Reforestation Field Manager, Resilient Forests (Northern Rockies)
Our Mission in Action
Trees play a vital role in solving some of the most pressing issues facing our communities, our society, and our world today. For 150 years, American Forests has stood boldly at the forefront of the conservation movement, working collaboratively and innovatively to ensure that all people have access to the benefits of trees. As we look ahead to the next 150, continued collective action will be essential to securing a healthy, climate-resilient future for all.
What You’ll Do
Recent years have seen a drastic shift in our forests, with millions of acres lost to high severity wildfire, disease, and intensifying storms resulting in a drastic increase in post disturbance reforestation. American Forests is working in partnership with the USDA Forest Service to meet this reforestation need and restore our forests with boots on the ground. As a Reforestation Field Manager, you will be running the on-the-ground response. You will manage the logistics and daily output of a 4-person forestry crew, conducting reforestation work that will demonstrate the success of our partnership in increasing capacity to meet the scale of this challenge. Working closely with the regional Senior Manager, you will ensure that reforestation goals are translated into high quality field results, while keeping the field crew safe and motivated. Successful applicants must be located within reasonable distance of priority projects and partnerships, and positions may require up to (60%) travel throughout the field season, to go where reforestation support is most needed.
Specific responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
Field Forestry Tasks (70%)
The Reforestation Manager will lead and participate in the reforestation field crew’s work in coordination with the local and regional national forest staff and Senior Manager, by planning and performing tasks such as, but not limited to:
- Layout of units for planting, site preparation, or fuels management.
- Inspection of planting, site preparation, or fuels management contracts and maintenance of documentation of reforestation activities inappropriate formats and databases.
- Complete reforestation surveys(e.g.stocking and survival surveys).
- Complete post-disturbance reforestation assessments.
- Use of a tablet to record and interpret spatial data in ESRI Field Maps and other applications.
- Assist with cone collection through preparation, cone surveys, and/or inspection of cone collection contracts.
- Perform all tasks in accordance with safety policies including use of company equipment safely and respectfully.
- Maintain and support a culture of safety within the field crew and American Forests.
- Coordination with research scientists whose studies are being implemented as part of the post-recovery project area.
- Coordinate and/or participate in project-level multi-party surveys and/or monitoring.
- Attend field safety trainings offered through American Forests and participating National Forest units.
Supervisory Duties (15%)
- Weekly coordination with seasonal field staff, managing crew time and project timelines.
- Responsible for front-line decision making by American Forests’ field operations
- Supervise(3)seasonalemployees, includingtimesheetand leave approvals,work plan development,performance assessments,assistancewith administrative processes,hiring, onboarding, mentorship,etc.
- Lead recruitment, hiring, and training foradditionalfieldtechnicians, if applicable
- Provide in-field supervisory support for AF staff, field crews, and field support personnel as needed and appropriate.
Administration, Work Planning and Data Entry (15%)
- Planning and scheduling of field crew work schedules and travel logistics.
- Track and submit reforestation accomplishment data into American Forests and USDA Forest Service databases of record.
- Submit field crew expenses and reimbursements.
- Support the Senior Manager in frontline relationship management and oversight of contractors.
What We’re Looking For
- Ideal candidate should have a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Natural Resource Management, Forestry, Conservation Biology or related field, but not limited to wildlife management, range management, agriculture, soil science or conservation of natural resources and/or three years’ experience in natural resource management, or an equivalent combination of education and related experience.
- Prior field experience working in forestry and natural resources, or a related field is highly desired.
- Must be familiar withforest ecosystems in thedesired region intheUS,sustainable forestry, and/ornatural resource conservation practices and principles.
- Must have the ability to navigate using a directional compass and topographical maps.
- Self-starter with high dependability, keen attention to detail, willingness tolearnand excellent communication and organizational skills.
- Proficiencywith Outlook, Excel, and Word, ArcGIS.
- Ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in written form, sufficient to convey information and instructions to the public and colleagues. Ability to speak Spanish is highly desired.
- Must possess a valid driver’s license, and a reasonably clean driving record.
We don’t expect you to check every single box. If this role excites you, we want to hear from you! We’re interested in your ability to learn, collaborate, and bring fresh perspectives.
Our Core Competencies
Attitude • Communication • Organization • Problem-Solving & Creativity • Representing the Organization
Reporting and Supervision
The Field Manager may supervise up to three (3) direct reports, primarily field-going, seasonal technicians. Field managers will report to their respective Regional Senior Manager.
Compensation, Benefits & Working Conditions
This is an hourly overtime eligible position. The hourly salary rate for Field Managers is $25.64 to $33.33 per hour depending on qualifications and experience.
The Field Manager, (Northern Rockies) should be based within reasonable commuting distance of Missoula, Montana or be willing to reside in that location
Field Managers will work an alternate work scheduled compatible with field work during the work season, and shift to a thirty-seven and a half (37.5) hours per week during the off season. The position will focus on work on National Forest System lands and will require regular travel to various field locations as part of the field crew’s activities. As a field-based position, Field Managers will be traveling regularly during the field season with the crew they supervise and will have office work responsibilities outside of field season and occasionally during field season. In the field, the Field Manager will be expected to stand, walk, or sit for long periods of time and requires lifting materials weighing up to 40 (50?) lbs. Field work includes exposure to various risks, including, but not limited to: varying terrain, dense vegetation (poison oak/ivy, blackberry, etc.), and wildlife risks (bears, mountain lions, snakes, ticks, mosquitos, etc.), hot, wet, and cold conditions. Field managers may also be required to work long days and/or drive long distances. Reasonable accommodation may be made to provide access to all individuals along the continuum of human ability and experience.
Our benefits package includes:
Health and Wellness
Work-Life Balance
Financial and Retirement
- Medical, Dental, and Vision
- Employee Assistance Program
- Flexible Spending Accounts
The Forest Restoration Team
The Forest Restoration department connects the best available science, networks, and place-based implementation to protect and restore landscapes threatened by a wide variety of stressors for the benefit of people, water, wildlife and climate. Through our partnerships, American Forests is addressing reforestation needs in multiple regions of the United States.
About Us
American Forests is a national non-profit organization committed to creating healthy and resilient forests from cities to large forest landscapes, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water, and wildlife. We advance our mission through forestry innovation, place-based partnerships to plant and restore forests, and movement building. We envision a world in which the significant environmental, societal, and economic benefits of forests are fully realized and equitably available to all people. Established in 1875, American Forests is the oldest national non-profit conservation organization in the U.S. working to restoring urban forests and forested landscapes for over 150 years.
American Forests is proud to be a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplace. These are our shared values. We welcome individuals who bring a variety of backgrounds and experiences to be a part of our team to help make a difference individually and collectively as we work toward achieving our mission. We are committed to fostering an environment that is welcoming and respectful and provides opportunities for advancement and professional growth for every team member.
American Forests is an equal opportunity employer.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. Reasonable accommodation may be made to provide access to all individuals along the continuum of human ability and experience.
Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran/LGBTQ+ Encouraged to Apply
In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information is also available in languages other than English.
