Forest Analyst
TITLE: Forest Analyst
LINE OF BUSINESS/DIVISION: Working Forest Fund®
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
REPORTS TO: Director, Analysis & Carbon Development
NUMBER OF POSITIONS REPORTING TO THIS POSITION: 0
LOCATION: Chapel Hill, NC
THE CONSERVATION FUND
The Conservation Fund (“TCF” or the “Fund”) is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to the dual mission of protecting America’s most important land, water, and natural resources while also supporting economic growth in communities. Top-ranked for efficiency and effectiveness, we have worked in all 50 states to protect over 8.5 million acres of land since 1985. To learn more about TCF, visit www.conservationfund.org.
Must have received or be willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccination by date of hire to be considered.
Proof of vaccination required.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Forest Analyst will provide financial and analytical support for forestland acquisition, value creation and management. The Forest Analyst will serve as a technical resource for the WFF team in evaluating the financial viability of forest carbon offset projects, forest management, forest operations and associated conservation outcomes. The position will provide quantitative and qualitative analysis to support acquisitions, dispositions, conservation impact, and management of an existing +/- 500,000-acre portfolio of timberland.
RESPONSIBLITIES & SCOPE
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Analyze current and projected revenues (including timber harvest revenue, recreational leases, and mitigation) and expenses to assist strategic planning.
- Lead the creation of forest financial and planning optimization models to support potential acquisitions, current management activities, and forest carbon project development.
- Lead the generation of growth and yield model development and calibration.
- Provide discounted cash flow, and other financial modeling to support acquisition, management, disposition decisions, and value-added and environmental service projects (carbon, conservation easement, wood supply agreements, etc.).
- Assist with forest carbon project identification and project development.
- Act as project manager for a variety of projects, communicating with internal and external partners, managing schedules, and ensuring deliverables are produced within allotted time. Serve in a supporting role to other internal project managers.
- Support business development and partnerships by investigating and creating value added opportunities (both conservation and revenue).
- Support forest management, acquisitions and out sales of easements and fee ownership on existing projects as needed.
- Design specific maps to display various forest values including carbon, hydrology, ecological communities, etc.
- Synthesize and communicate findings to a wide internal audience.
- Assist Director of Analysis & Carbon Development with internal and external presentations.
- Mentor junior staff by providing technical advice and direction, review of written deliverables, and coaching on career development, time management and conflict resolution.
- Maintenance and improvement of forest inventory databases for the current ownership.
- Synthesize complex or diverse information, collect and research data, use intuition and experience to complement data
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry, Computer Science, Math or another related field.
- Fluency with individual tree and stand-level forest growth and yield models.
- Expertise analyzing and managing Geographic Information Systems data.
- Expert in basic business software (MS Word, Excel).
- Self-motivated and independent; able to work well with a team and is willing to take initiative as opportunities arise.
- Quantitative acumen with the ability to frame issues, think creatively and conceptually, and perform financial analyses.
- Ability to multi-task and meet multiple deadlines.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Ability to interact well with diverse stakeholders, including internal departments, senior leadership, contractors, and donors.
- Excellent communication, judgement and problem-solving skills.
PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
- Proficiency in computer programming languages (R or Python) and Resort Woodstock strongly preferred.
- Experience in Forestry or a closely related natural resource field or non-profit business-related field.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Work may be performed in a fast-paced and sometimes high-stress environment with competing deadlines.
- Estimated travel – 5 –10 %.
COMPENSATION and BENEFITS
This position offers a competitive salary, opportunities to earn performance-based bonus compensation and a highly competitive package of benefits including employer contributions for health care, paid holidays, vacation and personal/sick leave, retirement plan and more.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice.
To learn more about The Conservation Fund, visit https://www.conservationfund.org.
The Conservation Fund, a nonprofit corporation, is an Equal Opportunity Employer that fully and actively supports equal access for all people regardless of Race, Color, Religion, Gender, Age, National Origin, Veteran Status, Disability, Genetic Information or Testing, Family and Medical Leave status, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression. The Fund prohibits retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the employer or the government, or against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of any complaint, or otherwise oppose discrimination.