Southern Appalachian Forest Recovery Program Manager

National Forest Foundation

. Provide programmatic leadership and technical support for forest recovery, restoration, and forest resilience projects .

Posted 10/2/2026full-timeRemote • North Carolina • United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $95,000 - $118,750 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in forestry project management, including planning, implementation, and evaluation of restoration initiatives. Proficient in GIS and data management, with strong skills in collaboration and communication with diverse stakeholders.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Forestry Project ManagementEcological RestorationGIS ProficiencyCollaborative ConservationBudget Tracking

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Project PlanningRestoration PlanningField-Based RestorationReforestationSilvicultural PracticesData AnalysisImpact ReportingContract ManagementForest ManagementNatural Resource Management

Soft Skills

Interpersonal SkillsOrganizational SkillsPublic SpeakingConsensus BuildingMentoring

Tools & Technologies

GISGPSData Management Systems

Certifications & Qualifications

Professional Certification in Forestry or Related Field

Industry Keywords

Forest RecoveryForest ResilienceSouthern Appalachian EcosystemsU.S. Forest ServiceCollaborative Stewardship

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Provide programmatic leadership and technical support for forest recovery, restoration, and forest resilience projects
Facilitate collaborative forest stewardship and conservation efforts in the Southern Appalachians
Plan, develop, implement, and manage a portfolio of forest recovery, restoration, and reforestation projects
Assess forest conditions and develop restoration plans, treatment recommendations, desired future conditions, and implementation actions
Support implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of projects, including Hurricane Helene recovery initiatives
Identify and prioritize watersheds, landscapes, and restoration sites
Develop projects from initial assessment through implementation-ready scopes of work and treatment approaches
Lead collaborative field-team strategies and work plans
Communicate restoration strategies and project recommendations to the U.S. Forest Service, contractors, consultants, partners, and funders
Use GIS datasets for project planning, implementation, progress reporting, technical summaries, and funder communications
Manage large-scale funding agreements with the U.S. Forest Service
Manage forestry projects through planning, contracting, budgeting, implementation, and partner coordination
Oversee advertising, negotiation, and awarding of project implementation contracts
Coordinate on-the-ground stewardship projects with contractors, consultants, nonprofits, agencies, and private landowners
Manage program and project budgets and reporting for governmental and contractor agreements
Support and potentially supervise program staff, including mentoring and professional development
Collect, analyze, and report project and impact information with NFF teams
Provide collaborative conservation expertise and facilitation for regional initiatives
Draft and revise meeting agendas and facilitation materials
Build and maintain relationships with federal and state agencies, local governments, tribal partners, nonprofits, and private-sector partners
Support fundraising and storytelling with NFF Advancement and Marketing teams

Requirements

What you’ll need

Undergraduate degree in conservation, forestry, ecology, natural resource management, planning, landscape design, environmental science, or related field; professional certification; or equivalent experience demonstrating working knowledge of forestry and renewable resource management
Minimum of 4 years of professional experience in forestry, ecological restoration, reforestation, conservation program management, project planning, and/or coordinating project implementation
Experience with field-based restoration or forest management activities, preferably on federal lands
Knowledge of southern Appalachian and southeastern forest ecosystems, native tree species, silvicultural practices, and reforestation needs and challenges
Experience leading project planning, accomplishment, budget tracking, and project operations management involving multiple partners, contractors, service contracts, and funding sources
Experience supervising and managing project-level staff
Demonstrated success coordinating multiple projects simultaneously
Experience facilitating, building consensus, and securing agreements in collaborative processes involving the U.S. Forest Service or other land management agencies
Familiarity with federal land management practices, especially U.S. Forest Service procedures
Strong interpersonal, organizational, administrative, writing, and public speaking skills
Must be authorized to work in the United States
Proficiency with GIS, GPS, and data management systems
Ability to travel regularly, work outdoors, and maintain a flexible schedule including weekend and evening events
Valid U.S. Driver’s License and clean driving record
Reliable internet access and a dedicated workspace

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical and dental insurance paid at 75% by the organization for employees and dependents
Vision insurance paid at 50% by the organization for employees and dependents
Health savings account with employer contributions of $1,878-$3,750 per year
Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
Employee assistance program at no cost
403(b) retirement plan with 5% employer match after one year of service
Short-term and long-term disability insurance at no cost
Basic life and AD&D insurance at no cost
Voluntary life insurance options
Whole life insurance at a discounted rate
35 days of annual leave, sick leave, personal leave, and holidays initially
Annual leave accrual rates increase with years of service
Family and medical leave for up to 16 weeks, with up to four weeks paid
Training and development programs
Professional development reimbursement up to $1,000 per year
Opportunity to support an incredible mission and travel to/work in spectacular locations
Remote/work-from-home position