Forest Associate

The Southern Environmental Law Center has created a new position, Forest Associate, ideally located in our Asheville, NC or Chapel Hill, NC offices. This individual will join our Forest Program but will also work in concert with our Energy Program as needed, and report to Senior Attorneys in our Asheville and Chapel Hill offices. This is an excellent opportunity to join a highly successful, nationally recognized organization that is effectively addressing some of the most pressing and challenging environmental issues throughout the South and the nation. 

SELC has a hybrid work model that offers employees the flexibility to work remotely up to two days per week. This is a full-time, exempt, three-year term position and all employees must reside in our region. Relocation reimbursement is available to those relocating for an SELC position.    

Primary Responsibilities: 

• Provide technical expertise in forest ecology relevant to SELC’s six-state region. 
• Work with program staff to identify needs and opportunities for advocacy in state and federal policy. 
• Cultivate and maintain working relationships with researchers; academics; state, federal, and international resource professionals; community-based organizations; scientific and policy-focused stakeholder groups; and peer professionals working with SELC’s partner organizations across the region. 
• Review and synthesize research related to forest carbon accounting, including life-cycle analyses of the net greenhouse gas impacts of various forest management schemes. 
• Provide technical input for and review of computer models of forest management scenarios, such as state-and-transition models or carbon accounting models. 
• Provide technical input for and/or field validation of remote-sensing and machine-learning strategies to monitor forest trends. 
• Augment partners’ on-the-ground capacity to ground-truth and monitor activities affecting forests. 
• Provide technical expertise on timber markets in SELC’s six-state region. 
• Monitor developments in forest science and economics. Maintain databases and files of relevant scientific and policy information for use by SELC program staff. 
• Represent SELC in collaborative efforts to develop a climate-smart forestry prescription toolbox. 
• Assist in managing design of and data from monitoring and research contracts. 
• Provide factual context for SELC’s communications and development teams. 

Required Qualifications:  

• An advanced degree in forestry, environmental management, ecology, or another discipline related to forestry/silviculture, ecosystem carbon dynamics, forest economics, and forest ecology.  
• Expertise or a demonstrated interest in strategies to mitigate climate change, including natural climate solutions. 
• Experience with review and analysis of data and research related to forest management, such as timber economics data, wildlife, carbon storage and sequestration, or other data related to forest management. 
• Understand or be willing to learn applicable regulatory requirements and best management practices in forestry. 
• Demonstrate the ability to compile and distill scientific and policy information and to communicate it clearly to both internal and external audiences. 
• A genuine interest in and commitment to helping SELC create and foster a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. You engage in ongoing learning and are eager to contribute to our organizational efforts in this area.  

Desired Qualifications:  

• Familiarity with forest ecology in the mountain, piedmont, and/or coastal regions of SELC’s six states.  
• Familiarity with GIS systems and remote-sensing technologies.  
• Registered forester.  

About SELC:  

The Southern Environmental Law Center is one of the nation’s most powerful defenders of the environment, rooted in the South. With a long track record, SELC takes on the toughest environmental challenges in court, in government, and in our communities to protect our region’s air, water, climate, wildlife, lands, and people. Nonprofit and nonpartisan, the organization has a staff of over 200, including more than 130 legal and policy experts, and is headquartered in Charlottesville, VA, with offices in Asheville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Nashville, Richmond, and Washington, DC. 

At our core, we are place-based, rooted in our region, and connected with the communities and clients we serve. We believe in an equitable and inclusive workplace that reflects the rich racial and cultural diversity of our region and allows diverse perspectives to come to the forefront. We approach our work with the highest level of integrity, holding ourselves to high standards with an emphasis on honesty, accountability, and thoughtfulness. We value collaboration and camaraderie, realizing we are strongest when we work together and knowing that everyone has a critical role to play. We strive for impact through a strategic, bold, pragmatic, and ambitious outlook that is dedicated to achieving powerful results. We believe in these values and in the power of SELC. We hope you consider joining us. Learn more at https://www.southernenvironment.org/.  

Compensation & Benefits:  

SELC offers salaries competitive with other leading environmental nonprofits nationally and provides an excellent benefits package. The starting salary range for this position is $59,000- $70,000 commensurate with experience. For more details about our benefits package, please visit our Careers page. 

SELC is a PSLF (Public Service Loan Forgiveness) eligible employer. 

SELC will also provide relocation reimbursement for those relocating for an SELC position, up to a specific dollar amount and contingent on the move being at least 50 miles from the current primary address. 

To Apply:  

To apply, click on the ‘Apply Now’ button below to be directed to an online application where you may upload your application materials. Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, graduate/post-graduate transcript, and one research or writing sample. The initial deadline for receipt of complete applications is 09/11/2024. However, applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

APPLY NOW

SELC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace environment. We are eager to welcome new team members who share this commitment. We still have much progress to make, but our goal is to create and maintain a staff that, at every level, reflects the rich racial and cultural diversity of the communities where we work and the clients that we serve. Persons of all backgrounds—including people of color, women, people with disabilities, veterans, and LGBTQ candidates—are strongly encouraged to apply.