Harvesting Forester

Rayonier; Conway (AR); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k) plan

Hybrid work

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Rayonier is seeking a Harvesting Forester to support harvesting operations in the Conway, Arkansas region. You will lead tactical harvest plans, manage budgets and forecasts, and oversee field contract administration to maximize timber value and ensure compliance.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in Forestry with at least five years’ experience in land management and harvesting, plus strong GIS and inventory tools proficiency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Forestry or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Graduate degree in Forestry or Business is preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in land management, with a track record in harvesting and forest operations administration.
• Strong understanding of market driven log and pulpwood demand, sustainable forestry practices, safety procedures and environmental compliance.
• Experience navigating financial analysis, budgeting, and cost control systems; proficient in GIS and forest inventory tools.

Responsibilities

• Analyze long-term, strategic harvest plans for operability, volume, and accessibility.
• Assist in prioritizing harvest units, developing annual harvest budgets, and implementing site-specific harvesting prescriptions.
• Oversee contract process to ensure compliance with legal and company standards; manage contractor relationships.
• Monitor operational costs against budgets and prepare variance reports for leadership.
• Maintain relationships with adjacent landowners, contractors, regulatory and public agencies.
• Promote Rayonier’s safety culture and sustainability commitments in daily operations.

Skills

Relationship management

Budgeting/financial analysis

Safety and environmental compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Forestry or related field

Graduate degree in Forestry or Business (preferred)

Tools

GIS applications

Forest inventory tools

Job description

Company Overview:

Come grow with us!We are OneRayonier , a team that works together to create value by prioritizing safety, challenging the status quo, giving back to our communities, and driving innovation through continuous learning.With nearly 100 years of experience, we’re still discovering new ways to make lives better with our trees, our land, and — our most important resource — our people.

At Rayonier, we strive to create an employee experience where you feel valued and proud to be part of our team. We foster a respectful, inclusive and collaborative environment that celebrates your unique talents and perspectives.Experience the Rayonier difference: We’re big enough to offer exciting career paths, but small enough for you to know your colleagues by name.Come join a team that empowers you to make a difference!

Rayonier is seeking a Harvesting Forester to support the execution and financial optimization of our harvesting operations in the Conway, Arkansas region. Designed for an established forestry professional with progressive experience in land management, this role requires a strong track record in harvesting and forest operations administration. You will collaborate closely with the district forestry team to ensure safe, efficient, and sustainable timber production.

Reporting directly to the District Manager, you will provide the operational expertise needed to implement tactical harvest plans, manage harvesting budgets and forecasts, and lead field-level contract administration. Accountable for maintaining compliance with environmental, legal, and company standards, you will oversee contractor relationships while identifying opportunities to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs. Through regular field inspections, you will ensure proper timber harvesting, sorting, merchandising, and delivery practices, verify compliance with delivered wood and stumpage sale agreements, and support the maximization of timber value and revenue.

How You Will Contribute

Strategic Harvest Planning & Execution:

Analyze long-term, strategic harvest plans for operability, volume, and accessibility. Assist in prioritizing harvest units, developing annual harvest budgets, and implementing site-specific harvesting prescriptions designed to maximize financial returns.

Operational Excellence & Value Maximization:

Strive to achieve operational excellence through process optimization, continuous improvement, and enhanced productivity by incorporating the latest decision tools. You will ensure effective resource allocation across personnel, equipment, and budgets to reduce costs while maximizing productivity and district revenue. Additionally, you will leverage advanced technology and innovative approaches to continuously optimize field operations.

Contractor Management & Relations:

Oversee the contract process to ensure strict compliance with all legal and company standards while managing regular communication and building strong relationships with contractors. You will assess contractor capabilities to identify areas for training and development, while proactively identifying and mitigating contractor capacity risks. Additionally, you will identify operational cost‑saving opportunities without compromising quality or productivity.

Financial Management

Monitor operational costs against monthly, quarterly, and annual budgets and forecasts; prepare comprehensive variance reports for leadership.

Stewardship & Stakeholder Collaboration:

Maintain excellent working relationships with adjacent landowners, contractors, regulatory agencies, and public agencies.

Safety & Sustainability:

Embrace and promote Rayonier’s safety culture by maintaining a safe work environment for all company personnel, contractors, and field stakeholders. Additionally, ensure that all operational strategies and actions are fully aligned with and actively support the company’s sustainability commitments, regulatory compliance, and environmental stewardship goals.

What You Bring to the Team

Required Qualifications

Education

A Bachelor’s degree in Forestry or a closely related natural resource field (or equivalent experience in forestry operations). A graduate degree in Forestry or Business is preferred.

Experience

Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in land management, with a track record in harvesting and forest operations administration.

Operational Expertise

Strong understanding of market driven log and pulpwood demand, sustainable forestry practices, safety procedures and environmental compliance.

Technical and Business Acumen

Experience navigating financial analysis, budgeting, and cost control systems. Proficient in leveraging technology, including GIS applications and forest inventory tools, to drive field efficiency.

Relationship Management

Proven ability to maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

If you thrive at the intersection of operational excellence, collaboration, and contractor management and want to drive sustainable timber production, we want to hear from you.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

This role is physically active, requiring regular movement throughout the day with varied tasks split between an office setting and outdoor environments. Office work involves utilizing computers and standard office equipment, alongside regular travel to field locations or industry events. Outdoor responsibilities require extensive walking, hiking, and traversing diverse landscapes—such as uneven ground, slopes, wetlands, and dense vegetation—while maintaining stability, climbing over obstacles, and occasionally working in precarious positions. Candidates must be able to spend extended periods standing, bending, lifting, and working outdoors in all weather conditions, including extreme temperatures, wind, and precipitation.

What We Offer

• We offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, accident, disability, identity theft protection, and paid parental and caregiver leave. We also offer a health savings account, a dependent care spending account, and an employee assistance plan. We provide wellness reimbursements, employee discount programs, annual health screenings, wellness incentives, wellness seminars, and financial counseling and planning tools.
• Our 401(k) retirement savings plan includes company matching contributions (60% match on the first 6% of base and bonus deferrals) as well as a 3% enhanced retirement contribution that does not require an employee contribution.
• We recognize the importance of work-life integration and offer flexible work schedules and hybrid work from home options (for most positions), along with a minimum of three weeks paid vacation, five paid personal days, 11 paid holidays and paid sick leave each year.
• We provide a comprehensive employee development program which provides career planning tools and resources, mentoring program, leadership development, training programs and an 80% tuition reimbursement.