Senior Forester

The Senior Forester plays a key leadership role within the Forest Operations team, overseeing timber procurement, log quality, contract compliance, and field forestry activities to support mill fiber needs. This position ensures a consistent, high-quality, and cost-effective supply of logs while maintaining strong relationships with logging contractors, State and Federal agencies, and internal stakeholders.

• Lead procurement activities to ensure a reliable, high-quality, and cost-effective supply of logs to support mill production.
• Appraise and bid on IRTC, IRSC, GNA, Timber Sale, and related agreements with the USFS, state, and local agencies.
• Identify, negotiate, and manage Gatewood and other delivered log contracts.
• Maintain strong relationships with RFOR logging contractors, the local logging community, local, state, and federal agencies.
• Oversee harvest scheduling and contractor coordination to meet production targets.
• Monitor market conditions, timber pricing, and supply trends to support strategic planning and budgeting.

• Supervise and support the Forestry Team, including Compliance and Log Quality, ensuring effective performance, development, and alignment with department goals.
• Provide technical guidance on forestry practices, compliance expectations, and log quality standards.
• Conduct team meetings, field training, and coaching to ensure consistency, safety, and efficiency.

• Ensure proper measurement, classification, and quality assessment of logs entering the facility.
• Enforce log quality standards and maintain accurate log accounting.
• Collaborate with mill operations to understand fiber requirements and resolve log quality issues.
• Review quality trends and implement corrective actions where needed.

• Oversee Compliance Forester's work to ensure all harvesting operations meet regulatory, contractual, log quality, and environmental standards.
• Ensure adherence to BMPs, state and federal forestry regulations, and sustainability commitments.
• Audit field operations and contractor compliance; support certification programs as applicable.

• Prepare and manage operating budgets related to procurement, contracting, and field operations.
• Track procurement volumes, delivered log costs, scaling data, and contractor performance.
• Contribute to long-term supply planning and outreach strategies.
• Collaborate closely with mill leadership, transportation/logistics, and sales teams to maintain operational alignment.

• Demonstrate, promote and enforce safety practices.
• Conduct onsite safety visits with contractors and support training as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree in Forestry, Natural Resources, or related field (or equivalent experience). Master’s degree in Forestry is preferred.
• 10+ years of forestry and/or timber procurement experience (procurement of USFS timber preferred); 3+ years of leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of timber harvesting operations, silviculture, log scaling, and USFS regulations.
• Experience negotiating contracts and managing supplier relationships.
• Ability to interpret and enforce USFS and other Agency contracts, environmental regulations, and BMPs.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong analytical, planning, and organizational abilities.
• Proficiency with forestry software, GIS tools, Microsoft Office, and data management systems.
• Valid driver's license; willingness to travel regularly to field sites.

• Office responsibilities mixed with some Field-based work in variable terrain and weather conditions.
• Regular visits to logging operations, log yard, sawmill. PPE required as applicable.