National Forest Foundation (NFF) is pleased to offer a regular, full-time position that will lead restoration, conservation, recreation, and forest health programs across the Intermountain Region. The Southern Region Director will facilitate collaborative efforts, manage complex funding mechanisms, supervise program staff, and oversee NFF’s broader program work in the Intermountain Region.

About the NFF: As the official national partner to the US Forest Service (USFS), the National Forest Foundation was chartered by Congress in 1993. Today, the NFF advances forest resiliency, healthy watersheds and wildlife habitat, and recreation for all by working with communities and organizations across the country. The Foundation has grown significantly in the last few years in programmatic impact, revenue and support, and organizational capacity. NFF leads with impact, deploying roughly 90% of its expenses towards projects and programs across the country’s 193-million-acre National Forest System. NFF is forward-thinking and innovative, with ambitious strategies and goals to advance and prepare forests for a new economy.

Position Function: The Southern Region Director reports to the Senior Director of Conservation Programs. This is a leadership position responsible for developing, implementing, and managing conservation programs with the U.S. Forest Service, other state and federal agencies, communities, conservation NGOs, and private sector partners to support the NFF’s strategic initiatives and long-term goals in working with National Forests across the Southern Region (VA, KY, AR, OK, TX, LA, MS, AL, FL, GA, SC, NC, TN, and Puerto Rico). The Director will lead priority projects and will be responsible for supervising staff within the Southern Region.

Position Duties and Responsibilities: The Southern Region Director will:

• Oversee, advance, and continue to grow the NFF program of work across numerous National Forests in the Region.
• Build and develop a close and mutually beneficial relationship between the U.S. Forest Service, the NFF, and other state, federal, local government, and NGO partners in the Southern Region to implement effective forest health, wildfire mitigation, outdoor recreation, and community-based conservation projects.
• Directly manage ongoing programs of work in the Southern Region including NFF’s role in the hurricane recovery efforts, recreation initiatives, and other community-collaboration priorities.
• Develop new programs and support the implementation of conservation projects with public and private sector partners that support the NFF’s strategic initiatives and long-term goals across the Southern Region.
• Directly supervise field staff positions and their respective programs of work within the Intermountain Region and provide oversight, coaching, and regular guidance for a broader team of staff across the Region.
• Provide guidance and coordination among NFF field staff positions within the Region and other integrated NFF positions to support the comprehensive delivery of NFF’s programs and services in the Intermountain Region.
• Organize, manage, and facilitate regular Southern Region team meetings, and develop processes and systems for effective and efficient operations across the Southern Region staff team.
• Expand the base of private sector supporters and partners by actively pursuing funding opportunities and creating new development opportunities.
• Support the development and management of program and project-level budgets.
• Review and provide due diligence for incoming and outgoing grants, contracts, and agreements associated with the program of work in the Southern Region.
• Effectively communicate with and engage the public in caring for their National Forests and Grasslands through community-based conservation initiatives.
• 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.
• Serving as a point of contact in conservation and development activities in the Southern Region.

Education and Qualifications: NFF expects the incumbent to possess the following educational and experiential qualifications:

• Postgraduate degree in a natural resources-related field, or equivalent experience.
• Five to ten years of experience with proven results in conservation programming and related community-based collaborative conservation to include a strong knowledge of and experience in U.S. Forest Service policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Experience managing a fully remote, growing staff team across a wide geographic region with complex project and funding management responsibilities.
• Involvement in project planning, management, accomplishment, budget tracking, and project operations management that involve multiple implementation partners, contractors, contracts for services, and funding sources.
• Experience with land and watershed science, policy, and management, including fire science, vegetation management, wildlife conservation, and/or meadow and stream restoration.
• Commitment to the mission of the NFF and familiarity with the U.S. Forest Service purpose and National Forest lands management.
• A deep understanding of natural resources and conservation issues across the Southern Region.
• Familiarity with and knowledge of the history and culture across the Southern Region, including lived experience, work, and/or training based in or connected to Native communities and/or other groups underrepresented in conservation.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational, and administrative skills.
• Strong writing skills, facilitation, and public speaking experience.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Abilities and Skills: NFF expects the incumbent to possess the following proven abilities and skills:

• Ability to understand and clearly communicate about recreation infrastructure, community-based conservation, and forest and watershed restoration projects.
• Ability to work with a wide range of people with differing and sometimes conflicting opinions, and to always maintain neutrality.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly, work in outdoor conditions, and maintain a flexible work schedule, including participation in weekend and evening events.
• Ability to work well and be flexible in a team-oriented environment.
• Ability to represent the NFF in a clear and professional manner through excellent written and oral communication, and interpersonal skills.
• A strong attention to detail, with skill in working in a timely and well-organized fashion.
• A valid U.S. Driver’s License and clean driving record.

Location: The location for this position is flexible within the Southern Region (VA, KY, AR, OK, TX, LA, MS, AL, FL, GA, SC, NC, TN, and Puerto Rico) of the US Forest Service, with access to a major airport. Applicants must be able to travel regularly throughout the Southern Region, including frequent travel (often multiple times per week). This position is a remote/work-from-home position and requires reliable internet access.

Compensation: NFF offers a competitive compensation and benefits package that reflects our total rewards strategy. The starting salary range for this position is $103,750 to $126,875, with the ability to grow to $150,000 based on performance outcomes over time and assessed annually.

Benefits: NFF is proud to offer our staff:

Health and Wellness:

• Medical and dental insurance paid at 75% by the organization for you and any dependents.
• Vision insurance paid 50% by the organization for you and any dependents.
• Health savings account (HSA) with employer contributions between $1,878-$3,750 per year, predicated on coverage type.
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSA).
• Employee assistance program (EAP) at no cost.

Financial Wellbeing:

• 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% employer match after one (1) year of service.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance at no cost.
• Basic life and AD&D insurance at no cost, with voluntary life insurance options.
• Whole life insurance at a discounted rate

Flexibility and time off:

• Employees start with 35 days of annual leave, sick leave, personal leave and holidays (annual leave accrual rates increase with years of service)
• Family & medical leave for up to sixteen (16) weeks with up to four (4) weeks paid.

Personal Development:

• Training & Development Programs
• Professional development reimbursement for up to $1,000 per year.

Journey of a Lifetime:

• The opportunity to support an incredible mission and travel to / work in spectacular locations.

To Apply: Applications must include both a cover letter and resume. Incomplete packages will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. This posting will close on November 29th, or earlier if filled. Please visit our careers site to apply online.

The National Forest Foundation is an equal opportunity employer – meaning we provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable law. Further, we prohibit discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, and termination. We strive to foster a work environment where every individual is respected, valued, and treated fairly. This statement reflects our unwavering dedication to fairness, respect, and equality in employment practices and sets the foundation for a positive work environment.