Position: Forester 3
Location: Missoula, MT

About Us: Montana Forest Consultants (MFC) is Montana’s largest forestry consulting firm, specializing in practical, science-driven forest management across private, state, federal, and local government lands. We are a small company growing with the demand for forest management solutions across Montana. Our team works on a wide range of projects—from reforestation and wildfire recovery, inventory, forest management planning, harvest and thinning layout, prescribed fire, project administration and supervision, and beyond. We are committed to
responsible resource management, landowner service, and building resilient working forests.
We are adding a Forester 3 to our Montana Forest Consultants team. This is a leadership-level, professional forester role for an individual with proven success overseeing complex cross-boundary projects and budgets, cultivating new clients, and bidding and acquiring projects.
This role ensures the smooth administration of projects, contributes to MFC company growth and project/client pipeline, fosters subcontractor relationships, and fosters a positive and productive working environment. This position will report directly to the MFC COO.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

Project Management & Administration
● Independently plan and execute forest management projects of all sizes and complexity.
Oversee forestry activities, including fuels reduction, timber cruising, project layout, timber harvests, development of silvicultural and reforestation prescriptions, and implementing prescribed fire, plus project admin including budgets, scheduling, and bidding/proposal creation.
● Manage subcontractors and MFC staff in delivering project outcomes on time, within budget, and to prescription.
● Ensure technical accuracy, data quality, and timely completion of all project deliverables.
● Build, coordinate, and sustain relationships with clients, contractors, and partners to align project objectives and outcomes.
● Negotiate log buying agreements and maintain positive working relationships with mills and wood buyers.
● Create and approve project reports, maps, and GIS data.
● Track and report on project progress to funders, landowners, and partners.

Leadership & Supervision
● Mentor or supervise Forester 2, Forester 1, and Technician-level colleagues.
● Foster a positive, accountable, and safety-oriented work culture.
● Identify opportunities for operational improvements and new service offerings.

Qualifications

Required
● Minimum of 12 years experience in forestry.
● B.S. or equivalent in work/education in forestry or a closely related field.
● Experience delivering complex forestry projects across multiple ownerships (e.g. private land, DNRC, USFS, NRCS, BLM), including coordinating and directing multiple resources to complete project objectives and ability to deliver multiple projects simultaneously.
● At least 10 years experience managing logging or forestry contractors with an in-depth understanding of capabilities and economics.
● Experience and knowledge in project bidding, budgeting, and development.
● Experience with merchandising forest products.
● Working knowledge of western U.S. silviculture, harvest systems, and forest operations, including Montana BMPs.
● Proficiency in standard forestry tools, GPS/GIS systems, and data collection software.
● Prior experience supervising forester or technician-level staff.
● Ability to maintain a valid U.S. driver’s license.
● Willingness to travel within Montana and surrounding states for short to moderate periods of time, including overnight.
● Ability to spend long periods of time (up to 80%) on your feet traveling through challenging terrain and working in varying weather conditions. Ability to lift or carry up to 70 pounds.

Preferred
● SAF Certified Forester.
● Prior experience with NEPA support documentation.
● Knowledge of wildfire, reforestation, carbon protocols, and other forestry-related fields.
● Experience writing and managing large-scale, long-term contracts.
● Experience with digital management platforms, such as Asana.

Compensation and Benefits
● Annual salary range $80-$95k
● IRA retirement plan with company match
● ICHRA Healthcare reimbursement plan
● Vehicle or mileage reimbursement for field work
● Paid time off, holidays, and flexible scheduling during field season
● Professional development support (training, conferences, SAF membership)
● Company pro deals with reputable brands
● Opportunity for advancement within a growing Montana forestry firm