Forest and Wildlife Habitat Manager

The Southeast Land Trust (SELT) conserves and stewards land for the benefit of people and nature in New Hampshire. SELT serves all of Rockingham and Strafford counties and has conserved tens of thousands of acres since 1980, including nature preserves, hiking trails, farmland, and scenic vistas.

Position Overview

The Forest and Wildlife Habitat Manager plans, coordinates, and implements the management activities for SELT’s 10,000+ acres of land to achieve ecological, sustainable forestry, wildlife habitat, and climate change goals. The Manager works collaboratively with SELT staff, private contractors, partners, and volunteers to ensure SELT reservations are managed as exemplary models of stewardship and consistent with the individual management plans and restrictions.

Responsibilities

Forest and Habitat Management

• Develop and implement an annual work plan and associated budget for forest and habitat management and restoration activities on SELT lands, in close conjunction with the Trails and Community Engagement Manager
• Collaborate with colleagues and natural resource consultants to write and prepare management plans for each SELT property
• Assist in securing and administering funding of management activities as appropriate from government programs, such as EQIP, WRE, and ARM
• Lead management of SELT’s lands, including directly completing or supervising contractors and others for invasives species management, timber stand improvement, field mowing, and infrastructure maintenance, such as boundaries, woods roads, gates, and stream crossing. This includes the use of hand tools, power tools (including a chainsaw), and mowers
• Collaborate with colleagues on trails and related recreational infrastructure in coordination with overall management objectives
• Oversee approved uses of SELT-owned lands by third parties through activities such as agricultural leases and research projects
• Supervise seasonal staff and volunteers completing management activities on and routine inspections of SELT lands including boundary maintenance, invasive species control, review of remote imagery and site visits to properties
• Support appropriate opportunities, in partnership with colleagues, for volunteer engagement in the management of SELT’s lands, including volunteer workdays, and the training of volunteers

Land Conservation

• Advise on forest, habitat, ecological and climate change goals as well as infrastructure needs and costs during consideration of new conservation projects, including initial management objectives

Outreach and Community Relations

• As may be needed, represent SELT at public meetings
• Work cooperatively with communities, government agencies, and other stakeholders to achieve shared goals
• Build and nurture amicable relationships with neighbors to our properties
• Participate in or lead organizational outreach events and field trips

General and Administrative

• Maintain records consistent with SELT’s internal policies and practices, including use of ArcGIS and the LOCATE database to track land management infrastructure, activities, and tasks
• Assist with the resolution of trespasses, potential and actual violations, disagreements with abutters, third parties, and entities holding restrictions on SELT lands
• Participate in organization-wide events and SELT committees as assigned
• Participate in the development of new policies and procedures to ensure consistency with applicable Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices and requirements of the Land Trust Accreditation Commission
• Complete other tasks as may be assigned to support the organization’s mission

Qualifications

SELT seeks the best candidate for the job. Research has shown that people of color and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don't believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or have a less traditional background. We are looking for applicants with the following qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in forestry, wildlife biology or related field
• 5 + years’ experience in forestry or wildlife habitat management including writing management plans, collecting timber and natural resources data, and design and implementation of infrastructure and activities such as woods roads, timber stand improvement and early successional habitat
• Understanding of the role conservation land and sustainable forest and ecological management plays in local, regional and global issues such as wildlife corridors and climate change mitigation
• Experience and confidence using field tools such as compass, GPS, clinometer, prism, timber cruise data collector, hand tools and chainsaws
• Experience with, or willingness to learn, the operation of equipment such as a trailer, tractor, backhoe, etc. and associated attachments
• Empathetic and observant listener able to work with a wide range of personalities and opinions to reach a common goal
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite
• Familiarity using ArcGIS, ESRI Field Maps app, and related mapping tools
• Currently, or the ability to become a NH licensed forester or certified wildlife biologist is a plus but not required

Compensation

• Competitive salary commensurate with level of directly relevant experience with a starting salary range of $55,000 to $65,000.
• Competitive benefits package including health insurance plan, long-term and short-term disability insurance, employee match to 403(b)(7) retirement plan, and paid vacation, sick time, and holidays.

To Apply

• Please click "Apply" below to email a resume and cover letter (both in PDF format) to Deborah Goard, Stewardship and Land Engagement Director, at stewardship@seltnh.org with “Forest and Wildlife Manager” and your name in the subject line.
• Please apply before 5:00 pm on Friday, March 10, 2023.
• No phone calls, please.