Position Title: Forester or Forestry Associate

Application Period: until March 1, 2025. Starting work as soon as possible.

Work Location: Asheville NC, but some remote, home-office work is possible; regular field work within an 1.5 hour drive of Asheville NC is required.

Salary: $22-$27/hour depending on experience ($25-27/hr for NC Registered Forester); no benefits, except 10 paid holidays.

Flexible schedule: Up to 40 hrs/week available, Minimum 30 hrs/week required.

Mission Statement: EcoForesters is a non-profit professional forestry organization dedicated to restoring and conserving our Appalachian forests through stewardship and education.

Purpose of Position: Professional forestry consultations for woodland owners. Assess forestlands and write comprehensive ecological forest stewardship plans that improve the ecological, economic, and social benefits provided by our clients’ forests. Plan, assist, or lead, invasive plant control, forest stand improvement work, as well as timber sales & appraisals. Attend and support educational events. Other work as needed to support EcoForesters’ mission.

Requirements:

1. Must be self-motivated and willing to take initiative on projects after training.
2. Must have, or be completing, a degree in forestry, natural resources, or closely related field, or 2+ years relevant experience.
3. Must be a good writer and communicator, able to clearly write reports that describe forest conditions and stewardship recommendations; also must communicate this professionally with clients in person, over phone, and via electronic communication.
4. Must be knowledgeable of basic GPS and GIS applications.
5. Must be skilled in the collection of forestry and ecological field data.
6. Must be skilled in the identification of southern Appalachian tree species and non-native invasive plants.
7. Must work well with others.
8. Must be adept at using a compass, GPS, and reading maps to navigate in rough, remote terrain.
9. Must be capable of field work alone in remote locations (usually within a mile of a road), on difficult terrain (steep, mountainous, thick understory vegetation) in adverse conditions (hot, cold, or rain).
10. Must be skilled in data management and analysis with programs such as Microsoft Excel.

Preferences:

1. Qualified to become an NC Registered Forester, that is: working towards, or has, an SAF-approved degree, or equivalent educational background.
2. Two years or more of experience working in forestry or closely related profession.
3. Knowledge and experience in forest management and forest stand improvement (e.g. invasive species control, crop tree release, free thinning) and supervising others in such work.
4. Strong writer with ample experience preparing reports that describe forest conditions and stewardship recommendations
5. Skilled in the use of GIS and GPS.
6. Has experience and is comfortable doing outreach to prospective clients, giving public presentations, and supervising employees.
7. Is experienced in the collection of forestry and ecological field data and in the identification of southern Appalachian tree species and natural communities.
8. Has experience and knowledge of southern Appalachian forest ecosystems and their management.
9. Has experience using software such as Microsoft Excel and/or Access to organize, store, and analyze forestry data using all standard forestry metrics (e.g. BA, TPA, MBF).
10. Is skilled in forest finance, wildlife management, water resource management, botany, educational outreach, and/or other related skill sets that can enhance the services provided by EcoForesters or the development of our organization.