Forestry Outreach Fellow

Forestry Outreach Fellow

Holden Arboretum

Fellowship

Opportunity:

The Community Forestry & Conservation department is seeking 12 month Forestry Outreach Fellow. The Forestry Outreach Fellow will be instrumental in outreach and demonstration efforts related to Holden Forests & Gardens' Working Woods project, a 67-acre forestry demonstration site. The Fellow is responsible for co-creating and implementing a strategy for tracking forest landowner outreach effectiveness. This will include direct communication and follow-up with program participants, managing landowner engagement data sets, developing educational materials, and engaging with landowners and the public via outreach programs. The Fellow will also have opportunities for career development including career counselling and hands-on learning skills such as tree and plant identification, land management techniques including invasive species management, non-timber forest product cultivation, tree planting, and other restoration work, wildlife surveys (bat and bird), as well as forest assessment research.

This position was created by funding from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Special initiative Lower Great Lakes Forestry Technical Assistance grant awarded to the Ohio Division of Forestry. This position is based at the Holden Arboretum campus in Kirtland, OH with occasional travel to the Cleveland Botanical Garden in Cleveland, OH

Position Details:

• A great position for anyone looking to gain experience toward a degree or certification in natural sciences, ecosystem management or horticulture

• Position begins in March, flexibility in start date

• 12-month paid fellowship

• Approximately 40 hours per week

Key Responsibilities:

Key responsibilities of the Forestry Outreach Fellow include, but are not limited to:

• Support Holden Forests & Gardens' mission, vision, and values

• Co-develop and implement a strategy for evaluation of forest landowner outreach activities

• Communicate directly with forest landowners according to outreach and evaluation strategy

• Manage organized data sets of landowner engagement information

• Assist with landowner outreach programming and written communications

• Assist with on-the-ground management activities in Working Woods as needed

• Perform other duties as assigned

• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications and Skills:

• Demonstrate a passion for people and nature

• Significant experience in social sciences, outreach, or the green industry or an Associate or Bachelor's degree in social science, education, ecology, forestry, environmental science, related field, or equivalent

• Demonstrated interest in sustainable forest management

• Excellent communication skills and navigate communicate skills with a diverse population focusing on rural land owners

• Basic knowledge of Ohio trees and forests

• Experience in forest management activities and/or ecology fieldwork, a plus

• Experience in social science research, a plus

• Ability to utilize and work with GIS, a plus

• Ability to synthesize and analyze social science data via basic statistical processing applications, a plus

• Must have well-developed verbal and written communication skills

• Demonstrated organizational and record keeping skills

• Proficient use of Microsoft 365 products, specifically Teams, Outlook (email and calendar), Word, Excel, SharePoint, and OneDrive

• Must be able to successfully work with people at all organizational levels and diverse backgrounds

Physical Requirements:

Must be able to perform with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Perform required tasks in all weather conditions

• Ability to safely operate small-engine machinery such as a brush cutter or weed-whip or a desire to learn

• Effective vision

• Hand and arm dexterity

• Walking and working on wet, uneven, slippery terrain

• Kneeling, bending, stooping, grabbing, and reaching

• Lifting and carrying of up to 35 lbs. occasionally 50 lbs.

Apply:

Review of applications with begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Qualified applicants should submit résumé, letter of interest explaining why you are interested in learning about supporting sustainable forest management & woodland health, and 3 professional references.

Holden Forests & Gardens (Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden) is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to hiring a diverse and talented workforce. We seek skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced individuals to join our staff and enhance our reputation as one of the country's foremost public gardens.