Director, Urban and Community Forestry

Title: Director, Urban and Community Forestry US

Location: Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Department: 3000- Standards

Job Description:

ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION:

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) is a non-profit leader dedicated to advancing sustainability through forest-focused partnerships and collaboration. SFI believes that sustainable forests are critical to our collective future. As an independent, non-profit organization, we work with a diverse network of SFI-certified organizations, community and conservation leaders, Indigenous representatives, government officials, researchers, and educators to advance sustainability through collaborative action.

Our work is grounded in four interconnected pillars: advancing responsible forestry and sourcing through SFI Standards; promoting nature-based solutions through conservation; cultivating environmental leadership and lifelong learning; and fostering community partnerships that create meaningful change.

Urban and community forests are essential to achieving these goals. These are the forests closest to where people live, work, learn, and connect with nature, providing vital green spaces that strengthen communities and enhance quality of life.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Director of Urban and Community Forestry will support SFI’s mission of advancing sustainability through forest-focused collaborations by working with a network of urban and community forestry leaders to implement the SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard and deliver on a $5 million grant through the United States Forest Service (USFS) Urban and Community Forestry program. This role is vital to promoting sustainable urban and community forest management and to expanding the impact of SFI Standards across the United States.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Manage and oversee a $5 million grant through the USFS Urban and Community Forestry program.


• Provide technical assistance, support and urban forestry expertise to passthrough grant recipients related to reporting, compliance, grant administration, and implementation.


• Promote and support the implementation of the SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard in collaboration with municipalities, universities and corporations while building relationships across additional sectors.


• Develop and strengthen collaborative partnerships that contribute to sustainable urban and community forest management.


• Identify and pursue funding opportunities to support the growth and long-term sustainability of SFI’s urban and community forestry initiatives.


• Serve as SFI’s subject matter expert on urban and community forestry with interested parties, partners, and at industry events and conferences.


• Lead the strategic growth and implementation of SFI’s urban and community forestry program in the U.S., including standards revision and maintenance, outreach and engagement, network development, and initiatives that elevate SFI’s leadership in urban forestry.


• Coordinate with communications staff to recognize SFI certified organizations, elevate success stories, and facilitate adoption of SFI Standards.


 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position will not initially have direct employee supervisory responsibilities but will manage various consultant relationships to fulfill essential job functions.  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS / TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

SFI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements include the ability to work from a desk at a computer for prolonged periods of time.

This position requires occasional travel within the US and Canada, up to 40% of time.

WORK LOCATION:

SFI has an offices in Washington, DC.  Individuals that work elsewhere in the continental U.S. will be considered, provided they are in close proximity to major commuting hubs. Employees located withing commuting distance of Washington, DC or Ottawa are required to work from the office 2 days per week, with Tuesdays and Wednesdays as designated in-office days. For the remaining days of the week, you may choose to either work from the office or remotely from your home. SFI reserves the right to increase in-person days to three or more days per week in the future.

WHAT YOU BRING:

Education and Experience

• Degree in forestry, urban forestry, natural resources, or related field, required.


• At least 5 years of experience in urban forestry with a vast network within the urban forestry community required.


• Sector credentials such as ISA Certified Arborist, ISA Certified Urban Forest Professional, and/or ISA Board-Certified Master Arborist required.


• At least 3 years of experience managing a U.S. federal or state grant program is required.


• Knowledge of local urban and community forest needs on a national scale.


• Familiarity with and appreciation of forest certification standards and the auditing process preferred.


• Demonstrated experience in business development, program promotion and strategic relationship building preferred.


• Prior involvement with the SFI Urban & Community Forest Sustainability Standard preferred.


• Bilingualism or professional language proficiency is a plus (example: French, Spanish etc.)


 

Key Competencies

• Ability to work in a team environment, take initiative, assess priorities and multi-task, and competently perform a variety of activities with a high level of accuracy and within a fast-paced work setting.


• Excellent organizational and time management skills.


• Shows a hunger for learning and the ability to “ramp-up” quickly on new projects/tasks.


• Supports the SFI Senior Leadership Team by anticipating team needs and demonstrating the ability to represent SFI at a higher level, as needed.


• Oversees projects or programs from start to finish, seeking the support and input from others and managing consultants as warranted.


• Develops and implements programs and policies to cultivate a positive, collaborative and respectful culture and consistently models these behaviors.


• Comfortably operates in nuanced situations or potentially ambiguous or uncertain situations.


• Routinely considers both the internal and external implications of decisions.


• Effectively leads meetings with external parties.


• Confidently and effectively represents SFI to a variety of interested parties in a diverse array of settings and situations.


• Requires ability to respect confidentiality and exercise discretion with sensitive and privileged information.


 

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

We are committed to equity in our salary practices. The salary range for this position is $115,000 to $130,000; the successful candidate’s actual salary will depend on a number of factors, including geography, education/training, experience, time-in-role, management qualifications (as applicable), and skillset.

Our benefits include (but are not limited to):

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.


• Retirement plan with generous employer contribution and additional matching contribution up to 11% of your salary, provided you also contribute 4%.


• Paid Time Off – generous vacation policy ranging from 2 weeks to 5 weeks, increasing with experience, all federal holidays, plus 4 floating holidays annually that may be used to observe additional religious, cultural, or traditional occasions that are meaningful to you, and 12 sick days annually.


• Educational assistance and investment in professional development.


 

OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY:

SFI is proud to provide our employees with a collaborative, dynamic, and rewarding professional experience, with a competitive compensation and benefits package and growth opportunities. We are committed to creating a diverse environment and being an equal opportunity employer. Our team represents a broad range of cultures, education, disciplines, and work and life experiences, and we strive to leverage these differences in our daily work. We will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic. We believe in creating an empowered and supportive team that is committed to advancing sustainability through forest-focused collaborations.

Learn more about SFI Staff Culture, read our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy, and review our Indigenous Relations Commitment.