Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) Forestry Program Specialist

Colorado State University•Fort Collins, CO

8d•$65,000 - $70,000•Remote

About The Position

Under the direction of the Manager of Program Delivery, the Forestry Program Specialist serves as the statewide lead for the oversight and administration of the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) program and related partner agreements. This position manages the operational integrity of a $38 million portfolio funded through federal agreements, state funding, and timber sale revenue. The specialist acts as the central point of coordination for GNA accountability, and technical data management across the agency's 17 field units. Primary functions include developing multi-year project plans, coordinating potential pre-implementation environmental planning contracts/agreements (NEPA, Section 106, and ESA), and providing professional forestry expertise to support forest management throughout Colorado. This position will primarily work remotely from a home office located anywhere within Colorado; however, frequent travel throughout the state is expected for in-person meetings, trainings, and other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Natural Resources, or a related field.
Four years of combined field forestry and forest or natural resource management program administration experience.
Legally authorized to work in the United States before the employment start date.
Valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license by the employment start date.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated ability to build strategic relationships and advance outcomes with federal, state, and third-party partners; strong interpersonal skills with a proven ability to resolve multi-party conflicts and negotiate with diverse workgroups.
Expert knowledge of forest health and watershed issues; demonstrated experience in project prep, cruising, appraisals, road layout, and timber sale and fuels reduction contract development and administration.
Experience implementing GNA projects.
Ability to work independently at a high level of proficiency, managing multiple high-priority projects while maintaining a focus on technical accuracy, and professional excellence.
Experience managing complex, multi-million dollar portfolios, including budget oversight, annual programs of work, strategic reporting of accomplishments, and the administration of forestry-related grants and federal agreements.
Proficiency in coordinating and overseeing pre-implementation environmental planning efforts, specifically NEPA, Heritage (Section 106), and Endangered Species Act (ESA) support.

Responsibilities

Manage a $38 million statewide GNA portfolio consisting of federal agreements, state and third-party funding, and timber sale revenue to ensure financial accountability and audit readiness.
Facilitate the creation and implementation of multi-year project plans and corresponding agreements for all 17 field units to ensure the completion of the annual program of work.
Perform programmatic reviews of GNA contracts, timber sale documentation, and appraisal processes to ensure technical accuracy and compliance with agency standards.
Programmatic statewide data management and reporting, and implementing timber sale volume tracking software to ensure accurate reporting of accomplishments.
Administer grant and agreement lifecycles, including proposal development, budget monitoring, and verifying staffing percentages across accounts to meet federal and state fiscal requirements.
Coordinate pre-implementation environmental planning efforts through contracts/agreements, including NEPA, Heritage (Section 106), and Endangered Species Act (ESA) support, by building partnerships to accelerate forestry projects.
Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with statewide USFS, BLM, NGO, and Industry partners, as well as internal CSFS teams, to facilitate shared stewardship of Colorado’s forests.
Develop and deliver technical trainings and workshops for CSFS staff and partners on GNA standards, contract development, and program administration.
May provide daily oversight, guidance, and safety mentoring for seasonal or hourly staff as needed.