Forest Habitat Planner & GIS Lead (Remote/Flexible)

Kate on Conservation; Michigan; Hybrid; USD 44,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement options with employer

Job summary

Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS) seeks a Forest Wildlife Specialist to lead landscape-scale conservation planning with the U.S. Forest Service and partners.

You will turn shared priorities into habitat improvements, focusing on Dynamic Forest Restoration Blocks across the Manistee portion of the Huron-Manistee National Forest. You will independently coordinate partners, analyze forest landscapes, and move two planning efforts to completion by 2027, guiding habitat

Qualifications

• Degree in forestry, wildlife ecology, wildlife management, or a closely related field.
• Working knowledge of forest ecology, wildlife habitat management, and active forest management principles.
• Ability to independently perform GIS landscape analysis, interpret spatial datasets, and produce practical maps.
• Experience coordinating projects or planning efforts involving multiple partners or organizations.
• Strong written and verbal communication, organization, initiative, and ability to manage deadlines independently.
• Ability and willingness to conduct occasional field assessments in remote terrain and variable weather.

Responsibilities

• Lead Dynamic Forest Restoration Block (DFRB) planning and coordinate with the U.S. Forest Service and partners.
• Use GIS to assess landscape conditions, forest age classes, habitat needs, and restoration opportunities; create maps of priority treatment areas.
• Develop planning documents with objectives, proposed treatments, cost estimates and implementation approaches with partner input.
• Build support among partners and chapters for landscape restoration priorities and future on-the-ground conservation.
• Oversee non-stewardship wildlife habitat, invasive species, and forest restoration projects with scopes, budgets and schedules.
• Monitor progress, ensure compliance with funding requirements, and coordinate bidding/contracting as needed.
• Track milestones, GIS data, expenditures; report progress to stakeholders and prepare grant proposals.
• Attend to contingency planning and adapt plans toward December 31, 2027 delivery.

Skills

GIS analysis

Wildlife habitat management

Project coordination

Communication

Field assessments

Education

Forestry / Wildlife related degree

Tools

GIS software

Job description

Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS) seeks a Forest Wildlife Specialist to lead landscape-scale conservation planning with the U.S. Forest Service and partners.

You will turn shared priorities into habitat improvements, focusing on Dynamic Forest Restoration Blocks across the Manistee portion of the Huron-Manistee National Forest. You will independently coordinate partners, analyze forest landscapes, and move two planning efforts to completion by 2027, guiding habitat