TRIBAL WOOD MARKETS SPECIALIST

The Tribal Wood Markets Specialist is a full-time (35 hours), exempt, non-supervisory role on the Wood Markets Team. SNW has worked closely with tribes across the Pacific Northwest for 30 years, seeking to support tribal sovereignty and stewardship of our region’s amazing natural resources.

This position will lead our Tribal Wood Markets work with support from the Wood Markets Director and the five staff in the program. This position is supported by secured funding and clear program needs for several years, as well as freedom to identify need and opportunity to innovate beyond those immediate plans. Your desire to help conservation make economic sense, to organize new efforts, and to lead with trust will create amazing opportunities within this role and across the region.

BENEFITS:

Sustainable Northwest offers a generous benefits package supporting employee wellness with medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance; ample paid time off, sick time, 11 federal holidays, and a week of paid leave during year-end office closure for the last week of December; flexible daily and weekly work schedules; 403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions; cell phone reimbursement; transit and bicycle benefits; pre-tax spending plan for medical and/or dependent care; and support for professional training.

BRANDING AND MARKETING RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

• In the first year of this position, lead the Tribal Wood Branding and Marketing Feasibility Study research, detail for which can be provided by the SNW hiring team. This includes stakeholder engagement, contractor management, steering committee coordination, research design, implementation, and write-up. This position will lead this work, with significant support from the Tribal Wood Advisory Board and several colleagues within SNW.
• Collaborate with partners to identify market opportunities and strategies to promote transparent wood supply chains that support visibility and value for tribal wood producers.
• Professional writing of RFPs, business and grant proposals, reports, and communications materials.
• Identify opportunities to support tribal partners through marketing and storytelling efforts led by SNW or in coordination with other organizational partners.
• Support building project teams interested in buying wood linked to Tribes.

PARTNERSHIPS MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

• Set a high standard for relationship building with tribal partners by maintaining transparent communication, openness to feedback and learning, and disciplined coordination among internal staff and external partners to ensure consistency in messaging.
• Maintain an existing and grow network of tribal partnerships centered around tribal forestry, wood products, and supply chains.
• Document network within Wood Markets team existing systems.
• Attend or participate in conferences, conventions and meetings hosted by tribes or intertribal organizations.
• Host recurring meetings with Tribal Wood Advisory Board, and develop other structures to ensure that we maintain an open channel for feedback and learning.
• Work with SNW colleagues to develop trusting relationships along the entire wood products supply chain to foster innovation and opportunity in support of tribal forestry and wood products.

TRIBAL FORESTRY INCENTIVE FUND MANAGEMENT

• Implement plan to distribute $3.25M in payments to 5 tribal forest managers adopting and expanding Climate Smart Forestry practices under an award from USDA.
• Work within tribal partnerships on a spectrum from quite new to well established to enroll in the payment program through contracting and planning processes.
• Work with forest managers to complete documentation enabling NRCS approval of forest practice compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
• Coordinate SNW’s efforts under this fund with support provided by other partnering organizations.
• Develop, communicate, and maintain invoicing and reporting systems with all tribes supported through this fund.

GRANTS MANAGEMENT

• Working with SNW colleagues and external partners, develop systems to effectively administer federal funding awards.
• Develop necessary reporting mechanisms
• Facilitate and coordinate internal and external meetings and projects with partners to ensure administrative processes are in place to support effective grant implementation.

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

• This position has secure funding for several years and strong prospects beyond that. The Specialist will be central to shared efforts to grow and develop this program for the future.
• As time allows, identify potential foundations giving unrestricted funds, support other grant research, writing, submission, and reporting activities.
• As time allows, maintain and organize general documents and language frequently needed for a variety of communications needs, such as “about us” language, financial management language, annual budgets, list of major funders, etc.

QUALIFICATIONS

Success in this position will require a combination of honed experience in some of the listed areas, and ability to develop in other skills sets. Your story is the most important part. We recognize that your best qualities may not align perfectly with this list, and encourage you to share your application as an opportunity to tell us more about yourself.

REQUIRED

• 5+ years experience in Natural Resource Management, Wood Products, tribal enterprise leadership, or social business entrepreneurship.
• College degree: Master’s, Bachelor’s or similar degree in natural resources, tribal studies, or related field.
• 3-5 years experience working with or for tribal governments or enterprises.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to handle confidential information with integrity.

PREFERRED

• Independently motivated and collaboratively skilled. The best version of our team includes your spark and inherent sense of mission.
• Social and / or quantitative research experience. Interviewing, focus group facilitation, survey design, and data analysis and interpretation are all valuable.
• Attention to detail. This job will include detailed reporting on federal grants, and careful communication with a wide set of individuals and organizations.
• Creativity. Once established in the role and supported by SNW to succeed, what can you offer to take this further, be more inclusive, and grow value with and for our tribal partners?

Sustainable Northwest is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a work environment that is safe and supportive. After the first round of interviews, we are happy to connect candidates with current Sustainable Northwest BIPOC, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, religious, etc. staff to discuss organizational culture and experience. We encourage applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and individuals from historically underrepresented groups whose experience will strengthen our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of an applicant or employee’s race or ethnicity, national origin; gender, gender identity or sexual orientation; religion or creed; age, ability, or other legally protected status.

TO APPLY

If you’re ready to apply, email a single PDF cover letter

and resume to Dassi Owens at

dowens@sustainablenorthwest.org with

‘Tribal Wood Market Program Specialist’ in the subject line.

Open until filled.

No phone calls or email inquiries. Interview questions will be

provided in advance.

References will be requested of finalist candidates.