Texas Longleaf Implementation Team Coordinator Position Announcement
About the Team: The Texas Longleaf Implementation Team (TLIT) focuses efforts and resources on a 12 county project area in east Texas covering over 5 million acres. The TLIT is comprised of representatives of federal and state agencies, non-profit conservation organizations, and private industrial and family forest landowners. In 2013, these organizations formed a partnership to promote and increase longleaf pine in the region as part of the larger, range-wide America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative, whose purpose is to increase longleaf pine acreage from 3.4 to 8.0 million acres by 2025. The TLIT and the range-wide conservation plan for longleaf pine has identified two significant geographic areas (SGAs) in east Texas – the “Big Thicket” SGA and the Angelina and Sabine National Forest anchored “Longleaf Ridge” SGA. These two SGAs will be the focus of TLIT investment of resources, with secondary investment in the other counties within the TLIT emphasis for longleaf conservation. For more information on the longleaf conservation in Texas and the Texas Longleaf Implementation Team, please visit http://txlongleaf.org.
Location: East Texas
Major Duties: The TLIT Coordinator serves as the partnership’s leader in maintaining vision, focus, enthusiasm, and momentum of a network of conservation organizations dedicated to the restoration of longleaf pine in Texas. The primary duties of the coordinator will be to:
Coordinate with TLIT members to ensure the successful administration and management of grants, awards and resources for the benefit of longleaf pine, bottomland hardwood, associated wetlands, rivers and streams of these ecosystems, and community outreach/education.
Identify, recruit, build and maintain strong relationships with landowners, partner organizations, and other interested parties. Connect landowners to financial programs and technical assistance expertise for longleaf pine conservation and forest management.
Schedule and facilitate implementation team meetings, education, outreach, and training events. Establish and participate in working groups to advance TLIT goals and objectives.
Disseminate longleaf related information to a wide range of partners and coordinate the submission of news articles to appropriate media outlets.
Work closely with other longleaf implementation teams, the Longleaf Partnership Council, Longleaf Alliance and other entities to ensure collaboration, information exchange, and continual improvement.
Experience & Qualifications:
Education and experience in forestry, wildlife, or other natural resource discipline. A BA/BS in a related field and five years of experience in conservation, ecology, forestry, or wildlife management is preferred.
A demonstrable passion for and experience in longleaf pine management, silvics, restoration, conservation, and fire ecology.
Superior ability to communicate and educate landowners, conservation professionals, and other identified user groups about longleaf restoration, conservation, and management.
Expertise in developing, administering and implementing budgets and grants, and experience in cultivating successful partnerships.
Leadership in organizing and facilitating meetings. Ability to serve as a public spokesperson/representative for the partnership.
Proficiency in organizational skills, computer software, writing, data management, and social media use.
Compensation: The TLIT Coordinator is an independent contractor position administered by Texas A&M Forest Service. Compensation will come from a negotiated, deliverable-based payment schedule up to $50,000 annually. Travel expenses, including mileage, per diem, lodging, and other related expenses, are available for this position.