Southeast Reforestation Specialist

Description

National Forest Foundation (NFF) is pleased to offer an exempt, full-time position that will provide technical support to successfully plan, develop, implement, and manage a complex portfolio of restoration and forest resilience projects on National Forests in the Southern Region. The Southeast Reforestation Specialist will facilitate collaborative efforts, manage complex funding mechanisms, and help oversee the reforestation program, working collaboratively with NFF’s technical advisory and field teams and the U.S. Forest Service.

About the NFF
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As the official national partner to the US Forest Service (USFS), the National Forest Foundation was chartered by Congress in 1993. Today, the NFF advances forest resiliency, healthy watersheds and wildlife habitat, and recreation for all by working with communities and organizations across the country. The Foundation has grown significantly in the last few years in programmatic impact, revenue and support, and organizational capacity.

NFF leads with impact, deploying roughly 90% of its expenses towards projects and programs across the country’s 193-million-acre National Forest System. NFF is forward-thinking and innovative, with ambitious strategies and goals to advance and prepare forests for a new economy.

Position Function
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The Reforestation Specialist reports directly to the Senior Reforestation Specialist and works closely with NFF’s Reforestation and Southeastern Field programs, U.S. Forest Service staff, and other local partners. The incumbent will provide technical support and subject matter expertise for forest restoration and reforestation projects, working in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service and partner organizations. In coordination with Reforestation staff on NFF’s National Enterprise and Field Programs, this position will support the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of reforestation activities that enhance ecological integrity, improve wildlife habitat, increase forest resilience, and support local communities.

Initial priorities include supporting projects aimed at restoring forests heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene. The objectives are to restore desirable tree species and composition in storm-impacted areas in hardwood, mixed pine and hardwood, pine-dominated systems, and high elevation red spruce systems. Other priorities include longleaf and shortleaf pine restoration and oak restoration across other Southern Region National Forests.

Project Planning & Guidance

• Work closely with the U.S. Forest Service, and NFF Reforestation and Southeastern-based Field teams to develop and expand the NFF’s scope of reforestation work and activities across the Southeast, with an initial focus on National Forests in North Carolina.
• Remotely manage a strategic portfolio of projects through their full life cycle in geographic areas where NFF Field staff aren’t currently supporting National Forests locally, including project planning and treatment recommendations, contracts, and related budgets for services related to on-the-ground implementation and coordination with various partners.
• Projects may include data collection, site assessments, forest inventories, monitoring, and recommending treatment units and unit sequencing, unit layout.
• Work with the Forest Service and partners to develop reforestation implementation plans and associated activities; identify and prioritize reforestation sites using ecological, silvicultural, and climate adaptation criteria.

Technical Support & Guidance

• Serve as a member of a National Enterprise Program to develop best practices and deepen expertise in reforestation, to provide guidance and support to NFF Field Teams and position NFF as a recognized thought leader in reforestation efforts.
• Collaborate within NFF Enterprise team, Field teams, and Forest Service partners to develop a system of national and regional reforestation technical guidance resources for implementing staff, including workflows, training materials, standard operating procedures and best practices, planting protocols, procurement templates, and standard technical guidance.
• Identify and document…