Stewardship Associate

Pacific Forest Trust (PFT) is a national leader in forest conservation that delivers landscape-scale results on the ground in the West and develops innovative incentives for forest conservation at the national level. We do so in ways that reward private landowners for managing for public benefits such as clean water, a healthy climate, and habitat for abundant native wildlife. Our work sustains rural communities, restores climate resilient forests, enhances water security and protects landscapes across ownership boundaries.

PFT has led the permanent conservation of over 360,000 acres of privately owned forestland and owns and stewards working forest 38 conservation easements on over 130,000 acres. We also own 2,100 acres and manage an additional 15,000 acres for ecological outcomes and sustainable wood products. Our projects are outstanding not only for their landscape scale but for their high standards for delivering multiple public benefits. PFT is thrice accredited by the National Land Trust Accreditation Commission. Learn more at http : / / www.PacificForest.org

About this Opportunity

This position is responsible for the stewardship of PFT’s Conservation Easement interests under the supervision of senior staff. Consistent with PFT policies and procedures and best practices promulgated by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, the Stewardship Associate will : Monitor PFT’s conserved forest properties consistent with approved Monitoring Plans; review management plans and timber harvest plans for these properties; monitor using both field and remote sensing; contribute to the management and implementation of property information systems; contribute to property baseline development; develop monitoring plans for new acquisitions and perform other related CE monitoring and management goals and tasks. In addition, this position provides opportunities to help plan habitat enhancement and forest resilience projects on conserved properties.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Annual Monitoring and Stewardship : Achieve annual goals for each CE property consistent with PFT policies and property history. Implement annual stewardship tasks for existing CE interests of PFT, including landowner communications; comprehensive annual monitoring and site visits; pre- and post-timber harvest or other specialized site visits as may be required under the terms of a conservation easement; responses to landowner requests for approvals or questions on easement terms; and related tasks. Coordinate landowner relationship management with Stewardship Manager.
• Monitoring Plans : For each acquired CE, prepare the appropriate monitoring plan consistent with PFT policies, procedures and models. Prepare periodic updates as necessary.
• Forest Management and Timber Harvest Plans : Contribute to PFT’s internal review of landowner plans for consistency with CE terms. This includes also review and approval of Safe Harbor Agreements entered into by the landowner, consistent with CE terms, to achieve regulatory certainty in management for listed threatened species.
• GIS and other data analysis : Contribute to GIS database management, analysis and map-making for PFT’s Conservation and Stewardship program. Assist in managing PFT data for conserved properties.
• Conservation Easement Violations : Consistent with PFT’s CE Defense and Enforcement Policy, identify actual or potential violations and contribute to managing a successful resolution or CE defense.
• Conservation Easement Amendments : Consistent with PFT’s CE Amendment Policy, assure coordination with appropriate Conservation team members for management of amendment process, including support for negotiation of amended terms and obtaining necessary approvals by the parties.
• Habitat Enhancement and Collaborative Stewardship Projects : Contribute as needed to development and implementation of habitat restoration, enhancement, and related projects (including fuels management) on CE properties.
• Conservation Scoping and Assessments : Assist in conducting research (including obtaining, organizing and analyzing public and landowner data), field work and mapping for conservation assessments of privately owned forest tracts under consideration by PFT for acquisition of either a conservation easement or fee title interest. As needed, assist in Conservation Assessment development.
• Baseline Reports, Project Information, and Mapping : Assist in identifying and mapping forest and other natural resources, vegetation types, other characteristics and land uses on candidate properties. Write property and resource descriptions for baseline reports of conserved forests. Prepare necessary maps and tables.
• Property Information Systems : For each conserved property, obtain, organize, analyze and maintain data and other information regarding the property’s resources, management and on-going stewardship. Outreach : Participate in PFT outreach and general communication efforts with landowners, foresters and other natural resource professionals.
• Manage / participate in field trips to candidate properties and portfolio properties.
• Other tasks may be required.

Reports to :

Stewardship Director; works with the Conservation Director on specific new projects, collaborates with all Conservation and Stewardship staff.

Qualifications and Experience

Location : Preferred to be located at PFT’s main office in the Presidio of San Francisco, though candidates from Northern California and Southern Oregon may also be considered.

Travel : Significant travel is required. Must have a valid driver’s license and be willing to share driving records.

TO APPLY :

Submit resume to jobs@pacificforest.org . Put “ Stewardship Associate ” and your name in the Subject line. We are looking for applicants who will take the time to read the job description, learn a little about us by looking at our website, and consider whether this is a job and an organization that they would like to learn more about. This position will remain open until filled.

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