Southwest Colorado Senior Associate

National Forest Foundation (NFF) is pleased to offer a full-time, exempt, term position (2 years) that will provide programmatic support to successfully plan, develop, implement, and manage a portfolio of community engagement, wildfire resilience, forest health, watershed health, and recreation improvement projects across the San Juan National Forest and broader Four Corners region.

About the NFF: The NFF works with communities and organizations to conserve and enhance the watersheds, wildlife habitat, wild places, and recreational opportunities across the 193-million-acre National Forest System. The NFF seeks to engage all Americans in this work.

Position Function: The Southwest Colorado Senior Associate reports directly to the Rocky Mountain Region Program Manager and works closely with other NFF staff, U.S. Forest Service staff, and other local partners to manage robust and growing programs. Together with the Southwest Colorado Project Coordinator, the Senior Associate will provide project support across NFF’s conservation, community engagement, and recreation activities across the Southwestern Colorado region. The incumbent will coordinate closely with members of the U.S. Forest Service, local governments and communities, conservation NGOs, and private sector companies to support strategic initiatives and long-term goals in the Southwestern Colorado area.

Position Duties and Responsibilities: The Southwest Colorado Senior Associate will:

• Support the Southwest Colorado Project Coordinator in the San Juan Wood for Life partnership. Support includes in-woods supervision of forest restoration treatments, wood bank supply coordination, timber load ticket tracking, and assistance developing new wood delivery locations.
• Develop and track match for the San Juan Wood for Life partnership. Match includes tribal partners volunteer and staff time for processing and delivering firewood.
• Coordinate and supervise projects where conservation corps and youth crews are the implementing partners. Projects may include fire mitigation, trail construction and maintenance, watershed restoration, and campsite maintenance.
• Lead the advertisement, negotiation, and awarding of contracts for services and purchases related to on-the-ground implementation of travel management projects with support from the Southwest Colorado Project Coordinator.
• Build and maintain close and mutually beneficial relationships among federal and state agency partners, Tribal governments, local government, nonprofit organizations, and the NFF to implement effective community-based conservation partnerships.
• Conduct ongoing communication with partners, contractors, and vendors on the status of project planning, implementation, and project successes.
• Manage budgets, project metrics, and reporting associated with grants from federal, state, and local government sources, as well as philanthropic support from corporations, foundations, and individuals.
• Work with the Southwest Colorado team to identify opportunities for strategic program growth.
• Maintain a breadth of knowledge about current trends, emerging issues, policy interventions, and innovations in the field of conservation programming to enhance the NFF strategic efficacy.
• Work with NFF staff to communicate project needs and accomplishments, including writing blogs and social media posts and ensuring the direct reports contribute to communications efforts on a regular basis.
• Assist as necessary with the NFF program of work in Southern Colorado, which may include the management of diverse, short-term projects.

Location: The location for this position is Southwest Colorado in Durango, Cortez, Mancos, Dolores, or a nearby community. Applicants must be able to travel regularly throughout the Four Corners Region and the San Juan National Forest. This position is a work-from-home position and requires reliable internet access and a dedicated workspace.

Compensation: The NFF offers competitive compensation and benefits and has recently implemented a new compensation program as part of our commitment to transparency. The salary range for this position will be in the $54,466 to $69,156 range. Please note that the indicated salary range describes the full range for an incumbent in this position. New staff generally start at the 35th percentile of the range percentile to ensure internal salary equity.

To Apply: Applications must include both a cover letter and resume. Incomplete packages will not be considered. Please apply by March 27th. Please visit our careers site to apply online.

The National Forest Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes a diverse pool of candidates in this search. For more information about the National Forest Foundation, visit the website at: www.nationalforests.org. 

Requirements:

Education and Qualifications: NFF expects the Southwest Colorado Senior Associate to possess the following educational and experiential qualifications:

• Minimum of an undergraduate degree – preferred fields of study include conservation, forestry, natural resource management, recreation management, environmental science, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• At least one (1) year of work experience with federal land management agencies, conservation programs, project planning, and/or managing project implementation.
• Experience with land and watershed science, policy, or management, including fire science, vegetation management, and/or wildlife conservation.
• Experience with leading individuals or teams towards achieving a goal.
• An understanding of Southwest Colorado natural resources and community-based issues.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational, and administrative skills.
• Strong writing skills and public speaking experience.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Abilities and Skills: NFF expects the Southwest Colorado Senior Associate to possess the following:

• Ability to understand and clearly communicate about recreation infrastructure, community-based conservation, and forest and watershed restoration projects.
• Ability to collaboratively manage programs, projects, and partnerships, and evaluate their outcomes against quantifiable measures of success.
• Ability to work independently, performing program development, relationship management, and project management with minimal oversight.
• A strong attention to detail, with skill in working in a timely and well-organized fashion.
• Ability to represent the NFF in a clear and professional manner through excellent written and oral communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work on diverse teams or with a diverse range of people.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly, work in outdoor conditions, and maintain a flexible work schedule, including participation in weekend and evening events.
• A valid U.S. Driver’s License and clean driving record.
• Familiarity with GIS mapping software.