Forest Stewardship Manager

YOUR POSITION WITH TNC

The Maine Chapter of The Nature Conservancy seeks a knowledgeable, energetic Forest Stewardship Manager to manage the Wolastoq - St. John River Forest. The Forest Stewardship Manager will help lead the next chapter of TNC Maine’s work at the WSJRF and contribute to a broader Maine forest stewardship strategy.

This position will manage and advance ecological monitoring, forest stewardship, and partnership projects that integrate ecological, financial, cultural, carbon, and climate considerations into forest management decisions. The position will support TNC’s credibility and trusted conservation voice in northern Maine forest management by ensuring that TNC’s own lands are managed responsibly, transparently, and in alignment with organizational goals, while also maintaining relationships and learning networks with forestry, conservation, Indigenous, academic, agency, and landowner partners. Communicating and sharing forest management and conservation outcomes and lessons learned with Conservancy staff, partners, contractors, and external audiences are important parts of the work.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Responsibilities include oversight of forest management planning and implementation, ecological reserve inventory and monitoring, roads and infrastructure, commercial sugaring lease, public access, carbon offset project obligations, FSC certification compliance, relationship management and other legal and stewardship commitments.

This is a hands-on, field-oriented position with substantial time expected in the woods and regular overnight travel to remote areas of northern Maine. The Forest Stewardship Manager works under minimal and distant supervision and is expected to make independent decisions based on analysis, experience, and judgment. The position is embedded with a diverse statewide Land Management team and contributes to the oversight of 2-3 other properties in western Maine as well as policy discussions on land stewardship across the state. The position also requires the ability to gain cooperation from outside parties to accomplish program goals and to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences.

A LITTLE ABOUT TNC MAINE

Founded in 1951, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to the world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We work collaboratively with local communities, governments, the private sector, Indigenous partners, academic institutions, and other conservation organizations to advance durable conservation outcomes.

The Nature Conservancy in Maine owns and manages one of the most significant conservation land portfolios in the eastern United States. Its centerpiece is the Wolastoq - St. John River Forest (WSJRF) – roughly 165,000 acres in the unorganized territory of northern Maine, acquired in 1998 in what was then the largest private conservation land purchase in the Northeast. The property comprises over half of TNC Maine’s entire land base, safeguards a significant portion of a 140-mile free-flowing river with little development along its length, and helps ensure long-term habitat connectivity in the Northern Appalachian forest. Connected conserved lands extend through western Maine and into New Hampshire. Its two ecological reserves are among the ten largest in the state.

A Carbon offset project covers approximately 125,000 acres of the WSJRF, and approximately half the total acreage is in internally designated reserve areas. Some eighty miles of gravel roads offer limited access and comprise much of the property management responsibilities with maintenance to their surfaces and crossing structures.

TNC’s ownership and stewardship of this property has supported a generation of ambitious conservation – from the Penobscot River restoration and the Debsconeag Lakes Wilderness Area to ongoing Wabanaki land return and the emerging Kennebec restoration project – and it offers a grand opportunity to humbly and transparently demonstrate one model of how large-scale conservation land ownership can work in the Maine north woods.

This position is only available for individuals located within the United States.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

Forest Stewardship and Property Management
Manage all aspects of forest stewardship to meet Conservancy goals for the Wolastoq - St. John River Forest and to meet FSC certification standards, carbon project standards, and other legal commitments.
Plan, implement, monitor, and report on ecologically sound forest harvests, restoration projects, stewardship activities, and other conservation forestry projects that advance habitat, resilience, carbon, water, and ecological management goals.
Work closely with Northern Maine Land Manager to maintain ecological reserve areas, managed forest areas, roads, boundaries, signage, tools, equipment, and field data needed for monitoring and project management.
Coordinate and oversee contractors, vendors, consultants, interns, volunteers, or staff in the field or office, including responsibility for project performance, safety, quality control, timelines, and deliverables.

Ecological Monitoring, Data, and Adaptive Management
Coordinate ecological monitoring, forest inventory, forest health assessment, GIS data management, and other information systems needed to guide adaptive management of the Wolastoq - St. John River Forest.
Work with TNC scientists, stewardship staff, external researchers, and partners to identify priority ecological monitoring needs, including forest condition, rare features, water resources, climate change impacts, and long-term stewardship outcomes and lead field data collection efforts

Operational Responsibility and Work Environment
Maintain regular field presence on the Wolastoq - St. John River Forest through multi-day site visits and participate in remote and occasional (roughly quarterly) in-person meetings at The Nature Conservancy's Brunswick, Maine office.
Utilize (modern) field accommodations at Baker Lake to support stewardship activities, monitoring efforts, project implementation, and engagement with staff, partners, and visitors.
Maintain a residence that enables consistent access to the Wolastoq - St. John River Forest, ideally within approximately three hours of Baker Lake. Residence in Maine is not required (the Jackman area in western Maine could work well)
Conduct work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and sometimes hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding conditions.
Operate and travel safely in support of stewardship and conservation activities, maintaining a valid driver's license.
Manage project budgets and financial resources, including vendor and contractor procurement, contract administration, budget planning, and support for fundraising objectives.
Ensure program compliance organizational policies, legal requirements, certification standards, and other applicable program obligations.
Exercise independent judgment and decision-making with limited supervision, applying analysis, experience, and professional expertise to achieve conservation and operational objectives.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

BA/BS, law or business degree and 5 years’ experience in natural resource management or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience with forest management, ecological inventory and monitoring, conservation forestry, or natural systems.
Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including budgets, contracts, timelines, vendors, partners, or staff/contractors.
Experience communicating with technical and non-technical audiences, in writing and verbally.
Experience using GPS and/or GIS technologies for data collection, mapping, analysis, or documentation, and using standard office software.
Experience working with partners, contractors, agencies, landowners, community groups, or conservation organizations.
Must have a valid driver’s license.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience in conservation or ecological forestry, timber-harvest planning, forest inventory, silviculture, restoration, or forest-carbon projects, and familiarity with silvicultural Best Management Practices and forest-certification standards (e.g., FSC).
Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation forestry, climate-adapted forest management, ecological restoration, and forest carbon, and the ability to explain forest-management decisions and ecological tradeoffs to varied audiences.
Experience facilitating or participating in advisory groups, interagency working groups, partnership networks, or collaborative conservation forums.
Experience with complex project management, grant writing, or fundraising support.
Licensed Forester status in Maine (or the ability to obtain licensure within 5 years).
Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience is appreciated; French-language skills and/or experience with Quebec, cross-border, or Wabanaki communities would be especially valuable.

This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program . Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers." To learn more about the Auto Safety Program, visit the Auto Safety information page . Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.

Salary Information:

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $64,080 – $75,650 . This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

Who We Are:
The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor .

One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”

What We Bring:

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!

TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexib