Community Forest Catalyst

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Nature Conservancy in Alaska works in partnership with Tribes, Alaska Native corporations, government agencies, and local communities, with much of that work centered in Southeast Alaska on forest stewardship, climate resilience, and community wellbeing. For nearly a decade, TNC Alaska has hosted a Regional Community Forest Catalyst in partnership with the Sustainable Southeast Partnership (SSP), a regional network of Tribes, Alaska Native corporations, nonprofits, agencies, and communities working toward cultural, ecological, and economic resilience across the region.

We're Looking For You:

The Regional Community Forest Catalyst (Catalyst) supports the continuation and growth of community forest partnerships (currently operating in Hoonah, Kake, and Klawock (Prince of Wales Island)). Each partnership brings together a local coordinator, a community council or steering committee, a technical team, and a local field crew to carry out habitat restoration, young-growth forest treatments, fish passage and watershed work, subsistence access improvements, and monitoring on the Tongass National Forest and adjacent lands. Over the past decade these partnerships have grown a local stewardship workforce, increased local decision-making over forest management, and leveraged millions of dollars in project funding for their communities. There is more to do to sustain the existing partnerships and, as capacity allows, extend the model to additional communities.

This position reports directly to the Southeast Alaska Program Director. The location for this position is flexible within Southeast Alaska with frequent travel within the region expected.

We encourage you to submit a cover letter, but it is not required.

Essential Functions

Working at both the community and regional levels, the Catalyst operates as a networking node; helping fill the capacity gaps that come with hosting community forest projects: fundraising and grant writing, workforce development for field crews and coordinators, and land management planning. Across the region, the Catalyst convenes and coordinates amongst regional partners on regional training, shared funding opportunities, and the larger projects that need several crews working together for part of a season.

The Catalyst provides technical leadership, facilitation, coordination, and capacity-building support for community forest partnerships across Southeast Alaska. The position engages in land-management planning, grant-writing, workforce training, project coordination, stewardship implementation, and regional collaboration while ensuring community priorities guide decision making. This position works in close collaboration with other Regional and Community Catalysts within the Sustainable Southeast Partnership.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Participates in and represents the Sustainable Southeast Partnership as a regional catalyst. This includes attending regional gatherings, collaborating within the network, and connecting partners to broader networks within TNC. Facilitates broader connection between the SSP and TNC's geographically broader Emerald Edge Network.
• Supports community forest partnerships in Hoonah, Kake, and Klawock through technical assistance and project coordination.
• Builds relationships with and gains cooperation from partner organizations, Tribal governments, agencies, and community groups to accomplish shared goals, influencing without formal authority.
• Helps communities connect economic opportunities around non-old growth-based forest products with long term forest stewardship based on community priority or need
• Develops grant proposals, funding agreements, budgets, reports, and funding calendars.
• Provides and facilitate field instruction, workforce development support, and training opportunities.
• Coordinates regional collaboration among Tribes, Alaska Native corporations, nonprofits, agencies, and TNC staff.
• Maintains shared partnership metrics, project data, maps, and reporting systems.
• Ensures compliance with TNC policies, funder requirements, and partnership reporting obligations.
• May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances. Frequent travel by small aircraft and boat throughout Southeast Alaska occurs throughout the year.
• May work with youth through stewardship and partnership programs.

What You'll Bring:

• BA/BS in forestry, natural resources, or a related field and 5 years' related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Experience coordinating partnerships or collaborative projects among multiple organizations.

• Experience writing grants and managing awarded funds and reporting.

• Experience organizing training events or working with field crews.

• Experience traveling by small aircraft or boat to rural communities and/or multi-day stays in remote areas.

• Experience with common office software (Microsoft Office, Teams, Box, web browsers).

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience working directly with Tribes, Alaska Native organizations, or other Indigenous communities, through employment or partnership.

• Experience working effectively in rural, remote, or Indigenous-led communities.

• Experience working within a variety of Southeast Alaska landowner contexts: the Tongass National Forest, Alaska Native corporations, State and municipal lands, and Tribal stewardship interests across all of them.

• Experience with USDA Forest Service processes and partnership pathways, including NEPA, agreements, stewardship contracting, and Good Neighbor Authority.

• Experience with forest restoration, young-growth management, fish passage, or watershed restoration in Southeast Alaska or similar systems.

• Experience facilitating or convening organizations that hold no formal obligation to one another.

• GIS, spatial analysis, or data management skills, including ArcGIS Online.

• Experience supervising or training field crews.

• Specialized field trainings, such as chainsaw, first aid, CPR, or wilderness first aid certifications.

• Experience explaining technical concepts to non-technical audiences, with strong written and verbal communication.
• Experience working independently, managing multiple project timelines, and exercising sound judgment far from the office.

This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with TNC's Auto Safety Program. Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers." To learn more about the Auto Safety Program, visit the Auto Safety information page. Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.

Salary Information:

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $78,480 - $83,400. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate's actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.