Wood Procurement Forester

Paylocity; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Lignetics, Inc. is seeking a Wood Procurement Forester to work remotely from West Virginia, coordinating with Sand Fork and Kingwood plant teams to source 60k–100k tons of hardwood pulpwood annually.

You will manage supplier relationships, negotiate contracts, and track performance to align with the plant production plan. The ideal candidate has pulpwood procurement, logging operations, and timber transport experience; familiarity with sawmill residuals is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in forestry, Forest Management, or Biology.
• 8-10 years combined roundwood and residual procurement and forestry/timber ops experience.
• Excel and Word proficiency; strong analytical and negotiation skills.
• Accounting knowledge and strong written and verbal communications.
• Legal knowledge of contracts preferred; flexible remote work options.

Responsibilities

• Manage wood raw material inventory and procure 60k-100k tons annually.
• Coordinate with regional logging partners to align with plant needs.
• Negotiate contracts, monitor supplier performance, and resolve issues.
• Develop buying strategy based on market trends to optimize CPT.
• Maintain relationships with suppliers and plant leadership; frequent visits as needed.
• Arrange transportation and logistics for roundwood delivery.

Skills

Analytical skills

Contract negotiation

Contract management

Written communication

Verbal communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in forestry, Forest Management, or Biology

Tools

Excel

Word

Job description

Remote Worker - Must be physically based out of West Virginia

Salary: Commensurate with Experience

Job Type: Full-time

Lignetics, Inc. offers clean, renewable solutions. We have 30 years of experience innovating eco-friendly essentials for everyday life. Lignetics manufactures a variety of consumer brands in several different categories including wood pellets for home heating, BBQ pellets for grilling, wood pellets and shavings for animal bedding, and wood fiber-based cat litter. Each of our products has unique features and benefits but are all linked with a wonderful recycled, renewable, sustainable, and carbon neutral story. We turn recycled sawdust into value-add, branded consumer products.

Position Summary

The Wood Procurement Forester will work closely with plant teams in Sand Fork, WV and Kingwood, WV to manage wood raw material inventory. Specifically, working with regional logging business partners to procure 60k-100k tons annually, of species-specific hardwood pulpwood logs. Delivered to designated yards in the region. These, pulpwood log purchases must be closely managed for price and product mix to support the plant production plan. This position is responsible for managing supplier relationships, negotiating contracts, tracking supplier performance, and resolving non-conformance issues.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience with pulpwood/log procurement, logging operations, and timber products transportation. Experience in sawmill residual purchasing would be valuable too.

• Continual communications with plant leadership and production planners to understand dynamic plant sourcing needs
• Maintain good relationships and sound partnerships with suppliers
• Monitor regional market dynamics and understand how this will impact suppliers, predict future market trends, and develop and execute buying strategy accordingly
• Monitor suppliers for volume, mix, and quality.
• Resolve any non-conformance issues with suppliers
• Single point of communication between plants and the suppliers
• Responsible for negotiating best cost per ton (CPT) and providing forecasts
• Expected to make frequent face-to-face visits with plant leadership and suppliers
• Cruise timber, purchase timber, contract logging and trucking, for the procurement of roundwood raw material as needed
• Understand current roundwood market for the negotiation of timber and gate-wood pricing.
• Arrange transportation as needed

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in forestry, Forest Management, or Biology
• Minimum of 8-10 years of combined roundwood and residual procurement and forestry/timber ops experience
• Excel and Word proficiency
• Effective analytical skills, contract negotiation and management skills required
• Accounting knowledge and strong written and verbal communications required
• Legal knowledge of contracts preferred.
• Flexible work environment with remote work options
• Casual work attire and environment
• Great mentoring and future career opportunities
• 2 weeks of vacation from day one, seven holidays and two floating holidays

Remote: This is a remote position. Remote work allowed. 100% remote. Remote work allowed based out of West Virginia.