Greater Yellowstone Whitebark Pine Ecologist, Senior Manager

American Forests is a national non-profit organization committed to creating healthy and resilient forests from cities to large forest landscapes, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water, and wildlife. We advance our mission through forestry innovation, place-based partnerships to plant and restore forests, and movement building. We envision a world in which the significant environmental, societal, and economic benefits of forests are fully realized and equitably available to all people. Established in 1875, American Forests is the oldest national non-profit conservation organization in the U.S. working to restoring urban forests and forested landscapes for over 150 years.

Position Summary

Whitebark pine is an iconic tree species that thrives at high elevations across seven western US states and is known as both a keystone and foundation species where it exists. Whitebark pine populations have been in a well-documented decline as a result of three primary threats: white pine blister rust, mountain pine beetles, and climate induced changes (drought, changing fire regimes). Whitebark pine was listed as threatened on January 17, 2023, under the Endangered Species Act, and is the widest ranging tree species to receive this designation.

In 2023, American Forests partnered with the National Park Service under a five-year agreement to work together to restore whitebark pine populations in western National Parks. As a part of this agreement, American Forests is working with National Park units in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) to expand restoration capacity and leadership for whitebark pine. This Greater Yellowstone Whitebark Pine Ecologist, Senior Manager position is a unique opportunity for the right candidate to gain experience working within both federal and nonprofit sectors. This position will be positioned within the Resilient Forests program at American Forests but will be directly supervised by the Deputy Chief of the Yellowstone Center for Resources at Yellowstone National Park (YELL). The incumbent will work on projects in YELL and help support projects in Grand Teton National Park (GRTE).

Qualifications

While we do not expect any one candidate to possess all of these qualifications, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following:

• Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience, including demonstrated proficiency in: 1) forestry, botany, ecological restoration, or other ecological field work, 2) experience in data analysis and reporting, including spatial data, 3) project development and coordination with a team, 4) planning field work and training field staff in restoration or monitoring actions
• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Ecology, Agriculture, or a related field. Master’s degree or graduate education leading to master’s degree in related field preferred (this education can supersede undergraduate degree field).
• Familiarity with whitebark pine, whitebark pine habitat, or similar threatened species and systems.
• A well-rounded, interpersonal skill set with the capacity to build and maintain relationships within a small team, with agency staff, service subcontractors, landowners and researchers, and to work effectively in a larger team environment, both regionally and nationally
• Impact-driven, self-motivated quality with strong time management and organizational skills and the ability to meet recurring deadlines
• Ability to conceptualize annual project targets, characterize site-specific challenges through scoping activities and meet annual goals with measurable impacts; the ability to adapt as needed
• Candidate must be a US Citizen, Permanent Resident or Green card holder; or must have lived for three consecutive years of the last five years within the US and have a legal permit to reside and work in the US.

To Apply

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