The Forest Stewards Guild, a national organization of foresters and allied natural resource professionals, is dedicated to practicing and promoting responsible forestry as a means of sustaining the integrity of forest ecosystems and the human communities dependent upon them. The Guild has 600 members, the majority of whom are professionals who manage over 42 million acres of forestland in the United States and Canada. The Guild maintains regional offices in New Mexico, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.

The Forest Stewards Guild is hiring a full-time position in the Northeast! The Northeast Region Manager will work closely with Amanda Mahaffey, Deputy Director, and be responsible for managing Guild projects across the Northeast landscape, in New England and beyond. Candidates should be deeply rooted in northeastern forests, have education and experience in field forestry and conservation, and bring strong project management skills, including technical writing, project administration, budget tracking, and strategic thinking.

Position Description

The successful candidate will have a degree and professional experience in forestry, ecology, fire science, natural resource management, or a related field. This individual will have excellent organizational, communication, and written skills. They will possess the ability to work alone, outdoors in remote locations, and demonstrate experience in advancing ecological forestry in the Northeast. The Guild has a strong base in the Northeast, and the ideal candidate will display the drive to sustain and strengthen the Guild’s regional presence and impact. Previous experience in project management, coupled with field forestry and fire management experience in the region, is highly desirable.

The Northeast Region Manager will manage project activities and deliverables in our current programmatic areas: 1) woodland owner outreach, 2) forest climate adaptation and ecosystem resiliency, and 3) fire science in management. The Northeast Region Manager will also have the opportunity to grow and develop the Guild’s Northeast program in these and new areas through strategic planning and fundraising. The Northeast Region Manager will work closely with our Maine-based Deputy Director and Northeast Technician, and will collaborate with Guild staff in other regions of the country.

The successful individual will:
•    Perform grant writing, administration, and reporting to a variety of different funders, including private foundations and government grants.
•    Track project budgets, match, metrics, and deliverables.
•    Manage project workflows and collaborate with teams using software such as Asana, SharePoint, and Microsoft Teams.
•    Maintain relationships with diverse partner organizations and agencies across multiple states.
•    Represent the Guild at professional conferences or events (virtually and in person) and perform public speaking, such as PowerPoint presentations or panel discussions. 
•    Develop and facilitate outreach activities for private landowners and natural resource professionals.
•    Convene and facilitate collaborative and community meetings.
•    As projects require, work in variable weather conditions, in remote locations, on difficult or hazardous terrain, and in other physically demanding environments.
•    Engage Forest Stewards Guild members through conference calls and meetings.

Minimum Qualifications:
•    Knowledge and professional experience in northeastern forest ecosystems and communities
•    Bachelor’s or master’s degree in fire ecology, forestry, or other natural resources
•    Strong project management, organizational, and verbal and written communication skills
•    Ability to work both independently and with a team
•    Demonstrated success in project management and grant writing
•    Effective knowledge of common software applications
•    Valid driver’s license
•    Must be vaccinated against COVID-19 (medical and religious exemption requests are accepted and must follow the process outlined in the Guild’s COVID-19 Policy) 

Preferred Qualifications:
•    A forester’s license (if applicable to candidate’s state) or ability to pursue forester licensure
•    NWCG fireline qualifications
•    The drive to strengthen and expand forest stewardship in the Northeast

The position pays $27.13 per hour, and the Guild offers a competitive benefits package. Paid leave is accrued hourly from the first day of employment. Employer-sponsored comprehensive health and dental care coverage is available after 30 days of continuous employment with the employee contribution at 20%. Short and long-term disability policies, accidental death/dismemberment, and life insurance are paid by the Guild after 60 days of employment. Participation in a retirement plan with an employer match is available after 90 days. Family Medical Leave is available after 12 months, including 12 weeks of[FG1]  protected leave, with up to six of the 12 weeks being paid. The Guild offers 12 paid holidays per year.

The Guild is dedicated to providing an open, transparent, and just organization and workplace. We strive for clear, open, and kind communication and are committed to recruiting, hiring, mentoring, and supporting practitioners from underrepresented communities. We are dedicated to building a work culture that recognizes the inherent value of our employees, supports a healthy work-life balance, and provides an environment that supports personal growth.

Location

The position will be based out of the Guild’s Portland, Maine office, with opportunities for remote work on a case-by-case basis. A proven record of successful independent remote work is required.

Contact Us

Interested applicants should visit the job posting on SmartRecruiters.comand click “I’m Interested” to submit a one-page cover letter, resume, one-page writing sample, three professional references, and earliest available start date by 11:59 p.m. on May 22, 2022. Note: After clicking “Next” on the initial application page, you will have an opportunity to upload the cover letter and reference documents. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Also note: The one-page writing sample format is flexible. It can be on a natural resource subject of your choice; it can be a research brief, newsletter article, or other sample of your writing capabilities.

Questions can be directed to Amanda Mahaffey at (207)432-3701 or amanda (at) forestguild.org.

All your information will be kept confidential according to Equal Employment Opportunity guidelines.