Forestry Director en Yurok Tribe (CA), CA

About the Department

Under the supervision of the Executive Director and guided by the policy of the Tribal Council, the Forestry Director is responsible for advancing and implementing intensive management practices in the multiple use sustained yield management of all tribal forestry resources. Serves as Forestry Director for the Tribe with responsibility of providing short- and long-range forest resource management. This position is responsible for the management, planning, harvesting and silvicultural application of scattered Yurok trust and fee land and trust allotments, assignments, parcels and blocks of the Yurok Tribe’s forested lands. The Forestry Director is responsible for managing multiple carbon sequestration projects in accordance with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) cap-and-trade protocols, tribal land management plans and agreements, tribal ordinances, and all other applicable state and federal laws and regulations. The Forestry Director will oversee and supervise all tribal staff, contractors, and consultants necessary to successfully manage and sustain multiple carbon sequestration projects. The Forestry Director works to integrate forest carbon management with ongoing trust and fee timber harvest rotations, forest health improvement projects, hazardous fuels reduction projects, cultural and prescribed burning programs, and other natural resources management efforts. This position is responsible for all carbon project planning, development, management, and compliance; and serves as the primary tribal lead for carbon offset sales, public policy, and public relations needed for successful management of tribal carbon sequestration projects.

Position Duties

1. The Forestry Program Director prepares, executes and oversees the implementation of forest management using data from various sources, and assures that the plans are consistent with the requirements of other tribal resource plans, programs and projects.
2. Reviews timber and fire trespass investigations, logging road permit applications and logging access applications.
3. Provides leadership, coordination and direction to:
4. Silvicultural and tree improvement programs, including stand improvement prescriptive burning and reforestation.
5. Timber harvesting including product utilization.
6. Deal with insects, disease and other pest control activities.
7. Integration of timber management plans and activities with other tribal programs.
8. Prepares and revises short- and long-range functional timber management plans for tribal forest land.
9. Reviews annual and/or periodic plans and schedules to determine compliance with long range resource management plans; and to set up areas and priorities for reforestation, timber stand improvement and timber surveys.
10. Oversees timber harvest activities including timber sale layout and design, logging methods and timing, appraisals, collection of sale receipts, sale administration, trespass, and sale plans. Position is responsible for all facets of timber sale administration ranging from pre-sale activity to final responsibility of timber sale administration.
11. Directs and reviews timber and fire trespass investigations, right of way applications, makes appraisals and accesses and recommends measures of settlement.
12. Inspects timber stand improvement and planting projects for conformance with approved plans and specifications, coordinates timber stand improvement activities with other tribal resource management activities.
13. Develops, registers, manages, and assures that forest carbon projects are consistent with existing tribal resource plans, programs, and projects, as well as current state forest carbon program protocols and regulatory requirements.
14. Reviews timber harvest plans, restoration and conservation plans, road construction and maintenance plans, and cultural and prescribed burning plans to ensure integration with tribal forest carbon projects.
15. Provides leadership, coordination, and direction to:
a. Develop and register forest carbon projects.
b. Guides staff and/or consultants to establish and survey forest carbon inventory plots.
c. Reviews and quality controls all carbon plot inventory data
d. Prepares quantitative estimates of standing forest carbon, and future carbon sequestration.
e. Works with carbon consultants and third-party carbon project verifiers to ensure compliance with all CARB program protocols, and regulations.
f. Inform Tribal Council and relevant Yurok staff of ongoing carbon project management strategies and issues.
16. Prepares and revises short- and long-range carbon sequestration projections in collaboration with sustainable timber harvest, land management, and restoration and conservation plans for tribal forest lands.
17. Reviews annual and/or periodic carbon project plans and schedules to determine compliance with long-range resource management plans; and to set up areas and priorities for carbon project development, timber stand improvements, and other forest treatments to increase forest carbon sequestration.
18. Develops, oversees, manages, and advises the Yurok Tribal Council on all contracts and agreements required to support carbon sequestration projects.
19. Direct and supervises tribal staff to collect forest inventory plot data, implement stand improvement projects, ensure safe and reliable access, and other field tasks to support carbon modelers/contractors, and third-party carbon sequestration modeling verifications.
20. Reviews, interprets, and verifies all carbon inventory data, carbon sequestration model estimates, and works with verifiers to ensure full compliance with CA Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations.
21. Responsible for advising Executive staff, and Council on state and federal forest carbon policy matters, as well as other public relations.
22. Collaborates and cooperates with other staff to support and successfully execute compliance and voluntary carbon offset sales agreements.
23. Develop long-term tribal carbon management vision in order to create additional economic opportunities for tribe and tribal members.
24. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:
1. G12: Bachelors with 5 years experience or other specified experience as outlined in job description.
2. G13: Bachelors with 6 years experience or other specified experience as outlined in job description.
3. Employee must be willing to acquire any special certifications or attend any training that is determined to be relevant or becomes required of the position in the future.
4. Candidates with equivalent combinations of education, training and experience will be considered.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
1. A broad and fundamental knowledge of, and experience using, intensive forestry practices, multiple land use management principles, forest ecology, and conservation concepts and applications in order to advance and execute plans and programs consistent with existing policies, and agreements.
2. Knowledge of factors and trends affecting maximum utilization of the forestry resource in order to meet all legal and administrative requirements regulating forest carbon projects and sales agreements.
3. Familiarity with forest inventory metrics, data collection, analyses, QA/QC, and computer-based forest inventory and carbon modeling applications to support successful management of forest carbon projects, and subsequent sales agreements.
4. Knowledge of natural resources management, ecology, ecosystems, zoology, wildlife habitat and habitat rehabilitation is sufficient to formulate harvest plans designed for the preservation, protection of natural and cultural resources, while maximizing carbon capture rates.
5. Knowledge of capacities, capabilities and skills of personnel, equipment, materials, and budgetary requirements to formulate and execute viable strategies to maximize forest health, resource restoration, and forest carbon sequestration.
6. Knowledge and ability to read and interpret maps, surveys, and plots; and to locate boundaries and markers.
7. Physical fitness capable of meeting the physical demands of the job required while making on-site examinations of conditions and/or activities. Includes walking and climbing or driving over very rough terrain.
8. Ability to work safely in the field, especially during logging and forest improvement operations or other hazardous conditions.
9. Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines.
10. Ability and willingness to travel frequently and on short notice, sometimes on weekends.
11. Excellent technical and formal professional writing skills.
12. Knowledge of forest ecology of Coastal Temperate Rainforest-Yurok Reservation.
13. Modeling and quantitative projections of forest carbon capture/sequestration.
14. Analyzing and interpretation of forest carbon sequestration model estimates.
15. Development of carbon projects that are fiscally and ecologically responsible.
16. Familiarity with compliance and voluntary Cap-and-Trade markets in California, and all relevant CARB regulations on offset sales/transfers.
17. Analyzing and assessing pre-existing forest inventory data.
18. Ability to prepare carbon and timber plot inventory and conduct biomass and carbon volume modeling.
19. Working knowledge of Forest Project Protocol Versions 3.1 and 3.2 prepared by the Climate Action Reserve (CAR)
20. Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret forest measurements, summarize field work, estimate carbon stocks, and estimate forest inventory precision.
21. Cost benefit analysis between sustainable timber harvest and future carbon potential.
22. Experience working with a wide range of people, such as tribal members, environmental NGOs, landowners, corporate executives, and government officials.
23. Experience negotiating complex jurisdictional, legal, and sales agreements.
24. Grant writing and grant management experience.
25. Supervisory experience and experience managing diverse teams.
26. Experience in developing and managing multiple projects and timelines.
27. Experience working with computers, including quantitative database management.
28. Knowledge of Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Forestry Rules and California Forest Practice Rules.
29. Requires willingness and ability to interact professionally with the Deputy Executive Director of Natural Resource to ensure successful integration of Carbon Projects Program with other natural resources departments/programs and management issues.
30. Recognition that in order to serve Yurok People one must know as much as possible about Yurok history, culture and values.

Other Qualifications

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Performs the full range of supervisory duties and responsibilities. Plans work of subordinates based on priorities, nature of assignment. Develops work performance plans and evaluates the performance of subordinates. Provides advice, instruction, and guidance to subordinates on work and administrative matters. Effects disciplinary actions and determines developmental training needs of employees. Supervises subordinate employees including assigning and reviewing work, evaluation performance, training, taking necessary disciplinary action and making hiring and termination decisions. Use and promote a team approach to management and ensure accountability throughout the workplace.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
1. All applicants are subject to the Tribe’s Drug and Alcohol Policy including pre-employment screening.
2. All applicants will acknowledge and follow all Yurok Tribe personnel and other policies and procedures.
3. The Yurok Tribe is an equal opportunity employer who exercises Indian preference; Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (Title 25, USC, Section 472).
4. Valid state issued driver’s license and/or the ability to obtain a California driver’s license. Must be insurable on the Tribe’s insurance policy.
5. Must pass a background investigation and fingerprint clearance.
6. Position could require travel and occasional work outside of regular work schedule.