Based in Ashland, Oregon, Lomakatsi seeks a full-time Ecological Forestry professional with experience in project and program management to join our leadership team and growing organization. This position will have the opportunity to work across the diverse ecosystems of Oregon and Northern California, and in partnership with federal, state and municipal agencies, Tribes, and other nongovernmental organizations to design and implement landscape scale stewardship initiatives. It is preferred that applicants have a MS degree in Forestry, Forest Ecology or Natural Resources with job history as a practitioner in the fields of restoration forestry and ecosystem management.

Individuals are strongly encouraged to apply if they have documented experience in: technical writing and proposal writing; developing and managing implementation of restoration-based silvicultural prescriptions; supervising program staff; overseeing forest/fire monitoring and analyzation; ArcGIS mapping and database management; restoration program planning and supporting collaborative stewardship projects.

The successful candidate will further develop and implement Lomakatsi’s Ecological Monitoring and Restoration Forestry programs and serve in a leadership and program management role within the organization. The Lead Ecological Forester will supervise 2-4 technical staff and will report to the Program Director. Duties are performed under the prioritization of Lomakatsi’s leadership team.

Job Description Overview

The Lead Ecological Forester (LEF) will be part of a Lomakatsi’s leadership team and will develop, engage and work with partners to help lead restoration forestry stewardship initiatives, management of collaborative agreements and contracts with federal and state agencies, Native American Tribes, nongovernment organizations and industry partners. The LEF will also work with interdisciplinary collaborative teams to co-manage ecological monitoring, restoration planning, database management and reporting.

As a key member of Lomakatsi’s technical team, the LEF will report to the Program Director and work with the Restoration Operations Director and Implementation Specialist to manage the Ecological Monitoring and Restoration Forestry programs. The LEF will directly oversee 2-4 Restoration Technicians. This technical team is collectively responsible for planning, designing, implementing, managing and reporting on Lomakatsi’s ecological forestry and restoration projects. Work will be proportioned between the field and office, as needed, on a project-by-project basis.

Program Areas

• Ecological Monitoring Program Management
• Restoration Program Development
• Collaborative Partnership Engagement
• Silvicultural Prescriptions
• Stewardship Initiative and Project Management
• ArcGIS Mapping and Database Management
• Funding Acquisition, Technical Proposal Writing
• Program / Project Budget Management

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee Ecological Monitoring and Restoration Forestry programs staff, including 2-4 Restoration Technicians who will be direct reports to this position
• Work with partners to provide technical assistance in project development, planning, management, fine-scale ecological treatment design, monitoring, and implementation for ecosystem restoration projects
• Oversee Ecological Monitoring Program, including managing the collection, processing and analysis of field data—as it pertains to prescription development, databases and reporting–by working with technical field staff in conducting forest inventories
• Prepare Forest Stewardship and Conservation Activity Plans by working with state and federal agencies, private landowners and community stakeholders during restoration project development and planning
• Utilize ArcGIS to produce maps for restoration projects and co-manage associated databases
• Develop silvicultural and vegetation management prescriptions including mechanical treatment and/or prescribed fire (burn plans) for terrestrial restoration in a variety of plant associations
• Work with the leadership team and attend partner meetings to assist in the development of Stewardship and Cooperative Agreements
• Assist the Implementation Specialist with design of restoration-focused commercial thinning projects, and interpreting and developing complex ecologically-based silvicultural prescriptions
• Prepare status reports and other documents related to restoration projects
• Prepare technical documents and assist in proposal writing and funding acquisition for restoration forestry programs
• Provide site specific technical assistance, oversight, and consultation to Lomakatsi’s Restoration Technicians, Crew Managers and subcontractor labor representatives

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

• Minimum of BS degree in Forestry, Forest Ecology or Natural Resources, with MS degree preferred
• At least 5 years of field work experience in applied forestry, with restoration-based forestry experience preferred
• Excellent writing skills and high degree of experience in proposal development
• Competent in the use of technical forestry equipment including GPS, ArcGIS, navigation, data gathering/processing, Relaskop, compass, increment borer, densitometer, and clinometer
• Project management and personnel supervision experience
• Excellent communication skills
• Experience with Microsoft Office—including Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint—and work performed in a network environment
• Experience with Esri ArcGIS
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team
• Possession of a valid driver’s license
• Ability to orient, navigate and hike in rough terrain using map, compass and GPS
• Ability to identify native trees and shrubs
• Flexibility to work variable hours depending on project needs
• Detail-oriented, well organized, and able to juggle multiple priorities
• Ability to self-direct and take initiative
• Leadership skills along with a collaborative and collegial work style
• Ability to interact with diverse staff, community members and partners with kindness and integrity – must be culturally agile
• Ability to think strategically about planning and management
• Spanish literacy a plus
• Experience working with Native American Tribes, traditional indigenous leaders and tribal communities a plus

Benefits Package

Lomakatsi strives to provide competitive salaries and benefits within the nonprofit community.

• Salary starting at $65,000 with potential to reach $75,000 per year within three years.
• Paid medical, and dental plan
• Paid vacation
• 401K retirement plan

About Us

Lomakatsi is a non-profit organization that develops and implements forest and watershed restoration initiatives, programs and projects in Oregon and Northern California (www.lomakatsi.org). Lomakatsi has implemented ecosystem restoration projects for over 24 years across thousands of acres of forests and miles of streams. Lomakatsi works across federal, private and tribal trust lands, and is currently managing eight landscape-scale terrestrial and aquatic restoration agreements where projects are being developed within a 6-million-acre planning area. Restoring ecosystems requires a collaborative community-based approach. We facilitate partnerships and engagement among a diversity of stakeholders.

Lomakatsi employs or contracts up to 150 forest and watershed restoration personnel: including 24 fulltime programmatic, managerial and administrative staff, an in-house 50-person, on-the-ground workforce, and forestry and restoration operators from the communities where we work. Lomakatsi has worked closely with agency, tribal and community-based partners across multiple states to implement successful ecological and habitat restoration programs and has served as a lead partner and sponsor on several nationally recognized projects and initiatives.

Lomakatsi works with partners providing mentoring, technical assistance and capacity in project development, planning, management, fine-scale ecological treatment design, monitoring, and implementation for ecosystem restoration projects. Lomakatsi integrates restoration practice with science delivery, education and workforce training. Lomakatsi coordinates closely with multiple funding partners and manages a diverse workforce in complex social settings supported by critical community engagement and outreach.

Lomakatsi has an established history of working cooperatively within communities facilitating all-lands restoration partnerships with federal and state agencies for the implementation of wildlife habitat improvements, forest restoration, and watershed management. Lomakatsi also brings added capacity to address socio-economic challenges for rural forest and rangeland-based communities, by layering our existing education, and workforce development programs into initiatives and projects, including our

Ecological Workforce Training and Employment Program, Tribal Ecosystem Restoration Partnership Program and Youth Ecological Training and Employment Program. Through the operation of 10 programs, our staff of restoration practitioners, foresters, ecologists, workforce trainers and educators work to increase community understanding and involvement in forest and watershed restoration.

Learn more at www.lomakatsi.org.