Job Type: Paid Internship
Salary Details: DOE
Deadline: Aug 25, 2023
Deadline for applications: August 25, 2023
Interviews: late August – early September 2023
Anticipated hire date: mid- to late-September 2023

Position Overview: 

Forest Bridges: The O&C Forest Habitat Project (https://www.forestbridges.org), an emerging 501(c)(3) non-profit with headquarters in Roseburg, Oregon, is honored and excited to recruit its first Tribal Liaison (TL). Forest Bridges’ mission is to bring people together to foster sustainable forest health and habitats through active management and restoration solutions for western Oregon’s 2.9 million acres of O&C Lands. (To learn more about these special lands, click here.) The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages around 2.4 million acres of these lands, while the U.S. Forest manages the remaining 492,399 acres of O&C lands, known as the “controverted lands”.

Establishing the Tribal Liaison position reflects Forest Bridges’ deep commitment to partnering with Tribal Nations, promoting their success in forestry management, including co-management/-stewardship opportunities, and integrating Indigenous Science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) into FB’s proposed program of active conservation on the O&C Lands.

Forest Bridges has engaged with, and intends to continue engaging, the following seven Tribes that have ancestral areas in the O&C Lands:

  • The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians
  • The Coquille Indian Tribe
  • The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Indians
  • The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians and
  • The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
  • The Klamath Tribes and
  • The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs 

Among the Tribal Liaison’s roles will be to serve as a trustworthy and technically and culturally competent liaison and support to the Tribal nations participating in the Department of Interior-funded and Oregon State University/College of Forestry-managed BLM Pacific Northwest (PNW) Tribal Forest Restoration and Native Seed Pilot Project (click here for more information). Forest Bridges is a non-native partner in the project and has been awarded a contract and grant to help support the Tribal Liaison position for the next year.

Specific Duties of the Tribal Liaison:

  • Serve as the primary liaison between Forest Bridges and its partner Tribal Nations, developing and help manage relationships and communication with the five Tribal Nations of Western Oregon, as listed in the BLM Pacific Northwest (PNW) Tribal Forest Restoration and Native Seed Pilot Project document (e.g., Tribal Council, Tribal Leaders and elders, natural resource management/forestry staff, etc.); receive and act on guidance and other feedback provided by Tribal partners; 
  • Serve as one of Forest Bridges’ representatives for the BLM Pacific Northwest (PNW) Tribal Forest Restoration and Native Seed Pilot Project (the Project): participate in project meetings and field trips; help liaise between the OSU/CoF project management team and the Tribal nation partners maintaining clear communication among all parties; provide technical support to the Tribal partners and foster networking among them;
  • Participate as FB’s representative to the Western Oregon Tribal Nation Natural Resources Managers Group;
  • Work with Cristina Eisenberg, the OSU CoF Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Director of Tribal Initiatives and the OSU CoF Indigenous Natural Resource Office Tribal Liaison Gail Woodside to develop and maintain effective partnership agreements; 
  • Assist the FB Executive Director and Board to develop culturally appropriate internal policies and best practices for FB’s Tribal engagement pertaining specifically to the BLM Pacific Northwest Tribal Forest Restoration and Native Seed Pilot Project;
  • Contribute written content, photos and other communications to support the Project and donor reporting. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience Summary:

The ideal candidate for this role will have experience living and working on a Native American Indian reservation and have a BS in Forestry as well as knowledge and practice of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in sustainable forest management.

The Tribal Liaison must be able to effectively represent Forest Bridges’ mission, Principles of Agreement and work, communicate clearly and effectively orally and in writing and with individuals and groups in-person and in virtual settings, and have proven cross-cultural liaison skills. 

Required Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

  • Experience living and working on a Native American Indian Reservation;
  • Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Ethnobotany, natural resources or similar field;
  • Liaison, facilitation, collaboration and technical support skills and experience;
  • Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills (e.g., listening, writing, and speaking/presenting skills); ability to effectively communicate and be received at all levels in Tribal communities, as well as with all Forest Bridges’ partners and stakeholders;
  • Project management experience, including design, execution, and monitoring;
  • Demonstrated trustworthiness, emotional intelligence, empathy, commitment, transparency, reliability, and credibility;
  • Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team;
  • Computer skills, including Google and Microsoft applications;
  • Social media and website savvy; and
  • Valid Driver’s License and clean driving record.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

  • Knowledge and familiarity with western Oregon forestry, issues and their resolution;
  • Education and experience in Ethnobotany and Traditional Ecological Knowledge;
  • Conflict resolution and/or mediation skills; and
  • Positive attitude, flexibility, and a sense of humor

Position Status and Recruitment Timeframe:

This is a paid professional internship or part-time employment (negotiable terms) based in western Oregon. It reports to the Forest Bridges Executive Director and coordinates with the OSU Project Team, as described above. Forest Bridges intends to fill the position by September 2023. This is a wonderful opportunity to be a part of a cutting-edge forest restoration project whose goal is to improve the resilience of the western Oregon’s federal forest lands to climate change through Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

Position Location and Support: The Tribal Liaison will be based in western Oregon (preferably SW Oregon), traveling on the ground across western Oregon. The position holder is expected to have their own means of transportation to travel for meetings, field trips, etc. Forest Bridges will reimburse the TL for approved vehicle mileage, per diem and lodging (while on approved FB’s business) at U.S. Federal Government established rates. The FB office in Roseburg will provide work and meeting spaces (as available) and photocopy machine access during the Tribal Liaison’s visits to the area.

Application and Hiring Process:

Please send your electronic application – to include a resume and cover letter stating your interest and qualification for the position – to:

Forest Bridges
Attn: Executive Director
denise@forestbridges.org