Cumberland Plateau Partnership Coordinator

The White Oak Initiative, fiscally sponsored by Meridian Institute, is currently seeking a Cumberland Plateau Partnership Coordinator to play a central role in identifying, connecting, convening, and leveraging white oak conservation and management efforts across the Cumberland Plateau (primarily Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama). The White Oak Initiative is a diverse coalition of partners committed to the long-term sustainability of America’s white oak forests as well as the economic, social, and environmental benefits they provide.

The Cumberland Plateau Partnership Coordinator is a multifaceted position that encompasses a range of key responsibilities, all geared towards fostering effective collaboration and enhancing white oak conservation across this specific geographical region. This is a pivotal position in fostering synergy among various stakeholders, ensuring that collective efforts translate into effective and sustainable conservation and management practices. Success in this role hinges on exceptional organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills, which are instrumental in driving successful collaboration and coordination across a myriad of stakeholders and geographical regions.

This position requires a self-driven, dedicated, highly-organized professional with a passion for conservation and a proven ability to coordinate, facilitate, and optimize efforts across diverse stakeholders for effective forest management. This role requires a strong combination of educational background, experience, and personal attributes to excel in fostering collaboration and driving conservation impact.

This role will report to the White Oak Initiative Executive Director and work remotely (must reside in Kentucky, Tennessee, or northern Alabama). Regular travel throughout the Cumberland Plateau will be necessary and expected.

The starting salary for this grant-funded two-year position is $60,000 – $65,000 and includes a competitive benefits package, including: 

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• A variety of voluntary insurances for employees, their families, and their pets
• Generous vacation and sick time, plus 12 paid holidays
• A robust Employee Assistance Program

Areas of Responsibility: 

• Stakeholder Engagement: Embrace the role of connector, convener, and collaborator, engaging with a diverse spectrum of stakeholders, which includes government agencies, non-profit organizations, landowners, researchers, and community groups. Your capacity to foster collaboration and facilitate knowledge exchange will be instrumental in advancing white oak conservation objectives.
• Partnership Management and Coordination: Function as the primary point of contact for new and existing partners and collaborators across the Cumberland Plateau, with a keen focus on identifying “key players” and enhancing joint efforts to positively impact white oak conservation endeavors. Your ability to cultivate robust working relationships, facilitate seamless communication, and align shared goals and objectives will be pivotal in fostering collaboration and achieving a unified approach. Your work will be paramount to identifying and engaging new strategic partnerships, broadening the network of organizations and individuals committed to white oak conservation.
• Data Collection, Reporting, and Promotion: Collaborate with partners to collect various types of data that showcases on-the-ground progress, partnership/network efficacy, and more. This position is responsible for producing stories of success, annual reports for grants, and promotion of partnership activities and events.
• Support the Broader Goals of the White Oak Initiative: While this position is heavily focused on the Cumberland Plateau, you will be expected to work closely with other WOI staff and the Executive Director to advance the broader goals of the WOI. This may include support for meetings and events, marketing and outreach, and other duties as assigned.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Experience may be substituted for education.

Experience:       

• Minimum of 2 years of relevant and successful experience in conservation, project management, or a related role.·
• Proven track record in leading, managing, nurturing, and coordinating partnerships, collaborations, or stakeholder engagement to find alignment toward shared goals.·
• Experience in convening and facilitating collaborative meetings.·
• Experience with project management tools, progress tracking, project reporting, and more.·
• Successful navigation of working remotely as part of a larger team is highly desirable.·
• Familiarity with conservation and management practices related to white oak or similar ecosystems is also desirable.

Attributes and Skills:       

• Commitment to conservation and sustainable active forest management practices.·
• Strategic thinking and the ability to develop and manage partnerships that drive conservation impact.·
• A collaborative mindset with the ability to convene and connect diverse groups of stakeholders, with the ability to navigate differing perspectives toward common overarching goals.·
• Ability to identify funding sources to leverage against strategic partnerships in order to advance conservation efforts.·
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills.·
• Strong communication and interpersonal abilities, with the capacity to establish and maintain productive relationships with diverse stakeholders.·
• Proactive and detail-oriented approach to problem-solving and decision-making.·
• Strong technology proficiency, including database management and data tracking tools.·
• Ability to work effectively in a team and adapt to changing priorities.·
• Strong project leadership and coordination skills.·
• Adaptability and a solution-oriented mindset in a dynamic and complex environment.

ABOUT THE WHITE OAK INITIATIVE AND MERIDIAN INSTITUTE: 

The White Oak Initiative is a coalition comprised of government agencies, conservation organizations, forest products industries, trade associations, universities and Extension offices, forest practitioners, and landowners. Our mission is to be an advocate and catalyst for sustainable upland oak forest management, with a focus on white oak regeneration. We accomplish this through convening, connecting, and collaborating with stakeholders to increase the economic, social, and ecological benefits of upland oak forests. The White Oak Initiative is funded by government grants, corporate and foundation support, and individual donations. Meridian Institute is the fiscal sponsor for the White Oak Initiative. Meridian Institute is a mission-driven, nonprofit consultancy that offers fiscal sponsorship services and strategic support to emerging and existing initiatives that are aligned with Meridian’s mission, values, and commitment to collaboration. Through fiscal sponsorship, initiatives that would benefit from support from Meridian’s robust finance team and administrative capabilities have access to these services. For this reason, all initiative employees are legally employed by Meridian Institute.

Accommodation 

Meridian Institute complies fully with the relevant Disability Acts and Laws in local countries. If you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position, please contact human resources at Meridian Institute.

COVID-19 Consideration 

At this time, Meridian Institute requires that all employees be fully vaccinated, including booster shots. In circumstances where an applicant communicates that he or she is not able to be vaccinated for COVID-19 because of a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance or because of a disability, then Meridian, in accordance with applicable law, will engage in the interactive process to determine if a reasonable accommodation is feasible that will not pose an undue hardship or create a direct threat to safety.  

Equal Opportunity Employment 

Meridian recognizes that our work is made stronger and more impactful by the contributions of diverse groups from around the world. At Meridian, we welcome people from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, national origin, creed, class, ancestry, or other grounds.