Reforestation Program Senior Specialist

National Forest Foundation (NFF) is pleased to offer a regular, full-time position that will provide leadership to NFF’s National Reforestation Program efforts. The Reforestation Senior Specialist will spearhead innovation, manage complex funding mechanisms, supervise program staff, and oversee NFF’s program of work focused on holistic reforestation, from nursery production to post planting monitoring, across the U.S.

About the NFF: As the official national partner to the US Forest Service (USFS), the National Forest Foundation was chartered by Congress in 1990. Today, the NFF advances forest resiliency, healthy watersheds and wildlife habitat, and recreation for all by working with communities and organizations across the country. The Foundation has grown significantly in the last few years in programmatic impact, revenue and support, and organizational capacity. NFF leads with impact, deploying roughly 90% of its expenses towards projects and programs across the country’s 193-million-acre National Forest System. NFF is forward-thinking and innovative, with ambitious strategies and goals to advance and prepare forests for a new economy. 

Position Function: The Reforestation Senior Specialist reports to the Land and Water Restoration Director and is a leading member of NFF’s National Enterprise Programs which provide subject matter expertise, organization-wide coordination, and support to NFF Field Programs helping ensure programs and projects align with our mission, shared goals, and approach to managing cross-cutting risks. In this role, the Senior Specialist will manage a national program providing subject matter expertise to NFF staff, lead the development and execution of various reforestation programs of work, secure and manage programmatic budgets, supervise reforestation programmatic staff, and, as needed, directly manage projects to achieve national programmatic outcomes. The position coordinates closely with the U.S. Forest Service, conservation NGOs, and private sector partners to support strategic initiatives and long-term goals.

Position Duties and Responsibilities: The Reforestation Program Senior Specialist will:

• Serve as a member of a National Enterprise Program to rigorously develop best practices and deepen expertise in all aspects of reforestation activities, based on a national portfolio of projects, providing guidance and support to NFF Field Teams and positioning NFF as a recognized thought leader in these efforts.
• Strengthen the NFF’s ability to support holistic reforestation and expand programmatic scopes of work nationwide by identifying new program opportunities, collaborating with the Forest Service, NFF staff, and partner organizations, and focusing on opportunities to deepen that portfolio’s complementarity and opportunities for innovation.
• Lead the development of a system of national and regional reforestation resources with Enterprise Reforestation staff.
• Provide guidance on integration across Reforestation, = Field and other NFF programs to support the comprehensive delivery and cohesion of NFF’s Reforestation program.
• Support enterprise and field staff in the development negotiation, management, and implementation of programmatic scopes of work for national, regional, and local reforestation projects. In geographic areas where NFF field staff aren’t currently supporting National Forests locally, support the remote management of a strategic portfolio of projects through their full life cycle including contracts and budgets for services related to the on-the ground implementation and coordination with various partners.
• Guide engagement with Forest Service leaders shaping reforestation practice and funding in coordination with NFF’s Enterprise Program and Field teams, and key external partners.
• Provide program financial management, overseeing multiple grant program budgets and reporting requirements with input from Reforestation and Field teams and others as needed.
• Support the expansion of private and public-sector funding by providing project support for leading corporate partners and donors, assistance and oversight of project-related content and reports.
• Support strategy, launch, and quantitative projections of programmatic campaigns and goals; contribute to and ensure quality in the Reforestation Program’s impact measurement and monitoring activities, coordinating with multiple NFF staff.
• Provide supervision, coaching, and mentorship to direct reports.
• Build and maintain close and mutually beneficial relationships among federal and state agency partners, local government, tribal partners, and nonprofit organizations to implement effective partnerships in coordination with NFF field teams.
• Maintain knowledge about current trends, emerging issues, policy interventions, and innovations in the field of conservation programming related to reforestation to enhance NFF strategic efficacy.

education and Qualifications: NFF expects the Reforestation Program Senior Specialist to possess the following educational and experiential qualifications:

• Degree (Master’s preferred) in Forestry, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, a related field, or equivalent experience.
• A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in forestry, ecological restoration, reforestation, and/or project planning.
• Knowledge of forest ecosystems, native tree species, and basic silvicultural practices.
• Familiarity with federal land management practices, especially U.S. Forest Service procedures and reforestation practices.
• Proficiency with GIS, GPS, and data management systems.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Experience supervising and managing remote-based project-level staff.
• Ability to work in remote settings and willingness to travel.
• Commitment to the mission of the NFF and familiarity with the U.S. Forest Service purpose and National Forest lands management.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Abilities and Skills: NFF expects the Reforestation Program Senior Specialist to possess the following proven abilities and skills: 

• Ability and drive for continuous learning and improvement.
• Ability to understand and clearly communicate about forest restoration projects.
• Ability to work with a wide range of people with differing and sometimes conflicting opinions, and to always maintain neutrality.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly, work in outdoor conditions, and maintain a flexible work schedule, including participation in weekend and evening events.
• Ability to work well and be flexible in a team-oriented environment.
• Excellent analytical skills with a strong attention to detail, with skill in working in a timely and well-organized fashion.
• Ability to represent the NFF clearly and professionally through excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.
• A valid U.S. Driver’s License and clean driving record, as frequent travel to remote work sites is required.

Location:

The location for this position is flexible throughout the lower 48 continental United States with access to a major airport. This position is a remote/work-from-home position and requires reliable internet access and a dedicated workspace.

Compensation: NFF offers a competitive compensation and benefits package that reflects our total rewards strategy. The salary range for this position is $105,000 with the ability to grow to $131,250 based on performance over time. Starting salary within this range is determined by a combination of experience, internal equity with comparable roles, and organizational budget, and is assessed annually as part of NFF’s compensation review process.

Benefits: NFF is proud to offer our staff: 

Health and Wellness:

• Medical and dental insurance paid at 75% by the organization for you and any dependents.
• Vision insurance paid 50% by the organization for you and any dependents.
• Health savings account (HSA) with employer contributions between $1,878-$3,750 per year, predicated on coverage type.
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSA).
• Employee assistance program (EAP) at no cost.

Financial Wellbeing:

• 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% employer match after one (1) year of service.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance at no cost.
• Basic life and AD&D insurance at no cost, with voluntary life insurance options.
• Whole life insurance at a discounted rate

Flexibility and time off:

• Employees start with 35 days of annual leave, sick leave, personal leave and holidays (annual leave accrual rates increase with years of service)
• Family & medical leave for up to sixteen (16) weeks with up to four (4) weeks paid.

Personal Development:

• Training & Development Programs
• Professional development reimbursement for up to $1,000 per year.

Journey of a Lifetime:

• The opportunity to support an incredible mission and travel to / work in spectacular locations.

To Apply: Applications must include both a cover letter and resume. Incomplete packages will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. This posting will close on November 21st, or earlier if filled. Please visit our careers site to apply online.

The National Forest Foundation is an equal opportunity employer – meaning we provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable law. Further, we prohibit discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, and termination. We strive to foster a work environment where every individual is respected, valued, and treated fairly. This statement reflects our unwavering dedication to fairness, respect, and equality in employment practices and sets the foundation for a positive work environment.

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