Maryland Forester

Sacbar; Cumberland (MD); On-site; USD 51,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

American Bird Conservancy seeks a Maryland Forester to work remotely within western Maryland's five-county service area. The position supports forest stewardship, landowner outreach, and plan implementation across private lands, with collaboration with state and partner organizations.

The role emphasizes GIS, data review, and coordination of bids and project execution, leveraging ABC’s conservation framework. Travel up to 10% may be required for on-site assessments and meetings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Forestry is required.
• Strong understanding of forest stand improvement and wildlife habitat objectives.
• Experience developing and implementing site-specific forest management plans.
• Willing to travel throughout western Maryland up to 10% of time.
• Ability to work with private landowners and public agencies.
• Strong networking, communication, and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Promote forest management benefiting healthy forests and wildlife with private landowners.
• Identify and outreach to landowners with stewardship opportunities.
• Visit sites to provide technical assistance and advance Forest Stewardship Plan implementation.
• Assist with Forest Stewardship Plan implementation on private lands.
• Solicit bids from contractors to complete actions per plans.
• Certify project completion via site visits and GPS/photo documentation.
• Assist with fundraising proposals and grant agreements.

Skills

Forestry

Wildlife habitat

Project management

Outreach to landowners

GIS

Data analysis

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Forestry

Tools

GIS

Excel

OnX/Avenza

Job description

Title:Maryland Forester

Supervisor:Great Lakes Public Lands Manager

Location:Remote; Western Maryland in the Cumberland, MD area. Work will occur in a five-county service area: Garrett, Allegany, Washington, Frederick, and Carroll Counties.

Salary:Estimated at $56,420*; Based on experience

Term of Position:July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2029; This position is supported through outside funding commitments and is subject to periodic reviews to confirm the continuation of funding. The role may include collaboration with our Development team to help ensure sustained support; however, ongoing employment is contingent upon the availability of grant funding and partner commitments

Application Deadline:Sept 9, 2026. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.

Position Summary:

This is a limited term position with American Bird Conservancy (ABC). American Bird Conservancy is a fast-growing, results-focused nonprofit seeking employees with an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to make a difference for birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. Inspired by the wonder of birds, ABC achieves lasting results for the bird species most in need while also benefiting human communities, biodiversity, and the planet’s fragile climate.

American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is the Western Hemisphere's bird conservation specialist. ABC is the only organization with a single and steadfast commitment to achieving conservation results for birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. With an emphasis on achieving results and working in partnership, we take on the greatest problems facing birds today, innovating and building on rapid advancements in science to halt extinctions, protect habitats, eliminate threats and build capacity for bird conservation. We are currently looking for a motivated, self-starting and detail-oriented individual with forestry and wildlife habitat project management experience to join our team.

American Bird Conservancy, in partnership with the State of Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service (MDFS), Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, is looking for a motivated individual to work effectively with private forest landowners and local conservation partners in western Maryland. The goal is to increase the participation rate of underserved landowners implementing forest stewardship practices leading to enhanced forest resilience and carbon attenuation, as part of ABC’s Dynamic Forest Management program. The forester will conduct outreach to landowners, collect and review silvics data, design practices for implementation based on existing forest management plans, solicit competitive bids, and oversee project implementation and completion.

Primary Duties:

Work with ABC staff, Maryland Forest Service, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay to:

• Promote forest management that benefits healthy forests and wildlife to private landowners and consulting foresters; including the potential to help organize and conduct outreach and training workshops.
• Identify and directly outreach to private landowners with forest stewardship opportunities intended to benefit forest health and wildlife.
• Conduct site visits to provide technical assistance to advance Forest Stewardship Plan implementation.
• Assist with the implementation of Forest Stewardship Plans on private lands using established forest management guidelines known to improve forest health, carbon attenuation, promote desired regeneration, and benefit associated birds and wildlife.
• Solicit competitive bids from qualified contractors to complete management actions according to Forest Stewardship Plans.
• Certify project completion via site visits, GPS tracking, and photo documentation.
• Assist ABC Development staff with preparing and reviewing fundraising proposals and assist with preparation of new funding/grant agreements and sub-awards.

Benefits:

American Bird Conservancy fosters a mission-driven, collaborative, and supportive workplace where staff are respected, empowered, and connected by a shared purpose. ABC offers strong benefits, a 35-hour work week, generous leave policies, and flexible, remote-friendly work arrangements that support a healthy work-life balance.

• Excellent benefits package includes medical, dental, flexible spending accounts, and employer-matched retirement savings, flexible schedule, etc.
• Paid vacation days (starting at 15 days annually and increasing 20 days after 1 year of employment), paid holidays (including both US holidays and additional ABC holidays) and sick leave.
• Lodging, meals, and transportation covered for work‑related travel away from home where applicable.
• Rental vehicle or personal mileage reimbursement where applicable.

* American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is committed to promoting fairness and equity in all partnerships. We collaborate with external partners to advocate for competitive and equitable funding rates in future agreements.

At American Bird Conservancy, we believe that a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills makes us more effective. We are committed to creating a respectful and inclusive work environment for all of our employees.

As an equal opportunity employer, ABC is committed to ensuring that employees and applicants for employment have equal opportunities regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other factor unrelated to the requirements of the position.

1. Bachelor's degree or higher in Forestry is required. A strong understanding of forest stand improvement practices and wildlife conservation in deciduous forests of the Eastern U.S.
2. Professional knowledge and skills to assess, devise, and apply strategies for forest management to meet desired forestry and wildlife habitat objectives. Experience developing and implementing site-specific forest management plans/practices and the ability to utilize forest inventory tools/inventory protocol needed.
3. Willing and able to travel throughout western Maryland with occasional overnight travel. Applicant should be prepared to spend as much as 10% of their time away from home. ABC covers travel expenses.
4. Experience working with private landowners as well as public agencies (state forestry and wildlife departments, etc.), desired.
5. Self-motivated, responsible and organized. Applicant must be able to develop and manage their daily work schedule to achieve results.
6. Ability to use GIS, Google Maps, OnX/Avenza etc. to identify and delineate project boundaries; and Microsoft Excel and Database to manage information.
7. The position requires excellent networking and communication skills (presentation, inter-personal, reading, and writing), project management experience, and organizing and leadership skills. Applicant should be a team player but also work well independently.
8. Willing and able to work in physically challenging environment under adverse conditions. ABC provides a GPS, cruising vest, prism, flagging, forestry paint, etc.
9. Applicant must have a valid driver's license.
10. The MD Forester will be based out of a home office.
11. The forester will be an ABC employee and represent ABC in its work. The forester will be supervised by the ABC project manager and IUP staff, and will maintain regular communication with MDFS staff.
12. All remote and hybrid employees are required to have a stable and high-speed internet service provider in place prior to beginning work for ABC. Our distributed work force relies heavily on cloud technologies, Zoom, and other automations to successfully complete our day to day work. The ideal speeds are 30-40 Mbps for downloads and 10-15 Mbps for uploads.
13. You may be required to use your personal cell phone to access ABC systems remotely.
14. Authorized to work in the US or Permanent Resident
15. Occasional air and car travel may be required with this position.
16. Background screening required