1 - Job Title To Be Created

American Forests•Marion, VA

2d•$26 - $33•Onsite

About The Position

The Restoration Forester is a full-time, field-based position focused on managing hardwood forests on family-owned private lands in southwest Virginia. In partnership with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF), the Forester provides landowners with technical and financial assistance through cost-share programs, including NRCS’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW), and DOF’s Hardwood Initiative. The position also works with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) on forest management needs at its Clinch Valley program lands. The role implements Appalachian hardwood silviculture, with an emphasis on white oak and other upland oak species. Practices include shelterwood treatments, midstory removal, crop tree release, nonnative invasive plant control, commercial timber harvests, and noncommercial forest stand improvement. The Forester works with agencies, landowners, and other partners to design and deliver practices that restore healthy, resilient hardwood forests. The position also contributes to growing American Forests’ Appalachian field office and Southeast program. It is based on-site at an NRCS field office in Marion, Virginia. Work is primarily outdoors in forested environments (80%), with some administrative work remotely or at partner facilities (20%). Hot, cold, or wet conditions are expected. Personal protective equipment and safe work practices are required. A rental vehicle is provided for field work and periodic travel to meetings and conferences; necessary equipment and support are provided by American Forests and NRCS. The role reports to the Director, Southeast Forest Restoration and has no direct reports.

Requirements

Certified Forester (CF) or Candidate Certified Forester (CCF) certification from the Society of American Foresters, or ability to obtain certification within the first six months on the job.
Bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resource management, or a related field.
At least two years of applied forest management experience, including field experience marking silvicultural treatments and preparing forest management plans.
Knowledge of Appalachian hardwood management and oak silviculture.
Strong organizational skills and ability to work independently while managing multiple projects simultaneously.
Proficiency with technological tools for field data collection, such as tablets, and ArcGIS Pro.
Strong communication and collaboration skills.
Ability to work outdoors in varied weather conditions and lift up to 50 pounds.
Valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

Lead and participate in education and outreach for family forest landowners, including mailings, workshops, field tours, and demonstration events.
Develop and implement forest inventories, including sampling design, field data collection, and data analysis.
Use technical decision-support tools, including the USDA Forest Service’s Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS), to inform silvicultural prescriptions.
Prepare forest management plans aligned with NRCS and DOF cost-share programs, including interpreting stand data, preparing graphs and tables, delineating stands, creating ArcGIS maps, and writing prescriptions.
Assist landowners with enrollment in NRCS and DOF cost-share programs and with contract development.
Design and lay out hardwood forest management practices, including marking treatment boundaries and flagging or painting trees to retain or remove for shelterwood, midstory removal, crop tree release, and invasive plant control.
Provide landowners with contractor lists and conduct contractor inspections and final contract certifications to ensure compliance with technical standards and forest management plans.
Monitor post-treatment outcomes to assess efficacy and inform adaptive management.
Connect landowners with prescribed-burn resources, including facilitating burn plan development and preparation such as fireline construction or maintenance.
Coordinate with NRCS and DOF field offices, state and federal agencies, private companies and contractors, and nonprofit partners to align goals and leverage resources.
Participate in regional hardwood management meetings, trainings, workshops, and initiatives.
Develop outreach materials and presentations promoting hardwood management practices and incentives.
Maintain accurate field records, practice maps, GIS data, and landowner files.
Support reporting to NRCS, DOF, and American Forests, including metrics tracking and site documentation.
Assist with in-person meetings, conferences, and events; give public presentations; and plan and lead site visits and field tours as appropriate.