National Forest Foundation (NFF) is pleased to offer three Full-time, salaried, 2-year term positions, with the intent to grow to permanent, that will support increased seed and seedling production within the US Forest Service nurseries and seed extractories, including managing contracts, procurement, and enhancing the workforce across multiple sites nationwide. This position will remotely supervise and support onsite NFF Nursery System Technicians, ensuring operational excellence and staff development while fostering exceptional collaboration with US Forest Service staff and local nursery system managers. As part of a national program, the role will also design and implement volunteer and community engagement and assess opportunities for innovative public-private partnerships supporting nursery system facility improvements. 

About the NFF: As the official national partner to the US Forest Service (USFS), the National Forest Foundation was chartered by Congress in 1993. Today, the NFF advances forest resiliency, healthy watersheds and wildlife habitat, and recreation for all by working with communities and organizations across the country. The Foundation has grown significantly in the last few years in programmatic impact, revenue and support, and organizational capacity. NFF leads with impact, deploying roughly 90% of its expenses towards projects and programs across the country’s 193-million-acre National Forest System. NFF is forward-thinking and innovative, with ambitious strategies and goals to advance and prepare forests for a new economy. 

Position Function: The National Nursery System Program Specialist reports to the Land and Water Restoration Director and is responsible for remotely supervising a team of NFF Nursery System Technicians and ensuring operational excellence across multiple nursery system sites, including assessing and implementing innovative systems and practices to meaningfully increase seed and seedling production. This includes securing and managing contracts and specialized technical consultants to support more efficient nursery system operations, infrastructure, and supplies. The position is a member of NFF’s National Enterprise Program which provides subject matter expertise, organization-wide coordination, and support to NFF Field Programs helping ensure programs and projects align with our mission, shared goals, and approach to managing cross-cutting risks and works closely with local U.S. Forest Service nursery staff, while also coordinating with the national US Forest Service team to advance strategic initiatives and long-term goals.

Position Duties and Responsibilities: The National Nursery System Program Specialist will:

• Provide direct oversight of site-based NFF nursery system technicians and collaborate with onsite US Forest Service Nursery System Managers to ensure best practices 
• Provide oversight of and/or lead the advertisement, negotiation, and awarding of multiple contracts related to time sensitive or innovative on-the-ground supply procurement and implementation of nursery system improvements, 
• Work directly with contractors, consultants, nonprofit organizations, agency partners, US Forest Service staff, and private entities to manage the effective and efficient implementation of nursery system infrastructure, improvements and operations.
• Coordinate with other NFF Nursery System Program Specialists, US Forest Service Staff, and US Forest Service Nursery System Managers to strategize and develop a detailed model for implementation of engineering projects for nursery facilities modernization projects, as well as ongoing repairs and replacement efforts.
• Coordinate with other NFF Nursery System Program Specialists, US Forest Service Staff, and US Forest Service Nursery System Managers and NNS partners to assess opportunities to develop a model to deliver and initiate implementation of a volunteer program to support the national nursery system
• Inform integration of programmatic operations with NFF Reforestation and Field teams to support the comprehensive delivery and cohesion of NFF’s Reforestation program.
• Manage program and project budgets and reporting associated with grants from federal, state, and local government sources, as well as philanthropic support from corporations, foundations, and individuals.
• Build and maintain close and mutually beneficial relationships among federal and state agency partners, local government, tribal partners, nonprofit organizations, and the NFF to implement effective community-based conservation partnerships.
• Maintain a breadth of knowledge about current trends, emerging issues, policy interventions, and innovations in the field of conservation programming to enhance the NFF strategic efficacy.

Education and Qualifications: NFF expects the National Nursery System Program Specialist to possess the following educational and experiential qualifications:

• Degree (Master’s preferred) in Forestry, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, Horticulture, a related field, or equivalent experience.
• A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in nursery/seed operations, forestry, ecological restoration, reforestation, and/or project planning.
• Involvement in program planning, management, accomplishment and budget tracking, and project operations management that involve multiple implementation partners, contractors, contracts for services, and funding sources.
• Experience working in a nursery or seed extractory operation, 
• Experience supervising and managing remote-based project-level staff.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Abilities and Skills: NFF expects the National Nursery System Program Specialist to possess the following proven abilities and skills:

•  Ability to understand and clearly communicate about nursery infrastructure and operations, reforestation and reforestation pipeline
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly, work in outdoor conditions, and maintain a flexible work schedule, including participation in weekend and evening events.
• Ability to work well and be flexible in a team-oriented environment.
• Ability to represent the NFF in a clear and professional manner through excellent written and oral communication, and interpersonal skills.
• A strong attention to detail, with skill in working in a timely and well-organized fashion.
• A valid U.S. Driver’s License and clean driving record, and ability to pass a federal government background check.

Location: This position is a remote/work-from-home position and requires reliable internet access and a dedicated workspace. Applicants must be able to travel regularly and have access to a major airport. 

Travel: Managers will be expected to travel to one or more of the following on a regular basis, roughly monthly.

• Coeur d'Alene Nursery, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
• Bessey Nursery, Halsey, NE 
• Lucky Peak Nursery, Boise, ID
• Placerville Nursery, Camino, CA 
• Stone Nursery, Central Point, OR
• Bend Seed Extractory, Bend, OR
• Toumey Nursery, Watersmeet, MI
• Ashe Seed Extractory, Brooklyn, MS

Compensation: NFF offers a competitive compensation and benefits package that reflects our total rewards strategy. The starting salary range for this position is $83,800 to $101,275, with the ability to grow to $118,750 based on performance outcomes over time and assessed annually.

Benefits: NFF is proud to offer our staff: 

Health and Wellness:

• Medical and dental insurance paid at 75% by the organization for you and any dependents. 
• Vision insurance paid 50% by the organization for you and any dependents. 
• Health savings account (HSA) with employer contributions between $1,878-$3,750 per year, predicated on coverage type. 
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSA). 
• Employee assistance program (EAP) at no cost. 

Financial Wellbeing:

• 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% employer match after one (1) year of service. 
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance at no cost. 
• Basic life and AD&D insurance at no cost, with voluntary life insurance options. 
• Whole life insurance at a discounted rate

Flexibility and time off:

• Employees start with 35 days of annual leave, sick leave, personal leave and holidays (annual leave accrual rates increase with years of service) 
• Family & medical leave for up to sixteen (16) weeks with up to four (4) weeks paid. 

Personal Development:

• Training & Development Programs  
• Professional development reimbursement for up to $1,000 per year. 

Journey of a Lifetime:

• The opportunity to support an incredible mission and travel to / work in spectacular locations.

The National Forest Foundation is an equal opportunity employer – meaning we provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable law. Further, we prohibit discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, and termination. We strive to foster a work environment where every individual is respected, valued, and treated fairly. This statement reflects our unwavering dedication to fairness, respect, and equality in employment practices and sets the foundation for a positive work environment.