The Director of Forest Management (DFM) provides strategic vision, direction and oversight for The Nature Conservancy’s forest management and restoration work in Alabama. The DFM leads efforts to establish and enroll landowners in TNC’s Working Woodlands Program. The DFM leads some or all aspects of conservation science, restoration including timber management, ecological monitoring and community relations for TNC’s terrestrial priorities in Alabama and assists in Longleaf Pine Whole System efforts and other initiatives as assigned. The DFM also serves as a key contact to government agencies, other conservation organizations, foundations and the academic community in regards to forest management work statewide.
The Director of Forest Management establishes the Conservancy as a major leader in forest restoration efforts in Alabama, defines conservation priorities and long-term conservation strategies, builds strategic, scientific, and technical capacity in the field and develops key partnerships with public and private organizations to identify and resolve technical issues and to widely communicate solutions and best practices. S/he develops innovative scientific methods, analyses, tools and frameworks to address the natural system needs, engages local community support for local conservation efforts, and negotiates complex and innovative solutions with government agencies and landowners to conserve, restore and protect natural communities.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Leads and develops a Working Woodlands Program in Alabama.
- Oversees all components of forest restoration for the Alabama Chapter.
- Programmatic scope of this work may require cross-boundary work and relationships.
- Leads and manages teams and projects to support and improve forest restoration efforts.
- Manages multi-disciplinary administrative and professional staff, with responsibility for performance management, training and career development. Establish clear directions and set stretch objectives.
- Establishes and maintains optimal standards of performance for the program while controlling costs and administering budgets.
- Responsible for ensuring that public and private funds are raised to meet program needs.
- Builds cooperation from outside parties to accomplish program goals
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Frequently makes independent decision based on analysis, experience, and judgment.
- Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including staffing, workloads and finances under deadlines.
- Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
- Experience completing tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).
- Experience with communication skills via written, spoken and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
- Experience using common software applications such as Word, Excel, web browsers, etc.
- Experience developing partnerships (NGOs, community, government.).
- Must achieve physical fitness standards as set by local Fire Manager and TNC Fire Manual.
- Experience with negotiation skills.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 7+ years’ experience in forestry, fire, and/or natural resource management or combination of education and experience.
- Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans.
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and regions.
- Experience using Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies for data collection, downloading and processing/manipulation.
- Experience in all aspects of forestry including timber harvest, site preparation, reforestation, pre-commercial thinning, insect and disease management and coordinating multiple use management
- Experience with all aspects of timber procurement (stand assessment, volume calculations, timber sale prospectus generation, bid advertisement, contractor selection, contractor management and quality control).
- Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives.
- Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
- Demonstrated experience in grant writing.
- Politically savvy and experienced in partnership development (partners, community, government)