Stephen F. Austin State University

The Winnakee Land Trust seeks a forester / silviculturist with extensive operations experience to lead our newly established Conservation Forestry Program, which is focused on:

• Providing technical forestry assistance to private forest landowners in the forests of New York’s Hudson Valley and Catskill regions,
• Collaborating with the CEO and Conservation Project Manager to initiate a comprehensive program of forest land acquisition and management that will target the creation of a large portfolio of conserved working forests throughout New York State, and Collaborating with the Parks, Preserves and Natural Areas team on conservation, restoration and wildlife habitat improvement projects as needed.

This position reports to the WLT CEO or his designee, works closely with WLT’s Conservation and Stewardship teams, and contributes to policy, outreach, and communications efforts.

Essential Functions

The Conservation Forestry Program Manager is responsible for implementing and achieving WLT’s internal conservation priorities by overseeing and representing the Land Trust in relationships and negotiations with landowners, government agencies, private contractors, companies, researchers and other constituents. The position secures public and private funds for conservation and ecological restoration, manages budgets, develops and implements management plans, manages staff and volunteers, and provides overall leadership for a comprehensive public and private lands forest conservation program.

Responsibilities and Scope

Landowner Assistance

The WLT Conservation Forester will provide information, options, guidance, and advice about forest, land, wildlife, and ecosystem management to local landowners and then ensure that the proscribed activities are completed in the most efficient and effective manner possible to achieve the stated conservation objectives. This role requires an understanding of complex natural ecosystems, silvicultural practices, plant physiology, wildlife biology, economics, law, accounting, geomatics, biometrics, and many other elements of related professional disciplines.

At the more detailed level, whether the activity is timber stand improvement, invasive species management, endangered species management, road and trail layout and construction, timber sale administration, inventory and appraisal, land use planning, wildlife management, ecosystem management, watershed analysis, best management practices implementation, geospatial design and implementation, reforestation, tree improvement practices, or any of the other myriad natural resource practices or issues you might face on a daily basis, the WLT Conservation Forester must be able to address issues or implement activities and understand the effects of any action on the intricate balance of natural ecosystems. Dealing with complex landowner objectives and developing satisfactory solutions will be your daily routine. Each client and their corresponding objectives are treated with due care and diligence. We don’t paint with broad strokes, rather our attention to every detail ensures successful solutions to the specific tasks at hand and to the broader forest and property level objectives.

Woodland Reserve Initiative

Recognizing the critical role of forests in mitigating climate change, providing critical ecosystem services to local communities and supporting biodiversity, Winnakee’s Woodland Reserve Initiative places particular emphasis on the protection and sustainable management of forested lands both in the Hudson Valley and, ultimately, throughout New York State. Through fee acquisition and sustainable forestry practices, we work to conserve and enhance forest habitats, ensuring they continue to sequester and store carbon and provide habitat for native species, while serving as both areas to demonstrate ecological forestry practices to private woodland owners and offer recreational opportunities for the community at large. Winnakee is working to acquire an additional 10,000 acres of working forest land over the next 10 years.

With full-charge oversight and direction of forest management implementation on these lands, you would be responsible for ensuring quality and timely completion of all project aspects to meet ecological, harvest, and budget goals. This includes:

• Assessing suitability of properties for potential inclusion in the Woodland Reserve portfolio

• Planning (annual and long-term management plans and updates thereof); silviculture and harvest layout

• Ensuring permitting and plans related to permitting.

• Supervision of local contractors

• Oversight of log/timber products marketing by consulting foresters

• Contract and budget management.

• Ensuring inventories, maps, and all data systems for land, timber and carbon are well maintained.

• Process leases, revocable permits, and manage public access and recreational use as necessary.

• Research, prepare, apply and administer forestry-related contracts and grants and track spending against approved budgets.

• Develop georeferenced maps using ArcGIS to be used in the field.

• Assist and prepare grant applications and develop projects for grant opportunities.

• Build and maintain relationships with external partners, contractors, and community groups.

• Represent WLT in various professional fora with landowners, foresters, and other natural resource professionals.

• Collaborate and communicate effectively with WLT staff and community members, the public, and WLT donors.

• Conduct volunteer events and projects at various WLT lands. Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in forestry or forest science, with at least 3 years of experience working on natural resources issues.

• At least 2 years’ experience in project and contract management.

• SAF Certified Forester credential (or ability to obtain certification within 1 year of hire) is desirable.

• 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.

• Experience working with forest landowners.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with multiple stakeholders of differing perspectives.

• Familiarity and fluency with forest ecological modeling, forest growth and yield modeling (FVS and SILVAH desirable)

• Experience using ArcView GIS, GPS, data loggers, and proficiency in Microsoft Office (i.e., Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) software.

• Solid understanding of both intensive industrial and natural forest management approaches.

• Knowledge of, and experience with, biological principles and ecosystem dynamics as applied in a planning and implementation context.

• Experience/comfort with communicating with regulatory agencies with jurisdiction over natural resources (forests, water, wildlife, etc.) in New York.

• Experience completing multiple tasks independently concerning timelines, deliverables, and budgets, and collaborating on projects as part of a team.

• Must have valid driver’s license, be fit and able to walk forest project sites, as well as be able to lift at least 30 pounds.

• Willingness to work outside of your job description and work collaboratively with the team on changing priorities and a variety of projects simultaneously.