Arizona Forestry Program Manager

Description

is pleased to offer an Exempt, Full-time position located in the Flagstaff, Arizona area. This position will partner with U.S. Forest Service, funders, contractors and other government to lead forest restoration programs across Arizona.

As the official national partner to the US Forest Service (USFS), the National Forest Foundation was chartered by Congress in 1990. Today, the NFF advances forest resiliency, healthy watersheds and wildlife habitat, and recreation for all by working with communities and organizations across the country. The Foundation has grown significantly in the last few years in programmatic impact, revenue and support, and organizational capacity.

NFF leads with impact, deploying roughly 90% of its expenses towards projects and programs across the country’s 193-million-acre National Forest System. NFF is forward-thinking and innovative, with ambitious strategies and goals to advance and prepare forests for a new economy.

The Arizona Forestry Program Manager reports to the Southwest Region Director. The incumbent is responsible for supporting the Northern Arizona Forest Fund and Southern Arizona Forest Fund, with a focus on oversight of forestry and restoration project implementation and management, including oversight of projects on the Coconino, Prescott, Apache-Sitgreaves, Tonto, and Kaibab National Forests and support for forestry projects on the Coronado National Forest as needed.

The Arizona Forestry Program Manager will:

• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with the U.S. Forest Service, funders, contractors, other governmental entities, and stakeholders to advance wildfire resilience and forest restoration priorities across Arizona
• Lead the development and implementation of forest restoration programs and project pipelines, including annual work planning, partnership coordination, and execution of agreements with the U.S. Forest Service and other funding partners.
• Oversee all aspects of forest restoration project implementation, including procurement, contract administration, field oversight, quality assurance and inspections, problem-solving, and project closeout.
• Serve as Timber Sale Administrator and Harvest Inspector for forestry projects utilizing all thinning systems, ensuring compliance with project specifications, operational standards, and quality control requirements.
• Manage complex program and project budgets, contracts, reporting requirements, timelines, compliance obligations, and standard operating procedures.
• Monitor, document, and communicate project outcomes and deliverables through written and verbal reports to funders, partners, and NFF leadership.
• Support partnership development, fundraising, grant development, and community engagement efforts to secure resources and expand the pace and scale of forest restoration work.
• Develop and coordinate wood utilization and biomass removal opportunities associated with restoration projects, including support for Tribal firewood programs (Wood for Life), in-stream watershed restoration work (Wood for Water), transportation logistics, and long-term supply planning.
• Supervise Arizona forestry staff and forestry technician contractors, providing leadership, mentorship, performance oversight, and clear expectations
• Apply advanced forestry expertise and professional judgment to address complex operational, technical, and partnership challenges and ensure the highest standards of project delivery and stewardship.
• Serve as a principal forestry subject matter expert and representative in Arizona and the Southwest Region, maintaining expertise in emerging restoration practices, policy developments, funding…