GNA Forestry Program Specialist

Lead Colorado’s Good Neighbor Authority Program. Build Partnerships. Deliver Forest Management at Scale.

The Colorado State Forest Service is seeking a Forestry Program Specialist to serve as the statewide lead for the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) Program and related partner agreements. This position is ideal for an experienced forestry professional who enjoys combining technical forestry expertise, program administration, and partnership development to advance meaningful forest management projects across Colorado.

The Forestry Program Specialist oversees a $38 million portfolio of federal agreements, state funding, and timber sale revenue that supports forest restoration, fuels reduction, and forest health projects statewide. This position works closely with field staff, federal agencies, local partners, and industry stakeholders to ensure projects are planned, funded, implemented, and reported successfully.

If you are passionate about collaborative forestry, program leadership, and helping deliver large-scale forest management projects, apply now!

Location: Remote within Colorado

Salary Range: $65,000 – $70,000 (based on experience)

What You’ll Do:

• Lead the administration and oversight of a $38 million statewide Good Neighbor Authority portfolio consisting of federal agreements, state funding, third-party funding, and timber sale revenue.
• Facilitate the development and implementation of multi-year project plans and agreements across all 17 CSFS field units to support annual program objectives.
• Conduct programmatic reviews of GNA contracts, timber sale documentation, appraisals, and related forestry activities to ensure compliance and technical accuracy.
• Manage statewide GNA data collection, reporting, and accomplishment tracking, including implementation of timber sale volume tracking systems.
• Administer grants and agreements from development through closeout, including budget oversight, financial tracking, and staffing allocation verification.
• Coordinate pre-implementation environmental planning efforts through contracts and agreements, including support related to NEPA, Section 106 (Heritage), and the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, local governments, NGOs, industry partners, and internal CSFS programs.
• Design and deliver trainings, workshops, and technical assistance related to GNA implementation, contract administration, and forestry project development.
• Provide professional forestry expertise to support forest management, restoration, and fuels reduction projects throughout Colorado.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Natural Resources, or a closely related field.
• Four years of combined experience in field forestry and forest or natural resource management program administration.

Why Choose Colorado State Forest Service?

We not only value our forests; we also value our employees. Joining our team comes with incredible benefits:

• Identity Wear Stipend: Elevate your professional image with a stipend for personalized executive wear.
• Work-Life Harmony: Achieve optimal work-life integration through tailored and flexible scheduling options.
• Connectivity Privilege: Stay seamlessly connected with either a cell phone allowance or a provided work cell.
• Premium Healthcare Benefits: Prioritize your well-being with access to exclusive and comprehensive healthcare benefits.
• Time-Off: Recharge with 15 days of sick leave and 24 days of annual leave.
• Retirement Plan: Secure your financial future with a remarkable 12% employer contribution to your retirement plan.
• Assistance Program: Access premium well-being resources through our Employee Assistance Program.
• Professional Development: Enhance your skills through personalized professional training opportunities facilitated by CSU.
• Educational Empowerment: Receive 9 hours of education credits annually through CSU.
• Tuition Privileges for Family: Secure your family’s future with 50% off tuition for children, partner, and spouse.
• Community Leadership Initiative: Give back to your community with paid administrative leave dedicated to volunteering.