Director, Conservation Implementation

Position: Director, Conservation Implementation – Canada Lead

Supervisor: Chief Conservation Officer

Location: Ottawa, Ontario (hybrid), or flexible in Canada (remote)

Status: Full-Time, Exempt from Overtime

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ABOUT US:

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) is a non-profit leader dedicated to advancing sustainability through forest-focused collaborations. A key driver of SFI’s success is its ability to engage diverse communities to deliver across its 4 pillars: Standards, Conservation, Community, Education.

To facilitate informed decision-making and to make the case for the value of sustainability, SFI is working to quantify, grow, and communicate the conservation benefits of sustainable forest management – specifically the connection between sustainable forestry and outcomes important to key sustainability topics such as climate change, biodiversity, fire, and water. SFI Conservation activities support the interpretation and implementation of SFI standards to document and expand their conservation and forest resilience outcomes for forests, nature, and people. To ensure objectivity and credibility, SFI engages in diverse collaborations across the range of research, academic, and conservation interests to help define and guide Conservation Impact work.

The Director, Conservation Implementation – Canada Lead, contributes to the SFI conservation pillar by supporting the continual improvement of conservation practices and outcomes by certified organizations and as assessed by third-party auditors. The role provides leadership in:

• Identifying and deploying best available science, as described in the SFI standards, particularly in relation to climate smart forestry, fire resilience, and biodiversity.
• Developing and advancing best management practices in pursuit of continuous improvement, including in conducting workshops, webinars, and other means to share and deploy findings.
• Interpreting and elevating results of the Conservation Impact programming, including ensuring alignment with the standard’s requirements.
• Identifying conservation metrics, including their assessment and tracking, in partnership with the SFI science team.
• Demonstrating creativity, curiosity, and thought leadership on key sustainability topics. Ability to conduct and synthesize science-based research to produce content for a wide range of communications (e.g., presentations, webinars, white paper, scientific literature).
• Integrating new tools and technologies that support certified organizations across Key Sustainability Topics (e.g., climate, fire resilience, biodiversity) and particularly toward measuring conservation outcomes.
• Nurturing and expanding partnerships that elevate the critical role of certification toward meeting climate and biodiversity, supply chain, and corporate sustainability goals.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Provide conceptual, logistic, and delivery-driven support to grant-funded projects, including exemplary engagement with sponsors, partners, certified organizations, First Nations, and supporting experts. Track activities, timelines, and deliverables and ensure high quality engagement and outputs at all points.

• Provide sophisticated technical and scientific expertise, specifically in a combination of focal themes of forest ecology, forest management, climate change mitigation and adaptation, fire resilience, and biodiversity.
  • Lead aspects of large-scale, externally funded climate change mitigation projects, including literature review and synthesis, data analysis and curation, and preparing publications, reports, and presentations.
  • Track, interpret, and synthesize key forest ecology, management, and conservation topics as they relate to sustainable forest management across scales, from stands to landscapes.
  • Translate, elevate, and communicate Key Sustainability topics for the SFI community of foresters and companies, and the external community that includes investors, customers, governments, NGOs, and peer scientists.
• Provide leadership to knowledge transfer efforts to ensure relevancy, utility, and credibility of Conservation pillar programming activities. Working with conservation team, develop and contribute to conservation content to be presented in the SFI Implementation Committee (SIC) network and through the Conservation Impact Workshop to support certified organizations and professionals in the forestry community.
  • Create informative briefings, presentations, and knowledge transfer materials (e.g., infographics) in partnership with various colleagues internal and external to SFI.
  • Engage in partnerships to utilize such information and ensure the relevancy of this work, including periodic presentations, development and execution of webinars, and coordination with communication staff to effectively convey outcomes.
• Conceptualize, strategize, and manage partner relationships to advance understanding of conservation-related attributes of SFI’s footprint through its Conservation Impact work, including conceiving and implementing engagement with researchers, and building creative partnerships with outside organizations in close cooperation with the Chief Conservation Officer and other SFI leadership.
• Conceptualize and implement creative approaches to advance the goals of SFI and the Conservation Team in particular, and act in an advisory role to the Chief Conservation Officer, Chief Scientist, and the SFI Senior Leadership Team, as required.
• Provide support and leadership on local, national (Canada), and global partnerships and projects of relevance to sustainable supply chains and conservation outcomes, including strategy for engagement with government officials, major environmental NGOs, and other critical initiatives, as determined in collaboration with the CCO.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Will not initially supervise but will manage various consulting relationships.  Potential to supervise others in the future.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS / TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

Physical requirements include ability to work from a desk at a computer for prolonged periods of time; occasional lifting/carrying of up to 10 pounds. Subject to sitting, standing, reaching, walking, twisting, and kneeling to perform the essential functions.

This position requires frequent travel in Canada and infrequently to the US, up to 25% of time.

WORK LOCATION:

SFI has offices in Washington, DC and Ottawa, Ontario.  Individuals that work elsewhere in Canada and the continental U.S. will be considered, provided they are near major commuting hubs. Employees located within commuting distance of Washington, DC or Ottawa must 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.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Advanced degree, (master’s or PhD level), in forestry, ecology, biology, natural resources management, landscape ecology, or related field.Experience in the forest sciences (silviculture, biometrics, ecology, fire behavior) preferred.
• At least seven years of leadership experience working in conservation science, forestry, or natural resource sustainability, with experience in conceiving or managing research projects and/or working closely with researchers.
• Direct experience with conservation aspects of natural resource management, managed forests, and/or forest certification.
• Experience with the forest sector and/or forestry experience required, registered foresters encouraged to apply.
• Experience with Canadian forestry and conservation topics. US experience is an asset.
• Experience with program and project management, grant writing, and writing for diverse audiences (from practitioner guides to peer-reviewed publications).

QUALIFICATIONS/PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Knowledge of SFI including certified organizations and Implementation Committees, the SFI standards and implementations, and network of partners and collaborators.
• Experience with and / or deep appreciation for respectful engagement with Indigenous communities.
• Ability to interpret, synthesize, and utilize science, data, and expertise in support of conservation outcomes.
• Ambition to pursue science-driven continual improvement in sustainable forest management.
• An extensive network of relationships across the range of forestry research, conservation science and forest conservation communities, and practical experience in development of collaborative networks.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects in a fast-paced environment, handling tasks with diplomacy, tenacity, patience, and a drive for results.
• Demonstrated problem-solving acumen, independence, and leadership.
• Proven ability to develop and lead collaborative efforts to achieve specific outcomes, experience in facilitating meetings or discussions to generate consensus and action.
• A drive to generate solutions; proven experience in solving complex problems and working strategically in a team environment with a variety of stakeholders.
• An incisive ability to knit together partnerships, toward developing, managing, and accomplishing shared objectives.
• Strong presentation and language skills, and proven ability to develop written, oral and online communications that are compelling and linked to organizational objectives; facilitation experience preferred.
• A positive attitude and high energy.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and superior attention to detail.
• Active curiosity and engagement in ongoing learning—having and seeking depth of content knowledge and understanding.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and willingness to operate project management software. Familiarity with GIS is an asset but not required.

APPLY:

Applications are due by September 27, 2024. Early applications encouraged.

We strive to be a diverse and inclusive organization that strongly supports the growth and development of its people.  As such, we realize that not every candidate will perfectly meet all the requirements outlined in this (or any) posting.  If you believe you bring the “must have” experiences, skills, and qualifications, and are confident that you can learn the rest, we encourage you to go ahead and apply for a position with us.

The salary range for this position is $90,000-$130,000; the successful candidate’s actual salary will be dependent upon a number of factors, including geography, education/training, experience, time-in-role, management qualifications (as applicable) and skillset.

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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.