NOVA SCOTIA FORESTS

Position: Supervising forest professional
Organization: Family Forest Network
Location: home-based in Nova Scotia only, with option for network-provided office in Truro, NS

OVERVIEW:

The Family Forest Network is a collaboration among 11 charitable, non-profit and co-operative organizations that seek to promote ecologically sensitive forest management on small, privately owned woodlands in Nova Scotia. The partners will conduct a five-year, $10.6 million project that aims to:

• Develop a steward-led network to address the key challenges of implementing ecologically sensitive forest practices;
• Create a large-scale pilot of approximately 192 harvests and 80 timber stand improvement treatments province-wide, to quantify and promote the benefits of innovation in forest management through the adoption of ecological forestry; and
• Extend the reach of ecological forestry on family forestlands through integrated solutions and strategic partnerships.

KEY COMPETENCIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

The Supervising Forest Professional will serve in one of the most important roles in the project. The position requires significant, direct experience in performing and supervising forest management activities and operations; a deep understanding of the Nova Scotia forest sector, including the major mills and managers, provincial programs, and sectoral challenges; strong inter-personal, organizational, and project management skills; measured, mature decision-making; flexibility in responding to changing circumstances; and a demonstrated commitment to ecologically sensitive forest practices. Nova Scotia registered professional forester or forest technician strongly preferred.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Serving as a primary link between landowners, forest professionals and other field personnel, harvesters, and researchers who are participating in the project.
• Participating in the development of protocols that result in the coordinated and effective delivery of ecological forestry services through the network, with special emphasis on robust pre- and post-harvest data collection that informs the development of appropriate, ecologically sensitive treatments.
• Working with participating organizations to design and conduct training programs for collaborating organizations, forest professionals, harvesting contractors and employees, landowners, and students.
• Tracking and reporting on the status of field work undertaken by participating organizations. Confirming that treatments are effectively implemented, and that costs and post-harvest outcomes are fully and accurately recorded.
• Supervising several full- or part-time extension forest professionals.
• For management activities that are not undertaken by other organizations in the network, directly planning and supervising treatments to be undertaken and tracking the costs, benefits and outcomes.
• Working with collaborating organizations to recruit landowners, forest professionals and harvesters who participate in the project. Helping to prepare contracts and other documents between the network and those who are involved.
• Serving as a liaison with provincial staff and industry to promote the project and share information about its findings.
• Adherence to Health Canada / Nova Scotia Health Authority recommendations related to vaccines, and maintenance of a valid Nova Scotia driver’s license, is mandatory.

Nova Scotia residency and travel throughout the province is required.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The network will be filling three key positions at the outset: supervising forest professional, network manager and naturalist. The positions will report to the Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Woodlot Owners and Operators Association, which is sponsoring the project.

As an employee of NSWOOA, you will join an organization that has long been a leader in promoting environmentally centered, socially responsible, and economically balanced forestry for Nova Scotia. We believe that forest practices should mimic natural processes in the native Acadian/Wabanaki Forest, and we have been demonstrating our beliefs in the woods for more than 30 years. We were outspoken advocates for change at a time when the concepts of ecological forestry were ignored or scorned by most professionals. For more information about the association, visit nswooa.ca.

• Location of work: Home-based in Nova Scotia only, with option for network-provided office in Truro, NS
• Initial Term: 18 months with mutually agreed extensions for a total of 5 years
• Salary Range: $65,000-75,000
• Benefits: Basic health and pension benefits to be provided by employer

TO APPLY

Please send a cover letter outlining your interest and suitability, as well as a CV demonstrating your work, life and volunteer experiences, to:

Andrew Kekacs
Executive Director
Nova Scotia Woodlot Owners and Operators Association
andy.nswooa@gmail.com

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. The starting date is negotiable.

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