This a Full Remote job, the offer is available from: Texas (USA)

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. To support this work, we are looking for a Director, Texas Reforestation to join our Forest Restoration team.

What You’ll Do

As a part of the team, you will advance conservation of imperiled ecosystems, working lands, and watersheds through skilled development of restoration projects, cross-organizational collaboration, and management of a talented regional team of American Forests staff. Major responsibilities include:

Restoration Supply Chains: Project Development and Implementation (40%)

Advance multiple subregional restoration projects in various stages of development through daily partner interactions, problem-solving, logistical planning and implementation/oversight of field-based activities, including but not limited to site scouting, seed collection, seedling production and outplanting
In alignment and coordination with primary restoration partners, develop formal authorizations and detailed site planning for various restoration projects on public and private lands throughout the state
In coordination with agency partners, landowners and others, lead development of annual seed collection and seedling production goals for select tree and shrub species native to Texas
Manage strong relations with leaseholders, cooperators and other designated operators on public lands, conservation easements and private lands, including but not limited to representatives of the law enforcement, energy, livestock, farming, outdoorsman and utilities management sectors
Contracting: develop and execute coordinated efforts in annual project scoping, bid solicitations, service agreements, quality assurance and invoice payments for plant materials procurement, supply purchases, outplanting labor and other functions as required for multiple restoration projects

Team Management (30%)

In coordination with the Senior Manager, Texas Reforestation, lead a high performing Texas-based Reforestation Team based on accountability and alignment with Resilient Forests’ national vision for reforesting public and private lands
Manage internal program budgets, including review of supply purchases, expense tracking, and development of expense projections as related to restoration work throughout Texas
Reporting: track and complete both internal and external progress reporting on restoration outputs at regular intervals, including independent development of annual/semi-annual grant report narratives
Ensure team performance of all tasks in accordance with safety policies (federal, state and organizational), including designation of field-based SOPs and use of facilities and equipment safely and respectfully
Assist with technical planning and on-site implementation of subregional community events (i.e., volunteer plantings, native seed collection) as needed

Conservation Partnerships (15%)

Engage regional and subregional conservation partners through collaborative dialogue, regular meetings and joint development of new strategic restoration initiatives throughout the state
Enhance regional development of conservation-friendly infrastructure (i.e., wildlife crossings) and unified resource conservation approaches (i.e., watershed protection) by contributing American Forests’ perspective and resources to ongoing partner-driven dialogues with state and federal agencies

Restoration Science (15%)

In conjunction with agency partners and the Resilient Forests Science and Innovation Team, co-lead development and coordination of post-plant monitoring efforts across multiple subregional restoration projects
Alongside American Forests’ staff and partners, co-develop planning for geospatial interfaces, research-based analyses and other decision-support tools necessary to advance the restoration of landscape connectivity and related goals within fragmented forest and woodland ecosystems throughout Texas
Enhance active and planned restoration projects by developing and managing external subawards with restoration research partners per guidance from the Resilient Forests Science Team and internal contracting policies

What We’re Looking For

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.

A college degree in Wildlife, Forestry, Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Sustainability, Agriculture, Ecology or a related field is required. An advanced degree is preferred.
At least 7 years of experience in a conservation-related program management role, with demonstrated leadership in: (1) turnkey restoration project development, including deep familiarity with native plant materials procurement, nursery operations, landscape-scale outplanting and post-plant success monitoring processes, (2) federal and state agency partner relations, (3) private landowner and leaseholder engagement, (4) budget/contract/subaward management, and 5) staff supervision and mentorship
Demonstrated experience in advancing multi-stakeholder regional and/or subregional conservation partnership activities
Demonstrated experience in developing voluntary conservation planning on private lands in conjunction with federal, state and/or related assistance programs, including familiarity with 1-D-1 wildlife management plans, conservation easements and other relevant strategies
Demonstrated experience in funding proposal development and outcomes reporting
Strong time management and advanced organizational and situational awareness skills
Ability to meet recurring deadlines and balance competing priorities
A valid driver’s license, as frequent travel to work sites is required.

Reporting and Supervision

The Director, Texas Reforestation reports to the Senior Director, Texas, Mexico and Pacific Islands. This position will work closely with other Texas-based team members and American Forests’ staff across the Forest Restoration, Policy & Partnerships, GIS & Data Science, Operations, Marketing & Communications, and Philanthropy departments.

This position will supervise the Senior Manager, Texas Reforestation in addition to prospective Manager- and Coordinator-level positions based in Texas. This position will also work closely with the Senior Director, Texas, Mexico and Pacific Islands to manage team dynamics and intra- and inter-departmental communications.

Working Conditions

While this is a remote position, residence in the state of Texas is required to engage with partners and manage projects throughout the state. Preference will be given to candidates located in or open to relocation to Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, or Austin-San Antonio. Frequent travel (40%) between project sites in Texas, throughout the U.S., and/or to American Forests’ headquarters in Washington D.C. may be required.

The individual must be comfortable with prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing at a desk and working on a computer. Reasonable accommodation may be made to provide access to all individuals along the continuum of human ability and experience.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, salaried exempt position. The budget salary range is between $80,000 and $100,000. Our benefits package includes:

Health and Wellness

Work-Life Balance

Financial and Retirement

Medical, Dental, and Vision

Vacation and Sick Leave

401(k) Match

Employee Assistance Program

Paid Holidays

Flexible Spending Accounts

Disability Insurance

Parental Bonding Leave

Life and AD&D Insurance

Bereavement Leave

Pet Benefits

Military Leave

Our Core Competencies

Attitude - Communication - Organization - Problem-Solving & Creativity - Representing the Organization

About The Program

Texas is situated at a major crossroads among the forested ecoregions of North America, with longleaf pine and bottomland hardwood systems growing at their western continental extent in the state’s verdant eastern sections while sky islands of ponderosa pine, Douglas fir and aspen occupy higher elevations of the vast Chihuahuan Desert further west. Look closer and you’ll discover subtropical thornforests at the state’s southern tip, extensive riparian canopies on their way to the Gulf and many other distinctive woodland complexes throughout the region. Such biodiversity underpins the flow of life in this geography by providing critical wildlife habitat along with the economic base, ecosystem services and recreational spaces necessary to support the state’s 31 million residents.

American Forests is working to ensure that the future of these landscapes and their dependent sectors remain strong and adaptive to the realities of 21st century Texas. To advance this work, the Resilient Forests program is strategically developing forest restoration projects on public and private lands in key subregions of the state. Our approach to restoration planning and implementation is grounded in the needs of our partners and draws from the best available science and technical knowledge to provide forest benefits across ownerships, mission statements and business models.

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.

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Director, Texas Reforestation