Pennsylvania Cerulean Warbler Appalachian Forest Enhancement Partnership Coordinator

IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

American Bird Conservancy (ABC), in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is looking for a motivated individual to work effectively with private forest landowners and local partners in Pennsylvania to implement sustainable forest management practices known to benefit Cerulean Warblers and associated wildlife on private lands as part of the Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture’s (AMJV) Cerulean Warbler Appalachian Forest Enhancement, a project of the NRCS Regional Conservation Partners Program (RCPP).

 

The Cerulean Warbler Appalachian Forestland Enhancement is a 5-year RCPP project designed to improve mature forest habitat on private lands for Cerulean Warblers and associated species in the states of WV, MD, PA, KY, and OH. Our objective is to enhance 12,500 acres of forest habitat project-wide (~8,000 acres in PA) for Cerulean Warblers, basing the forest management and use of NRCS conservation practices on newly released Cerulean Warbler Management Guidelines for Enhancing Breeding Habitat in Appalachian Hardwood Forests. Additionally, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) will enroll 2,000 acres in PA into their Working Woodlands Easement Program. This project will complement the existing NRCS Working Lands For Wildlife (WLFW) Golden-winged Warbler (GWWA) program, and this Partnership Coordinator will also have the opportunity to promote the use of GWWA Best Management Practices to create young forest habitat, in conjunction with the Cerulean Warbler recommendations, where the two species overlap.

 

The Partnership Coordinator’s main duties will be to:

• Work with ABC staff and local partners such as NRCS, PA Game Commission, PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry, USFWS, NGOs, local foresters and others to:
• Promote Cerulean Warbler forest management to private landowners, foresters and wildlife habitat practitioners; including organizing and conducting training workshops with other resource managers.
• Identify and directly contact private landowners with forest stewardship opportunities.
• Coordinate and facilitate property field visits by recognized professional foresters to provide technical assistance and advance management plan development.
• Facilitate private landowner enrollment in NRCS programs and NRCS contracting.
• Maintain records of all landowners involved in the program and track each to assure contacts are made, landowners are connected to appropriate resources / contractors, and management activities are implemented and completed.
• Work with professional resource managers to assist with contracting, preparing, and overseeing the implementation of forest stewardship plans on private lands (commercial or non-commercial) using established Cerulean Warbler Forest Management Guidelines.
• Identify additional landowners and future sites for forest management on private and potentially public lands.

Other duties will include:

• Monitor and track project activities using an electronic database and GIS to ensure proper reporting for assessing success, and potentially assist with focal species monitoring pre- and post-treatment.
• Assist resource professionals with development of site specific forest management plans according to NRCS practice standards and focal species’ best management practices.
• Communicate with, and provide technical assistance to, private landowners as well as local, state and federal agencies on implementation of best management practices for young forest focal species.
• Write and submit quarterly and annual reports to ABC staff.

Position Requirements:

• The position requires excellent networking and communication skills (presentation, inter-personal, reading, writing); project management experience, and organizing and leadership skills.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in wildlife ecology, forestry, or environmental sciences, or a related field (masters or higher preferred). An understanding of forestry and silviculture, conservation implementation, habitat management, ornithology, or wildlife biology desired.
• Knowledge of NRCS landowner cost-share programs, especially EQIP.
• Experience working with private landowners as well as Federal / State agencies (ex. NRCS, PA Game Commission, USFWS).
• Ability to use Excel, ArcMAP, Google Maps, and other computer mapping systems, including Trimble GPS, to identify and delineate project boundaries.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, produce effective results and meet deadlines. Applicant must be self-motivated, responsible and have ability to solve problems.
• Coordinator may be required to participate in specific training programs in order to use partner facilities and equipment. Applicant must have a valid driver’s license.

The Habitat Coordinator will likely be based out of the NRCS office in Columbia County, PA. The Habitat Coordinator is an ABC employee and represents ABC and the Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture in their work. This Habitat Coordinator will be supervised by the AMJV Coordinator in partnership with NRCS.

 

Salary: $55,000 (benefits included)

 

Application Instructions:

 

Please send a cover letter and resume to:
Todd Fearer; Coordinator, Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture
tfearer@abcbirds.org