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Forest Project Manager

The Forest Project Manager will provide technical assistance and oversee management and restoration activates to advance the Michigan Working Forest Conservation Program goals, outcomes, plans and methods. They will develop and oversee execution of forest management plans on TNCs Working Forest Reserves, as well as provide assistance to private landowners, and other local, state, federal, and non-profit partner forest programs. They will also assist in TNC’s Natural Climate Solutions Carbon Mitigation and Protecting Land and Waters, and Forest Restoration work in the forested areas in Michigan. The position is supervised and based out of the Marquette, MI office. The compensation range for this position begins at $46,500 and may be commensurate with skills and experience.
 
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
 
In Michigan, TNC owns and manages over 38,000 acres of working forest that, under sustainable management, contribute to our biodiversity and climate outcomes that benefit people and nature. Essential to this mission, the Forest Project Manager will provide technical forest management expertise to TNC’s Forest Conservation efforts. Duties will include development and management of forest conservation projects, working with contractors, engagement with forest research including native species and age diversity, climate resilience, natural recruitment and disease and pest management and applied sciences, forest products industry and partner relationships, community engagement, and coordination with TNC staff and contractors on monitoring, data collection and data management.
 
The Forest Project Manager will provide technical expertise to TNC-Michigan’s Working Forest Conservation Program, the Northwoods team in the Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota chapters, and help to execute organization wide goals for natural climate solutions and healthy lands and waters. This position will be responsible for:
·      Working closely with a contracted forest management company to set up and contract timber sales, manage related road work and infrastructure projects, monitoring data, and overseeing forest management plans, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification audits, while ensuring compliance with Michigan’s Commercial Forest (CF) Program and other necessary permits as needed.  
·      Ensuring TNC owned working forests are managed in compliance with Forest Stewardship Council Certification (under TNC’s group certificate), Michigan’s Commercial Forest Program, registered carbon project requirements, and Land Trust Alliance Accreditation compliance.
·      Assisting TNC’s Protection team when looking at forested lands for different protection and carbon program options from large industrial to small private land ownerships.
 
The Forest Project Manager will manage their time to coordinate tasks across multiple projects, manage multiple simultaneous tasks and contractors, adaptively manage ongoing projects to achieve established outcomes, set deadlines and manage tasks to completion, and will support for improved forest management through effective outreach, partnerships and communication.
 
The successful candidate will have direct experience in forest management (preferably on properties enrolled in CF and FSC certified), conservation and land protection, as well as experience with partnership projects. The successful candidate will also have knowledge of current carbon programs, markets, and methodologies.
 
 
RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE
 
·      Performs tasks with minimal supervision and makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience and context.
·      Ensures program compliance with internal policies and external requirements including FSC, CF, best management practices, and other legal requirements or encumbrances.
·      Ensures all projects are completed within budget and in a timely manner.
·      Travel to forest work locations throughout Michigan will be required.
·      May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
·      Manages and maintains geospatial and other forest data for TNC and from contractors for compliance and audits.
·      May supervise technical staff, volunteers, and interns as needed.
 
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
 
·      Bachelor’s degree and 3 years’ experience in natural resource management or similar field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
·      Experience managing staff or volunteers. 
·      Relationship building experience to work closely with a variety of partners, i.e., media, government officials, internal scientists.
·      Experience completing tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).
·      Experience with communication 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 in training.                  
·      Must have valid driver's license. 
 
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
 
·      Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
·      Master’s degree and/or 3-5 years’ experience in forestry, natural resource management, similar field or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
·      Ability and willingness to apply science to decision-making and guide activities.
·      Experience managing forestry activities including timber harvest, site preparation, forest inventory methodology, reforestation, pre-commercial thinning, insect and disease management, best management practices, and associated road work.
·      Experience overseeing the management of forestland under FSC certification and Commercial Forest Program.
·      Experience in forest data analysis methods and the use of geospatial data.
·      Knowledge of forest carbon programs and methodologies.
·      Knowledge of and willingness to participate in professional forester groups in Michigan.
·      Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, land management and natural resource protection and restoration.
·      Familiarity with principles of land acquisition, protection, and acquiring conservation and other legal interests in property.
Technical report and grant proposal writing experience appreciated.