Public Lands Conservation Forester (2 positions)

American Bird Conservancy is hiring two Public Lands Conservation Foresters in Rochert, MN. The roles focus on conserving bird habitats through project management, collaboration with various stakeholders, and implementing best practices. Responsibilities include project design, monitoring, and technical writing, with an emphasis on enhancing forest health for at-risk bird species. The positions require both fieldwork and office tasks, contributing to bird conservation goals.
About the position

American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is dedicated to conserving wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. The organization emphasizes results and collaboration with diverse partnerships to tackle significant challenges facing birds today. The Public Lands Conservation Forester positions are integral to the ABC Great Lakes Team, working closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) at either the Tamarac or Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The selected candidates will be responsible for designing and overseeing habitat projects aimed at mitigating population declines of at-risk bird species through science-based best management practices. The role involves collaboration with various stakeholders, including county, state, tribal, and federal natural resource managers, to maintain, restore, and enhance forest and brushland habitats in Minnesota. The focus will be on creating high-quality habitats for focal forest bird species while promoting a diverse mosaic of forest cover types and age classes to enhance forest health and support a range of wildlife species. The positions require a proactive approach to project management, technical writing, and the ability to work in both field and office settings. The Conservation Foresters will also be responsible for monitoring and cataloging project activities, developing management plans, and identifying funding opportunities for bird habitat conservation. This role is essential for advancing bird conservation goals and implementing adaptive wildlife management strategies, making it a critical position within the organization.

Responsibilities
• Work cooperatively with public and tribal lands partners in both a field and office setting to provide financial, technical, and project management assistance for all phases of forest and brushland habitat project operations.
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• Conduct field visits to evaluate prospective project sites for bird habitat treatments using focal species best management practices (BMPs) and provide project coordination and contractor oversight for a range of bird conservation projects.
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• Develop technical specifications, project designs, and silvicultural prescriptions to create management plans, write project contracts, and design budgets for projects to restore and enhance forest and brushland habitat for focal bird species.
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• Collaborate with partners to coordinate prescribed fire treatments to benefit wildlife habitat, forest health, and native plant community composition.
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• Monitor and catalogue project and programmatic activities using a variety of database management software and GIS applications to track project spending and progress towards program deliverables, while completing proper reporting protocols.
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• Maintain and expand professional working relationships and collaborative opportunities with public, tribal, and NGO partners to support initiatives that advance bird conservation goals and adaptive wildlife management strategies.
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• Promote site- and landscape-level management strategies for focal bird species, while developing and implementing annual and long-range goals, objectives, plans, budgets, and conservation priorities for focal areas.
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• Identify funding opportunities and design and write grant proposals and cooperative agreements for bird habitat conservation with public and tribal land management partners.
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• Develop presentations, educational workshops, articles, and other outreach materials to share adaptive bird habitat conservation technical guidance and program accomplishments, while supporting ABC and its various programs.
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• Work with the ABC Great Lakes Team to develop and support bird conservation initiatives to identify, promote, and deliver collaborative conservation, outreach, and research programs.

Requirements
• Bachelor's degree or higher in Forestry, Wildlife Management, Conservation Biology, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, or a related field.
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• Preferred minimum of 5 years of experience in forestry, wildlife habitat management, or related natural resource management field.
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• Professional knowledge and skills to design and implement silvicultural strategies for forest management projects to meet desired wildlife habitat conservation objectives.
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• Experience developing and implementing forest management plans and practices at multiple scales and the ability to utilize forest inventory tools and protocols.
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• Advanced ability to complete many forms of technical writing, editing, and database management, including programmatic reporting, grant writing, and site- or landscape-level habitat management and conservation plans.
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• Ability to use multiple forms of GIS software and GPS hardware, including ESRI applications (such as ArcPro), Avenza, Google Maps/Earth, and online resources to assist design and coordination of regional and site-level conservation efforts.
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• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Publisher, and Access software, as well as additional database management applications.
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• Ability to maintain a flexible work schedule, including working occasional evenings and weekends.
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• Regular travel, including overnight travel for up to a week at a time to conduct or oversee fieldwork, complete field monitoring activities, attend meetings, etc.
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• Ability to work completing strenuous activity in a range of weather conditions for significant periods of time, including traversing difficult or uneven terrain, while lifting and carrying heavy objects (40 lbs).

Nice-to-haves

Benefits
• Excellent benefits package includes medical, dental, flexible spending accounts, and employer-matched retirement savings.
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• Flexible schedule.
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• Paid vacation days (starting at 15 days annually and increasing to 20 days after 1 year of employment).
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• Paid holidays (including both US holidays and additional ABC holidays) and sick leave.
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• Lodging, meals, and transportation covered for work-related travel away from home.
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• Rental vehicle or personal mileage reimbursement where applicable.