National Forest Foundation (NFF) is pleased to offer an exempt, full-time, position to a candidate who will be an integral part of the NFF field team working with partners to restore imperiled ecosystems and implement forest restoration in the Southern Appalachians, providing strategic collaboration, content, and overall program support.

About the NFF: 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: The NFF, in partnership with the Southern Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative (SASRI) and the United States Forest Service (USFS), requires focused capacity to expand the pace and scale spruce restoration work across Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee on federal, state, tribal and private lands.

The SASRI Program Associate Coordinator will support SASRI coordination and restoration project implementation. The Associate Coordinator will report to, and work closely and take direction from, NFF’s Southern Appalachian Program Manager, and SASRI leadership. The Coordinator will work with NFF staff across other departments as needed.

Position Duties and Responsibilities: The SASRI Program Associate Coordinator is responsible for the following duties: 

• Assist with and participate in SASRI meetings to maintain group cohesion and progress, including agenda development, meeting preparation, meeting facilitation, notetaking, resource gathering, and follow up by tracking action items, deliverables, and commitments established during the meeting.
• Support in-field restoration project coordination and implementation
• Manage document sharing platform (Box folders and/or SASRI website in conjunction with website holder), including updating SASRI member records, uploading meeting notes, and adding resources brought up during meetings. 
• Coordinate and organize update of 2014 SASRI Red Spruce Restoration Plan. 
• Lead and coordinate grant writing among SASRI partners.
• Facilitate SASRI Sky Island Team and Sub-Committee meetings and their implementation of the SASRI Restoration Plan.
• Coordinate restoration planning among several public land management agencies (USFS, NPS, NC state agencies), and the spruce restoration initiative in the central Appalachians.

Education and Qualifications: NFF expects the SASRI Program Associate Coordinator to possess the following educational and experiential qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, natural resource management, forestry, planning, public policy, or related field.
• A minimum of three (3) years’ experience with proven results in community outreach, partnership development and forest restoration and/or land management. 
• Proven results in facilitation, program support and coordination, and/or partnership development.
• Prefer familiarity with U.S. Forest Service land management policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Abilities and Skills: NFF expects the Conservation SASRI Program Associate Coordinator to possess the following proven abilities and skills: 

• Ability to work with a wide range of people with differing and sometimes conflicting opinions, and to always maintain neutrality. 
• Ability to work independently, managing a variety of projects and tasks effectively, with minimal oversight, in a remote environment.
• Ability to represent the NFF with diverse partners and donors clearly and professionally through excellent written and oral communication skills and excellent interpersonal skills. 
• Ability to build collaborative and partner relationships by communicating the NFF mission and Conservation Connect Program with enthusiasm, passion, candor, and nuance.
• Excellent organizational skills with a strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work well and be flexible in a team-oriented environment.
• Must have a valid U.S. driver’s license and clean driving record and pass a background check for access to secured federal facilities and systems. 

Location: The location for this position is flexible throughout western Virginia and North Carolina, and eastern Tennessee. This position is a remote/work from home position and requires reliable internet access and a dedicated workspace.

Compensation: NFF offers a competitive compensation and benefits package that reflects our total rewards strategy. The starting salary range for this position is $63,000 to $77,000, with the ability to grow to $91,000 based on performance outcomes over time and assessed annually. NFF monitors mandated state minimum wage updates. Individual state conditions will be honored during the offer process.

Benefits: NFF is proud to offer our staff: 

Health and Wellness:

• Medical and dental insurance paid at 75% by the organization for you and any dependents. 
• Vision insurance paid 50% by the organization for you and any dependents. 
• Health savings account (HSA) with employer contributions between $1,878-$3,750 per year, predicated on coverage type. 
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSA). 
• Employee assistance program (EAP) at no cost. 

Financial Wellbeing:

• 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% employer match after one (1) year of service. 
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance at no cost. 
• Basic life and AD&D insurance at no cost, with voluntary life insurance options. 
• Whole life insurance at a discounted rate

Flexibility and time off:

• Employees start with 35 days of annual leave, sick leave, personal leave and holidays (annual leave accrual rates increase with years of service) 
• Family & medical leave for up to sixteen (16) weeks with up to four (4) weeks paid. 

Personal Development:

• Training & Development Programs  
• Professional development reimbursement for up to $1,000 per year. 

Journey of a Lifetime:

• The opportunity to support an incredible mission and travel to / work in spectacular locations.

To Apply: Applications must include both a cover letter and resume. Incomplete packages will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. This posting will close on March 4, or earlier if filled. Please visit our careers site to apply online.

The National Forest Foundation is an equal opportunity employer – meaning we provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable law. Further, we prohibit discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, and termination. We strive to foster a work environment where every individual is respected, valued, and treated fairly. This statement reflects our unwavering dedication to fairness, respect, and equality in employment practices and sets the foundation for a positive work environment.