Outreach Manager for Climate-Smart Forestry

New England Forestry Foundation

The New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF) stands at a pivotal moment of opportunity for advancing cutting edge forest-based climate solutions across New England and beyond. NEFF is an advocate for forest-climate solutions; a generator of new information and science on how Exemplary Forestry can advance the integrated goals of ecological health, forest carbon, and a dynamic bioeconomy; a conservation landowner that actively manages forest land; and an active collaborator in support of ecologically aligned forestry.

This position posting comes in the context of a significant period of growth for NEFF focused on how climate-smart forestry can be implemented across New England and as a national and international model for climate-smart forestry on private lands. The USDA recently awarded NEFF a $30 million grant under their Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities (CSC) program for the New England Climate-Smart Commodities Partnership project. This program represents an unprecedented opportunity to pilot scalable, carbon-saving forest management practices as part of a systems approach including forestland protection, wildland preservation and building with wood to store carbon and displace carbon-intensive materials. Through this program, NEFF will define and implement a groundbreaking and nationally relevant pilot program in New England to build a climate-smart, forest-based economy as a powerful tool for climate action.

Position Summary

The Outreach Manager for Climate-Smart Forestry will work with the project team, smaller non-commercial woodland owners and land trusts to support on-the-ground implementation of and participation in the CSC program. Work will include landowner outreach and enrollment, outreach to and coordination with land trusts across the region, support for the design of the incentive program to smaller-acreage landowners, development and delivery of landowner education programs and forester training workshops, and related work as defined below.

The Outreach Manager will work under the direction of NEFF’s Director of Outreach & Engagement, in coordination with the larger team and integrated with ongoing work of NEFF’s Exemplary Forestry Center. Location is flexible in the Southern New England region, although significant field time will be required in Connecticut, along with the ability to travel periodically to meetings and events in Massachusetts and Northern New England.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Outreach to and engagement of smaller-parcel forestland owners to assess site eligibility, build understanding of the program, answer questions, enroll prospective participants, maintain relationships and support program administration.
• Develop an outreach, education and messaging toolbox to communicate via various methods (website, blog posts, mailings, webinars, in-person events) with landowners and land trusts about the program’s benefits and requirements.
• Engage land trusts and conservation partners to conduct systematic outreach to small-acreage woodland owners across the region. Remain in touch with regional partners throughout the course of the project to support diffusion of successful outreach methods and share lessons learned.
• Work with project team and partners to test and refine the landowner incentive payment program(s) as designed to enable woodland owners to implement climate-smart forest practices under this federally funded program.
• Design and implement woodland owner training programs, woods walks and workshops.
• Work with project team to develop innovative methods or partnerships to reach underserved individuals and communities as part of outreach strategies.
• Work with project team to help design and host training workshops as needed to equip foresters and loggers to implement the climate-smart forest practices defined through this project and work with enrolled landowners.

Preferred Experience & Requirements

• Familiarity with New England’s forest ecosystems; preference for natural resource field work experience.
• Minimum of BA or BS, and preference for a master’s degree, in communications, natural resources, forestry or related field, or proven relevant professional experience similar to a four-year degree.
• A passion for forest conservation, forestry, and climate change action with a clear understanding of those issues and their relationships to forests, forestry, and natural resource management, and a commitment to working with a results-driven team to achieve meaningful outcomes for the global climate and the long-term health of New England’s forests.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; preference for experience in planning and/or conducting educational, outreach or marketing/communications campaigns.
• Experience in public speaking or hosting webinars and in-person conferences, and event planning.
• Ability to work collaboratively with NEFF staff, project partners, and outside stakeholders to build strong partnerships and achieve common goals.
• Affinity for working on dynamic, innovative, out-of-the box approaches.
• Excellent organizational and prioritization skills in managing multiple projects simultaneously.

Compensation, Location & Other Information

• Salary range for this position is $50,000 – $55,000 commensurate with experience.
• New England Forestry Foundation offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees including health/dental/vision insurances, paid time off, parental leave, retirement plan with employer match and vesting, and a congenial and flexible working environment.
• Location for this position is flexible within Southern New England. It will require extensive travel and field visits to Connecticut, Rhode Island and other areas of Southern New England, periodic travel to the organization’s Prouty Woods headquarters in Littleton, Massachusetts, and other regions of New England.

New England Forestry Foundation is an equal employment opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. NEFF commits to respecting and learning from different perspectives, reflecting the diverse citizens and communities of New England. In hiring, mentoring, and managing staff, the organization seeks to maintain a diverse, supportive, friendly, and discrimination-free workplace.