1 - Job Title To Be Created

American Forests • Marion, VA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Restoration Forester is a full-time, field-based position managing hardwood forests on family-owned private lands in southwest Virginia. In partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF), the Forester provides technical and financial assistance to landowners through cost-share programs, including NRCS’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW), and DOF’s Hardwood Initiative. The role also collaborates with The Nature Conservancy on forest management at its Clinch Valley program lands.

The position 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, contractors, and nonprofit partners to design and deliver practices that restore healthy, resilient hardwood forests, while helping grow American Forests’ Appalachian field office and Southeast program.

The position is based on-site at an NRCS field office in Marion, Virginia. Work is primarily outdoors in forested environments (80%), with administrative work remotely or at partner facilities (20%). Hot, cold, or wet conditions are expected, and personal protective equipment and safe work practices are required. A rental vehicle is provided for regular field travel 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

• Bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resource management, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of experience in applied forest management, including field experience marking silvicultural treatments and preparing forest management plans.
• Knowledge of Appalachian hardwood management and oak silviculture.
• Strong organizational skills and experience working independently while managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proficiency with field data collection technology, 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.
• Certified Forester (CF) or Candidate Certified Forester (CCF) certification from the Society of American Foresters, or ability to obtain certification within the first 6 months on the job.

Responsibilities

• Lead and participate in education and outreach for private family forest landowners, including direct 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 for NRCS and DOF cost-share programs by interpreting stand data, preparing graphs and tables, delineating stands, creating ArcGIS maps, and writing silvicultural prescriptions.
• Assist landowners with enrollment in NRCS and DOF cost-share programs and contract development.
• Design and lay out hardwood forest management practices, marking treatment boundaries and flagging or painting take-or-leave trees for shelterwood, midstory removal, crop tree release, and nonnative invasive plant control.
• Provide landowners with contractor lists, inspect contractor work, and complete final contract certifications to ensure compliance with technical standards and forest management plans.
• Monitor treatments after implementation 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 meetings, trainings, workshops, and initiatives related to hardwood management.
• Help develop outreach materials and presentations promoting hardwood management practices and incentives.
• Maintain accurate field records, practice maps, GIS data, and landowner files.
• Support reporting requirements to NRCS, DOF, and American Forests, including metrics tracking and site documentation.
• Assist American Forests staff with in-person meetings, conferences, and events; give public presentations; and plan and lead site visits and field tours as appropriate.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Employee Assistance Program, flexible spending accounts, and disability, life, and AD&D insurance.
• Vacation and sick leave, paid holidays, parental bonding leave, bereavement leave, and military leave.
• 401(k) plan with a 5% employer match.
• Technology stipend and pet benefits.
• Rental vehicle for regular field travel and periodic travel to meetings and conferences.
• Necessary equipment and support from American Forests and NRCS.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level