alternatives.
• Use GIS mapping of roads, logging units, and road design packets.
• Search for, recover, and flag property lines.
• Understand legal documents related to road use agreements, easements, and related agreements.
• Assist with other forest-related activities, including fire suppression.
• Operate hand tools, chainsaw, GPS, directional compass, and topographical maps.
• Work a flexible schedule when required.
• Maintain strong interpersonal communication skills.
• Hold a current and valid U.S. driver’s license with a clean DMV record; drive company vehicles on rough roads up to 50,000 miles per year.
• Adhere to safety protocols and company guidelines.
• Pass a pre‑employment drug test and background check.

• Stand, walk, sit, lift, lift >75 lbs, carry, balance, stoop, reach, handle, communicate, and maintain visual acuity.
• Hike steep, densely forested terrain and walk long distances frequently.
• Perform kneeling/squatting activities.
• Work in wet, hot, and inclement weather.
• May work longer days occasionally.
• Exposed to varying outdoor weather conditions.

• B.S. in Forest Engineering and/or Forest Operations (or comparable degrees with relevant experience).
• Knowledge of Northwest logging systems, operations, and the Oregon Forest Practice Act is strongly considered.
• Strong GIS skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office; willingness to learn additional software.
• Valid U.S. driver’s license and clean driving record.

• Highly competitive wage.
• Paid time off (PTO), holiday pay, and discretionary profit‑sharing quarterly bonuses.
• Health, dental, and life insurance; 401(k) with employer match;
  Section 125 cafeteria plan.
• Company pickup truck and cell phone access.