Chief Executive Officer; CEO

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative ® (SFI ®) is a non-profit organization with a mission to advance sustainability through forest-focused collaborations. SFI has expanded its scope beyond standards to include conservation collaboration, community engagement, Indigenous relations, environmental education, and career pathways in the forest sector. We have the scale to make a meaningful difference and contribute to a positive change through our networks.

This is because the SFI footprint includes 350 million acres/145 million hectares of certified forests and influences over 11 billion cubic feet of wood fiber procured through mills certified to the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard.

SFI's operating revenue comes from a variety of sources, including conference attendance fees, sales of educational materials, government grants, service agreements, investment income, and licensing fees from SFI-certified organizations. In 2025, SFI licensing fees accounted for approximately 65% of revenue.

At SFI, we aim to foster a culture where everyone feels valued, empowered, and supported in advancing sustainability through forest-focused collaborations.

The CEO is the highest-ranking executive at SFI and is a known and credible leader with well-established relationships within the environmental and business communities. The CEO works closely with the 18-member, three-chamber Board of Directors to set the organization’s overall strategic direction, and with diverse groups and individuals to further SFI’s commitment to conserving working forests and improving the vitality of communities.

The CEO is responsible for defining and overseeing the execution of the organization’s strategy and vision while cultivating both external relationships and a high-performing team that embodies SFI’s values and priorities. Our ideal candidate will be a visionary yet pragmatic leader who can take a well-established organization and chart its course forward – someone who can assess our current strengths, identify emerging opportunities, and execute the strategic evolution needed to deepen our impact in a changing landscape.

Abbreviated – see posting for complete position description

• Advance the organization’s mission, vision, and strategic goals in collaboration with the Board of Directors, including delivering on the  Strategic Direction and annual workplans.
• Lead the organization through its next phase of evolution, building on its strong foundation to envision and execute strategic initiatives that ensure continued relevance, impact, and sustainability.

• Serve as SFI’s leading public voice, elevating the SFI as a trusted sustainability leader across local, national, bi-national and global platforms.
• Secure and deliver high-impact speaking roles at major conferences, industry gatherings, government forums, and international sustainability events.
• Act as SFI’s primary media representative, engaging with prominent media outlets to advance the organization’s mission and visibility.

• Serve as the primary liaison between the Board of Directors and the organization, ensuring open communication on governance matters, policy development, and strategic direction.
• Oversee and work closely with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to ensure operational alignment with strategic goals, Board expectations, and the needs of SFI-certified organizations.

• Provide strategic oversight on certified organization relations, ensuring emerging risks and opportunities inform SLT and Board priorities while upholding the credibility and science-based integrity of the SFI Standards.
• Understand and articulate SFI’s role in global climate, biodiversity, and sustainable development conversations, balancing North American foundation with global impact.

• Engage in high-level strategic discussions that drive positive impact across SFI’s diverse communities, including environmental educators.
• Demonstrate a deep commitment to…