Conservation Careers & Job Opportunities

The New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF) stands at a pivotal moment of opportunity for advancing cutting edge forest-based climate solutions across New England and beyond. NEFF is an advocate for forest-climate solutions, a generator of new information and science on how Exemplary Forestry can advance the integrated goals of ecological health, forest carbon, and a dynamic bioeconomy, a conservation landowner that actively manages forest land, and an active collaborator in support of ecologically aligned forestry.

This position posting comes in the context of a significant period of growth for NEFF focused on how climate-smart forestry can be implemented across New England and as a national and international model for climate-smart forestry on private lands. The USDA recently awarded NEFF a $30 million grant under their Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities(CSC) program for the New England Climate Smart Commodities Partnership project. This program represents an unprecedented opportunity to pilot scalable, carbon-saving forest management practices as part of a systems approach including forestland protection, wildland preservation and building with wood to store carbon and displace carbon-intensive materials. Through this program, NEFF will define and implement a groundbreaking and nationally relevant pilot program in New England to build a climate-smart forest-based economy as a powerful tool for climate action.

Position Summary

The Exemplary Forestry Program – Senior Forester will be a key member of NEFF’s senior leadership team to design, implement, monitor and assess implementation of NEFF’s Exemplary Forestry vision and programs. This position will work directly with NEFF staff, external partners and forest landowners to support on-the-ground implementation of our overall Exemplary Forestry program objectives.

A primary focus of this position will be design and implementation of NEFF’s USDA-funded Climate Smart Commodities Partnership project as integrated with the ongoing work of NEFF’s Exemplary Forestry Center. Work will touch on each of the three main areas of NEFF’s CSC program including design and implementation of climate smart incentives; monitoring, verification and reporting; and support for climate smart sourcing for wood markets. All areas of work will be conducted in coordination with project partners and based on expert inputs across project elements.

The Exemplary Forestry Program – Senior Forester will work under the direction of NEFF’s Senior Forest Science and Policy Fellow as integrated with the ongoing work of NEFF’s Exemplary Forestry Center. Location is flexible across the New England region, but regular presence in Maine will be a significant component of the position.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Participate in the leadership for NEFF’s overall Exemplary Forestry program to design, implement, assess and monitor progress towards our vision of implementing Exemplary Forestry practices across New England in service of climate and ecological outcomes.
• Create and utilize strong relationships with forestland owners to support adoption of Exemplary Forestry principles and practice.
• Define, inform and conduct pertinent research projects.
• Specific roles related to NEFF’s Climate Smart Commodities Partnership include:
  • Assess site eligibility, build understanding of the program, engage prospective participants, and maintain working relationships.
  • Engage foresters and loggers in understanding, supporting and implementing the climate smart forestry protocols for the project.
  • Work with project team and partners to develop the landowner incentive payment program(s) designed to enable forestland owners to implement climate smart forest practices under this CSC program.
  • Participate in the design and execution of contractual agreements with landowners to achieve the intended goals of the CSC incentive payments.
  • Define and develop long-term monitoring protocols designed to be deployed beyond the 5-year project term to fulfil the forest management and carbon outcomes of the program.
  • Develop climate smart wood sourcing criteria to complement existing forest certification programs and to enable climate-smart wood sourcing in the marketplace.

Experience & Requirements

• Familiarity with New England’s forest ecosystems and forest industry.
• Master’s Degree in forestry or forest science with at least ten years of experience working on natural resource and/or climate mitigation issues.
• Demonstrated leadership capacity and a passion for forest conservation, forestry, and climate change action with a clear understanding of those issues and their relationships to forests, forestry, and natural resource management.
• A particular knowledge of Maine’s forest and desirable to have existing relationships with landowners.
• Familiarity with GHG monitoring approaches relevant to forest carbon management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience with effectively communicating complex scientific and technical information to a wide range of audiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively with NEFF staff, project partners, and outside stakeholders to build strong partnerships and achieve common goals.
• Affinity for working on dynamic, innovative, out-of-the box approaches.
• Exceptional organizational and prioritization skills with fluency and nimbleness in managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Compensation, Location & Other Information

• Salary for this position is $100,000 – $135,000 commensurate with experience.
• New England Forestry Foundation offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees including health/dental/vision insurances, paid time off, parental leave, retirement plan with employer match and vesting and a congenial and flexible working environment.
• Location for this position is flexible within the New England region. However, it will require travel across New England and to the organization’s Prouty Woods headquarters in Littleton, Massachusetts.

New England Forestry Foundation is an equal employment opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. NEFF commits to respecting and learning from different perspectives, reflecting the diverse citizens and communities of New England. In hiring, mentoring, and managing staff, the organization seeks to maintain a diverse, supportive, friendly, and discrimination-free workplace.

To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample via email to Kim Doherty at kdoherty@newenglandforestry.org. Please use CSC Senior Forester as the subject line of your submission. Positions will be filled on a rolling basis.