Restoration Forester, Private Lands (VA)

American Forests; Marion (VA); Sur place; USD 35 000 - 46 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) with 5% employer match

Paid vacation and holidays

Disability, life, and AD&D insurance

Technology stipend

Résumé du poste

American Forests is seeking a Restoration Forester, Private Lands (VA) to manage hardwood forests on private lands in southwest Virginia, collaborating with NRCS, DOF, and TNC to deliver cost-share programs and Appalachian hardwood silviculture.

The role includes fieldwork, mapping, data collection, and coordination with landowners and partners to restore healthy and resilient forests in the Southeast.

Qualifications

• Certified Forester (CF) or Candidate Certified Forester (CCF), or ability to obtain within 6 months.
• Bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resource management, or related field.
• At least 2 years of experience in applied forest management, including marking silvicultural treatments and preparing forest management plans.
• Knowledge of Appalachian hardwood management and oak silviculture.
• Proficient with ArcGIS Pro and field data collection devices; strong organization and collaboration.
• Valid driver’s license.

Responsabilités

• Lead private forest landowner outreach through workshops, tours, and demonstration events.
• Develop and implement forest inventories with sampling design and data analysis.
• Use FVS and other decision-support tools for silvicultural prescriptions.
• Prepare forest management plans aligned with NRCS and DOF cost-share programs.
• Assist landowners with NRCS and DOF cost-share enrollment and contracts.

Connaissances

Field forestry

ArcGIS Pro

Data collection (tablets)

Organizational skills

Communication & collaboration

Driving & physical ability

Formation

Bachelor’s degree in forestry or related field

Outils

ArcGIS Pro

Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS)

Description du poste

Our Mission in Action

Trees play a vital role in solving some of the most pressing issues facing our communities and natural spaces today. For 150 years, American Forests has stood boldly at the forefront of the conservation movement, working collaboratively and innovatively to ensure that all people have access to the benefits of trees. As we look ahead to the next 150, continued collective action will be essential to securing a healthy, climate-resilient future for all. To support this work, we are looking for a Restoration Forester, Private Lands (VA) to join our Southeast Region program team.

Who You Are

The Restoration Forester, Private Lands (VA) is a full-time, field-based position focused on managing hardwood forests on private (family-owned) lands in southwest Virginia. In partnership with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF), the Forester will provide technical and financial assistance to landowners through cost-share programs, including NRCS’ Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) programs, and DOF’s Hardwood Initiative program. The position will also collaborate closely with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to assist with forest management needs at their Clinch Valley program lands.

This position will play a critical role in implementing Appalachian hardwood silviculture with a focus on managing white oak and other upland oak species, including overseeing the implementation of applications of the shelterwood method, midstory removal, crop tree release, nonnative invasive plant control, and other hardwood forestry practices. Forest management practices will include commercial timber harvests and noncommercial forest stand improvement. The Forester will work closely with NRCS, DOF, TNC, private landowners, and other partners to ensure the effective design and delivery of forestry practices that restore healthy and resilient hardwood forests.

What You’ll Do

As a part of the team, you will help grow American Forests’ Appalachian field office and program in the Southeast. The Forester will collaborate with other partners in the region, including USDA Forest Service, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, private companies, contractors, and nonprofit organizations. We are seeking a candidate with strong field forestry skills and experience but also experience and interest in helping grow and manage programs and projects in the Southeast. Ideally, we are seeking a candidate that can help coordinate with partners, identify new opportunities, and contribute towards American Forests’ vision for the Southeast. Major responsibilities include:

• Lead and participate in education and outreach activities for private (family) forest landowners, including direct mailings, workshops, field tours, and demonstration events.
• Develop and implement forest inventories, including sampling design, field data collection, and data analysis.
• Utilize technical decision-support tools to inform silvicultural prescriptions, including the USDA Forest Service’s Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) software application.
• Prepare forest management plans aligned with NRCS and DOF cost-share programs, including interpreting forest stand data, preparing graphs and tables, delineating stands, making maps in ArcGIS, and writing silvicultural prescriptions.
• Assist landowners with enrollment in NRCS and DOF cost-share programs and contract development.

Practice Implementation & Field Work (40%)

• Design and layout forest management practices for hardwood species, including marking treatment area boundaries and flagging or painting take or leave trees for the shelterwood method, midstory removal, crop tree release, and nonnative invasive plant control.
• Provide landowners with a list of available contractors, implement contractor inspections, and final contract certifications to ensure compliance with technical standards and forest management plans.
• Implement post-treatment monitoring to assess treatment efficacy and to inform adaptive management.
• Connect landowners to resources to implement prescribed burns, including facilitating prescribed burn plan development and prescribed burn preparation (e.g., fireline construction or maintenance).

Partner Coordination & Stakeholder Engagement (10%)

• Coordinate closely with NRCS and DOF field offices, state and federal agencies, private companies and contractors, and nonprofit partners to align goals and leverage resources.
• Participate in regional meetings, trainings, workshops and initiatives related to hardwood management.
• Help develop outreach materials and presentations that promote hardwood management practices and incentives.

Data Management & Reporting (5%)

• Maintain accurate field records, practice maps, GIS data, and landowner files.
• Support reporting requirements to NRCS, DOF, and American Forests, including metrics tracking and site documentation.

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

• Assist American Forests’ staff in the delivery of relevant in-person meetings, conferences, and events.
• Conduct public presentations at conferences and meetings.
• Plan and lead site visits and field tours as appropriate.

What We’re Looking For

We don’t expect you to check every single box. If this role excites you, we want to hear from you! We’re interested in your ability to learn, collaborate, and bring fresh perspectives.

• A Certified Forester (CF) or Candidate Certified Forester (CCF) certification from Society of American Forests (SAF), or ability to obtain certification within first 6 months on the job.
• Bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resource management, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of experience in applied forest management, including field experiencing marking silvicultural treatments and preparing forest management plans.
• Knowledge of Appalachian hardwood management and oak silviculture.
• Strong organizational skills with experience working independently and managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proficiency in using technological tools for field data collection (e.g., tablets) and ArcGIS Pro software.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work outdoors in varied weather conditions and lift up to 50 pounds.
• Valid driver’s license.

Reporting and Supervision

The Restoration Forester, Private Lands (VA) reports to the Director, Southeast Forest Restoration. This position will work closely with American Forests’ Resilient Forests team and partners at NRCS, DOF, and TNC in Virginia. This position does not have any direct reports at this time.

This is a full-time, hourly non-exempt position. The budgeted hourly rate is between $25.64 and $33.33. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support employees’ health, financial well-being, and overall quality of life. We offer medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with health and wellness resources such as an Employee Assistance Program, flexible spending accounts, and disability, life, and AD&D insurance. To promote work-life balance, employees receive vacation and sick leave, paid holidays, parental bonding leave, bereavement leave, and military leave. Financial and retirement benefits include a 401(k) plan with a 5% employer match. Additional perks, such as a technology stipend and pet benefits, further enhance the overall employee experience.

Working Conditions

This position is based on-site at an NRCS field office in Marion, VA. The work will take place primarily in outdoor, forested environments (80%), with some administrative tasks performed remotely or at partner facilities (20%). Exposure to hot, cold, or wet conditions is to be expected. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and safe work practices will be required. A rental vehicle will be provided for regular travel, for field work and periodic travel to meetings and conferences. The Forester will be provided with necessary equipment and support from both American Forests and NRCS. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to support individuals across the full range of abilities and experiences in performing the essential functions of the job

About Us

American Forests is a national non-profit organization committed to creating healthy and resilient forests from cities to large forest landscapes, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water and wildlife. We advance our mission through forestry innovation, place-based partnerships to plant and restore forests and movement building. We envision a world in which the significant environmental, societal and economic benefits of forests are fully realized and equitably available to all people. Established in 1875, American Forests is the oldest national non-profit conservation organization in the U.S. working to restore urban forests and forested landscapes for over 150 years.

American Forests is proud to be a diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible workplace. These are our shared values. We welcome individuals who bring a variety of backgrounds and experiences to be a part of our team to help make a difference individually and collectively as we work toward achieving our mission. We are committed to fostering an environment that is welcoming and respectful and provides opportunities for advancement and professional growth for every team member.

American Forests is an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. Reasonable accommodation may be made to provide access to all individuals along the continuum of human ability and experience.

Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran/LGBTQ+ Encouraged to Apply

In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at [phone] (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at [phone]. Additionally, program information is also available in languages other than English.