Wood Utilization Specialist

Description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title: Wood Utilization Specialist 

Date: May 29, 2025

Full-Time or Part-time: Full-time, Term-Limited 

Department: Conservation

Reports To: Forest Management Manager 

Employment Category: Salaried Exempt

JOB SUMMARY

The primary objective for the Wood Utilization Specialist is to help deliver the NWTF’s conservation mission with regards to increasing the utilization of wood products, including the use of low value forest products, to facilitate greater timber harvesting, forest restoration and hazardous fuels reduction and maintain logging and milling infrastructure. Specifically, the work of the Wood Utilization Specialist should result in both maintenance and expansion of conservation delivery via sound stewardship and investment of NWTF by identifying opportunities to increase the utilization of woody material originating on NWTF and other federal projects to achieve the goals outlined in Executive Order 14225 and Secretarial Memo 1078-006. This Wood Utilization Specialist position will be responsible for increasing the use of forest products, and decreasing waste, while increasing revenue streams, benefiting local businesses and rural communities, while considering the water and ecological benefits in the innovative or novel uses for those forest products.

Low value forest products include, but are not limited to small diameter ponderosa pine, products other than logs (POL), fire-salvage, blue-stain and forest products that are in excess supply. Innovative wood uses may include transportation networks, co-housed forest products campuses, bio-fuels, gasification, cross-laminated timber, biochar, compost, niche wood markets, etc.

The Wood Utilization Specialist will report to the Forest Management Manager and work in cooperation and coordination with the Regional Forest Management Coordinators, as well as with the NWTF District Biologist(s), when needed to deliver the conservation mission. The position will also build relationships with existing and new and innovative forest products-based industries. The Wood Utilization Specialist will implement work in alignment with the priorities outlined in the Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production Executive Order and ensure that Federal and private dollars are used appropriately and effectively.

The NWTF has a National Master Stewardship Agreement with the USDA Forest Service and Regional Supplemental Project Agreements (SPAs) in USFS Regions 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, based on an NWTF submitted proposal to reduce hazardous fuels and wildfire throughout the United States, while working to maintain and grow industry capacity. The Wood Utilization Specialist will adhere to the details outlined in the Regional SPAs for the Regions tiered to the National Master Stewardship Agreement.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Represents the NWTF and ensures that projects help increase the pace and scale of forest restoration work by developing opportunities that increase the use of forest products, while increasing revenue streams, benefit local businesses and underserved communities.
• Understands the concepts around underutilized and low value forest products and an awareness of emerging markets and technologies that increase the use of these forest products.
• Must understand the importance of a sustainable timber industry and the critical role the industry plays in active forest management.
• Has a good understanding of the conservation benefits including watershed and ecological values in forest restoration projects and the role that innovative or novel uses for those forest products could play in increasing the pace and scale of forest restoration work.
• Coordinates with the Forest Management Manager, the regional Forest Management Coordinators and other NWTF staff to match existing needs, and new markets with excess material and project areas.
• Applies for and manages work associated with grants supporting innovative uses of forest products that will aid in conservation delivery.
• Must understand the principles of, and articulate and deploy work in alignment with NWTF’s 4 Shared Values of conservation delivery.
• Must understand the importance and connection between forest restoration principles and conservation delivery around the 4 Shared Values identified by the NWTF1.
• Builds relationships with federal and state agency, tribal and industry partners. Communicates frequently, openly and honestly with all partners and NWTF staff.
• Establishes relationships, develops or expands the use of forest products originating on NWTF project areas to help achieve sustainability goals.
• Works with NWTF staff to ensure that Federal, state and private dollars are used effectively by selecting quality projects.
• Serve as the sustainability liaison between NWTF staff, the USFS, alternative finance organizations, industry and other partners.
• Engage in policy issues that directly relate to conservation delivery and forest products utilization or other aspects of NWTF’s mission. Position will advise and make the Forest Management Manager aware of important issues in which NWTF might engage.
• Leads and assists in making presentations, drafting white papers, Requests for Proposals, briefing papers, and other documentation to support the implementation of projects.
• Position may require oversight of contractors, term staff or other positions during the term.

OTHER FUNCTIONS

• Works with the NWTF Communications and USFS staff to tell NWTF’s conservation story and the role that active forest management plays in forest restoration.
• Works as a member of the Conservation Programs team, collaboratively with other NWTF staff across all branches to ensure programmatic understanding and create opportunities for memberships, partnerships, fundraising and philanthropy.
• Identifies external funding sources such as grants (state, federal, or private), stewardship contracts, major gifts and sponsorships.
• Assists in development and tracking of budgets, agreements and contracts.
• Attends NWTF Regional and National meetings as appropriate or assigned.

Requirements

 REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Position requires a Bachelor’s degree in a natural resources-related field and a minimum of four (4) years of professional experience, and/or a Master’s degree with two (2) years of professional experience or equivalent in a natural resources field.
• Knowledge of accepted forestry and habitat management practices, including the ability to identify tree and grass species, wildlife species, shrubs and invasive species and wood products.
• The NWTF may also consider candidates that have specialized work experience, directly tied to business related to the innovative uses of forest products.
• Employee must understand the timber industry, various needs and operations, timber market concepts as well as timber transportation concepts.
• Ability to work independently and determine work priorities daily, weekly and monthly to maximize time efficiency as required.
• Must have good public speaking and presentation skills.
• Must possess proven computer skills such as the use of e-mail and be proficient in the use of the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), ArcGIS, video conferencing, etc.
• Must have the ability to navigate and communicate in remote and rural areas.
• Knowledge of and experience working with timber contracting and stewardship sales and Agreements.
• Must be willing to incur moderate travel including overnight stays up to 5 nights or more.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in forestry or natural resources field and 5 years of professional experience in a forest products business.
• Some level of experience supervising and managing employees and budgets.
• Knowledge of emerging forest products markets, new technologies and finance opportunities.
• Experience managing complex supply and demand projects with multiple objectives
• Experience working with State and Federal agencies, and corporate/industry partners

PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be able and willing to work, often alone, in a diverse range of climatic and topographic conditions including extreme hot and cold temperatures, rain, snow, sleet, ice, biting insects, snakes, mountainous terrain, swamps, very remote areas with limited access and amenities and other extreme conditions as warranted.
• Must be able to walk several miles per day in the conditions described above.
• Must be able to drive and/or ride long distances frequently. May be required to ride in fixed wing or rotary wing aircraft or watercraft.
• Ability to lift and carry a minimum of 20lbs.