Job Title: Future Foresters Apprenticeship Coordinator

Location: Smokey House Center, Danby, Vermont

Employment Type: Part-time, non-exempt, hourly position. At-will employment. May is 20hrs/wk, rest is 32hrs/wk

Duration: May 5 through September 5, 2025

Position Description

The Future Foresters Apprenticeship Coordinator will oversee the development and implementation of the Future Foresters Apprenticeship at Smokey House Center during the summer of 2025. The FFA Coordinator will act as the direct supervisor to the five apprentices partaking in the program. They will help develop weekly curriculum and activities in collaboration with Smokey House Center’s Program Director and will spend time training apprentices in field skills and research techniques. They will also develop weekly presentations, education resources, and coordinate with visiting guest speakers.

This position is intended to be flexible for a current or recently graduated graduate student who may have other part-time work commitments. The FFA program is intended to give apprentices a dynamic experience of problem solving as a group. As such, it is not expected that the program coordinator spends every hour of the work week directly supervising students, but rather sets them up to be able to successfully work independently.

Future Foresters Apprenticeship Overview:

The Future Foresters Apprenticeship (FFA) will provide five passionate young forestry professionals with an opportunity to build their skills and expand their knowledge in the beautiful real-world setting that is Smokey House’s 5,000 acre property. Participants will spend 10 weeks working and learning in a diversity of forested settings across the property, covering topics ranging from basic field skills training, forest inventory, local wood utilization, climate adaptive maple production, forest farming, silvopasture, invasive species management, and much more. The curriculum is designed to not only provide great learning opportunities, but to do so in a context where participants' efforts will be contributing to real work with a meaningful impact on the future health of our forests and our communities.

Essential Functions

• Develop 10-week curriculum for FFA program based on existing research projects and management needs of Smokey House Center.
• Supervise all apprentices during work weeks between June 16-August 30.
• Provide lectures and field trainings to apprentices to set them up for success in the field.
• Coordinate guest lectures, field trips, and other community building activities.
• Develop program materials that will become a framework for future FFA curriculum.

Qualifications

• Master’s in forestry, natural resource management, or related field (or equivalent work experience).
• Experience in developing applied research projects in forest settings including research design and implementation, data collection, and data analysis.
• Experience/excitement in working with and training young foresters in hands-on field-based programs.
• Collaborative approach to working with groups and excellent communication skills.
• Passionate about developing practical solutions to climate impacts in order to build a more resilient future.
• Ability to work independently in remote forest areas in all weather conditions.
• Ability to hike several miles a day and lift 50 lbs on a regular basis.

Compensation & Benefits

• Hourly rate starting at $30/hour, based on experience.
• Free housing may be available if choosing to live at Smokey House Center for the period of employment.
• Eligible for sick leave according to Vermont law.
• Mileage reimbursement for work-related travel outside of Vermont counties of Rutland and Bennington at IRS Standard Mileage Rate. A SHC vehicle may be assigned in lieu of mileage reimbursement.