JOB DESCRIPTION

Title: Stewardship Forester 

Full-Time or Part-time: Full-time, Term Limited 

Department: Conservation

Reports To: Forest Management Manager 

Employment Category: Salary/Exempt

Location: New Waverly, TX

JOB SUMMARY

The primary objective for the Stewardship Forester (Forester) is to help deliver the NWTF’s conservation mission through the programmatic delivery of all elements related to the National Master Stewardship Agreement that was signed in 2023 with the US Forest Service. Specifically, the work of the Forester should result in both maintenance and expansion of conservation delivery. This position serves as a project specialist responsible for assisting with project planning, timber sale layout, restoration implementation, contract compliance, monitoring, stakeholder coordination, and public engagement activities. The position supports commercial and non-commercial restoration projects on federal lands. The Forester serves in a capacity to deliver partnership-related deliverables identified in the specific grant/agreement and serves in a temporary or term-limited capacity determined by performance and funding viability.

The Forester will report to the Forest Management Manager and work in cooperation and coordination, when needed, with the NWTF District Biologist(s) to help deliver the conservation mission.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• None

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assist in the planning, layout, implementation, and monitoring of federal forest restoration projects/ contracts.
• Prepare and administer commercial and non-commercial restoration contracts including timber sale contracts and ensure compliance with applicable regulations.
• Conduct timber presale activities including sale layout, road location, timber marking, and cruising. Must be or willing to become a certified US Forest Service cruiser, if needed for the position.
• Conduct harvest inspection activities including monitoring logging activities, temporary road placement, ground-moisture conditions and other activities in alignment with timber sale implementation specifications. Complete harvest inspection reports. Must be or willing to become a US Forest Service certified harvest inspector, if needed for the position.
• Duties performed by this position require daily decision making that have impacts to project success. Boundary determination and locating issues as related to NEPA documentation within project units is a key role of this position.
• Coordinate restoration project layout activities with US Forest Service specialists and agency staff.
• Review and implement federal environmental laws and policies including NEPA and related environmental compliance requirements.
• Operate GPS and mapping tools to identify project boundaries, road locations, and treatment areas. Proficient in GIS and capable of making maps, accessing shapefiles and preparing data for contractors.
• Support development of project proposals and contract documentation for restoration activities.
• Completes assigned and agreed upon deliverables for contracts and agreements regarding specific project activities.
• Provide outreach and education support related to restoration and conservation projects.
• Attends annual NWTF Convention, state & regional meetings, and training as necessary, and as approved by supervisor
• Provides input to the respective state Super Fund Committee and Habitat subcommittees regarding habitat funding opportunities as requested.
• Identifies funding sources such as grants & stewardship contracts, as directed to assist with implementation of projects; includes state and federal grants, financial agency support of project work and other matching funds for NWTF Super Funds
• Works with the NWTF Communications and US Forest Service staff to tell the conservation story to increase public support for active forest management and project support.
• Performs other related duties as assigned

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Position requires a Bachelor’s degree in forestry, or other natural resource field with a strong forestry/wildlife emphasis.
• One or more years of professional experience in natural resource management is preferred.
• Experience in timber sale layout, timber sale monitoring, contract compliance, fuels management, or restoration project implementation preferred
• Working knowledge of forestry practices, timber sale layout, restoration implementation, and natural resource management on US Forest Service lands.
• Knowledge of environmental planning principles, NEPA processes, and federal land management procedures.
• Employee must possess a solid working knowledge of the ecosystems where they will beworking
• Work independently without close supervision and ability to determine work priorities daily, weekly and monthly to maximize time efficiency is required.
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Basic computer skills such as e-mail, Word, Excel, Microsoft Office, PowerPoint and ArcGIS Pro.
• Proficient writer and capable of thorough documentation.
• Ability to navigate in remote and rural areas and communicate with agency personnel, contractors and contracted laborers in the field.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, excellent organizational skills, and work well as a team member
• Must be willing to incur moderate travel including overnight stays up to 5 nights or more.

PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be able and willing to work, often alone, in a diverse range of climatic, topographic, and ecological conditions including extreme hot and cold temperatures, rain, snow, sleet, ice, biting insects, snakes, mountainous terrain, swamps, thick underbrush, very remote areas with limited access and amenities and other extreme conditions as warranted.
• Must be able to walk several miles per day in the conditions described above.
• Must be able to drive and/or ride long distances frequently. May be required to ride in fixed wing or rotary wing aircraft or watercraft.
• Ability to lift and carry a minimum of 20lbs.

REMOTE OR TELECOM STATUS

• Position is required to report to assigned work location, may be permitted to work remotely on a limited basis.

 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT

• This position requires frequent travel to remote forested properties. Candidates must have a valid driver's license and access to reliable personal transportation capable of safely traveling on gravel roads, unimproved roads, and other terrain commonly encountered in forestry work.