Woodlands Partnership Program Director

Overview

Woodlands Partnership of Northwest Massachusetts

The Woodlands Partnership of Northwest Massachusetts is a unique effort to conserve our forests and support our region’s rural, land-based economy across the Northern Berkshire Mountains, hill towns, and riverside villages of northwestern Massachusetts. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts passed legislation in 2018 to establish the Woodlands Partnership as a public body, led by representatives from member municipalities and including federal, state, and regional agencies, local land trusts, watershed associations, university researchers, and community and economic development organizations, among others.

The three-pronged mission includes forest conservation, natural resource-based economic development, and municipal financial stability. For more information, visit Woodlands Partnership.org.

New England Forestry Foundation

New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF) serves as the Administrative Agent to the Woodlands Partnership and in this role is responsible to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to support the Partnership Board; manage program implementation, fundraising, and grant administration; and sustain connections within the Partnership. As a host organization, NEFF is an advocate for innovative forest-based natural climate solutions. NEFF is a conservation landowner that actively manages forest land, and works to develop improved forest practices and support ecologically aligned forestry.

NEFF helps the people of New England to sustain their way of life, protect forest wildlife habitat and ecosystem services, and mitigate and adapt to climate change. NEFF has protected one of every three acres of land conserved in New England this century and is the sixth largest land trust in the nation by acres conserved.

This position is a full-time role (37.5 hours per week) administering the Woodlands Partnership of Northwest Massachusetts, a 21-town regional collaboration focused on conservation and economic development that sustains the area’s forests and natural resources while enhancing support for rural municipalities. This role will combine direct administrative leadership and operational facilitation of the Partnership’s 35-member Board, Executive Committee and standing committees, as well as communications/public relations, grant-writing, budgeting and reporting in support of the Partnership’s Agent contract and high-priority grants and programs.

Funded through a multi-year state contract, this role has dual reporting to the Deputy Director at New England Forestry Foundation, and the volunteer Board Chair and Executive Committee of the Woodlands Partnership. Two years of state funding for this position are currently anticipated, with continuance of support the intention of the Partnership.

Communicate and build relationships with members of a large Board of Directors, representing municipalities, regional organizations, and state and federal agencies, as well as Committee Chairs, to set priorities, schedule and facilitate meetings, and plan event logistics.

Complete program deliverables funded by active state and federal grants, track expenses, and work with NEFF Accounting to submit reports and invoices for reimbursement to funders.

Work with the Woodlands Partnership Board to set priorities for implementation of the 2023 10-year Partnership Plan and draft funding proposals to support implementation of the Plan, which includes policy priorities such as advocating for equitable state funding for rural municipalities with large amounts of tax-exempt state forest, and acknowledgement of the broader societal benefits of clean air, water, and wildlife habitat provided by this region and its contributions to the health of the global climate.

Complete a Feasibility Study report (community and stakeholder outreach, final edits and graphic design) evaluating eligibility of Northwest Massachusetts to be designated by Congress as a National Heritage Area.

Continue building reciprocal relationships and dialogue with Indigenous Communities whose homelands are in the Partnership’s service area.

Support the Executive Committee and Board in…