Project Manager - Forests and Restoration (Management & Executives)

Full Time

  Pacific Forest Trust

  San Francisco, California, United States

GENERAL:

PFT is looking for a hands-on Project Manager who enjoys travel and has a head for forest management as well as a deep respect for natural forest landscapes. This position oversees the forest management—from silviculture to timber products marketing—on all PFT managed properties and promotes restoration on all conserved properties. The Project Manager is no stranger to loggers and contractors; he/she also has a passion for restoration of natural forest ecosystem functions to support robust, resilient water and wildlife resources. Each of the forests that the Project Manager stewards is a living laboratory, and the work he/she does affects thousands of acres of mixed-conifer forests, dozens of special habitats, and several key watersheds. What’s more, the results of his/her innovative forest management can influence forest management and restoration practices across the country.

At home among the trees, the right candidate is equally interested in building collegial working relationships within and outside of PFT, from foresters and loggers to landowners, scientists, and agency representatives. A strong advocate for innovative forest management in the forestry community, the Project Manager is a thoughtful advisor, informing research initiatives, and sharing metrics and analysis from the forest landscapes he/she stewards.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Oversight, direction, and implementation of forest management (+/- 65% of position)

A. Full charge oversight of forest management implementation on PFT fee and managed properties in Oregon (7,200) and California (4,000):

  • Responsible for ensuring quality and timely completion of all project aspects to meet ecological, harvest, and budget goals. This includes:
    • Planning (annual and long-term management plans and updates thereof); Silviculture and harvest layout;
    • Ensuring permitting and plans related to permitting (THPs, NTMPs, etc.);
    • Supervision of local contractors
    • Oversight of log/timber products marketing by consulting foresters;
    • Contract & budget management;
    • Ensuring inventories, maps, and all data systems for timber and carbon are well maintained
  • Other related management tasks

 

B. Develop opportunities for these lands to serve as demonstration sites for applications and innovations in conservation, restoration, ecological forest management, enhancing the full spectrum of ecological services.

  • Identify and obtain funding for restoration projects.
  • Encourage publication and communication of results in a broad range of relevant fora, from scientific to social media.

 

2. Develop and support projects for ecosystem restoration (i.e. watershed, wet meadow and other habitat functions) across key PFT conserved properties (15-20%)

3. Contribute to forest conservation projects with ecological advice and/or data analysis. As feasible, help assess forest and other habitat condition, and potentially analyze impacts of various management approaches (i.e. on timber stocking, growth and yield under various scenarios). Serve as advisor on easement stewardship (5-10%)

4. Represent PFT in various professional fora with landowners, foresters, and other natural resource professionals. As needed, participate in agency discussions at state and federal level to support PFT work and goals; contribute to PFT communications products from time to time; advise on relevant PFT policy issues. (5-10%)

5. Other tasks as may be required. (up to 5%)

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • 10+ years experience in ecological resource restoration, management, and/or forestry with a focus on restoring and maintaining natural forest function and structures.
  • Knowledge of forest ecology for Pacific Northwest (CA, OR, WA) forests, resource inventory and mapping, facility with GIS required.
  • Understanding of forest modeling required (i.e., ability to utilize growth and yield programs (FPS or Forsee desirable).
  • RPF in California preferred; experience in Oregon and Washington forest types desirable.
  • Knowledge of forest carbon accounting and California offset regulations is a plus.
  • Excellent communication and people skills: verbal, written.
  • Masters or equivalent experience in Silviculture, Forest Ecology, or related fields helpful.
  • Must have valid driver’s license, be fit and able to walk forest project sites, as well as be able to lift at least 20 pounds.
  • Committed to Pacific Forest Trust’s mission. 

TRAVEL: Significant travel (up to 25% time) required for on-site fieldwork.

LOCATION: Preferred in the main office (San Francisco, CA); willing to consider other options, but presence in the main office required at least 1 week/per month.