Senior Project Forester (Remote)

We are SGS – the world's leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognized as the global benchmark for sustainability, quality and integrity. Our 99,600 employees operate a network of 2,600 offices and laboratories, working together to enable a better, safer and more interconnected world.

The Senior Project Forester will develop forest carbon offset projects and conservation markets, including validation and verification (3rd party audit) of agricultural, forestry, and other land use projects. 

• Lead and oversee desktop and field validations and verifications of forest carbon offset projects.            
• Assess, develop, implement and analyze forest inventories to verify forest carbon offset projects and data management.            
• Quantify various attributes from forest inventory data, including statistical metrics    
• Establish biomass and carbon stocking levels, and calculate biological sequestration, from forest inventory data collected using a wide range of methods.   
• Develop short- and long-term forest management and planting/reforestation plans, determining optimal silvicultural prescriptions, and implementing forest monitoring.
• Monitor contract compliance and results of forest management activities to assure adherence to government regulations and/or carbon market requirements.    
• Determine optimal timber harvesting methods yielding minimum waste and environmental damage.             
• Assess deforested lands to ensure proper reclamation to the most suitable end uses.              
• Implement projects for conservation of wildlife habitats and soil and water quality.   
• Map various forest attributes, conducting geospatial analysis, and producing field maps.              
• Evaluate and implement forest growth and yield models.         
• Support teams with special projects and workflow process improvements and other duties as assigned.       
• Lead and coordinate all team members and client communication on forest carbon offset projects.
• Identify opportunities for innovation in forest inventory, carbon modeling, and remote sensing technologies.  
• Manage large-scale forest carbon offset projects from inception to completion, including budgeting, scheduling, resource allocation, and stakeholder communication.              
• Support knowledge transfer across teams and contribute to building organizational expertise in forest carbon science.
• Provides guidance and/or leadership to others, including indirect reports, peers, or managers

Education & Experience

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in forestry or forest management (analytical/biometric/geospatial focus preferred)             
• Master’s degree in forestry or forest management (analytical/biometric/geospatial focus preferred)          
• Minimum 3 years’ experience developing and implementing timber cruises to meet time and cost constraints.   
• Minimum 3 years’ experience with programming and development/implementation of forest growth & yield models.   

Preferred:

• PhD in forestry or forest management (analytical/biometric/geospatial focus preferred)

Licenses & Certifications

• Certified Forester designation through the Society of American Foresters or Certified Forester Candidate and/or state-registered forester required.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Effective document preparation, presentation, and communication skills
• Statistics and biometrics background
• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access)
• Ability to manage and coordinate multiple projects in a fast-paced, highly professional environment.    
• Working knowledge of forest management, forest inventory design and implementation, statistics, and growth-and-yield modeling        
• Thorough knowledge of federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. 
• Thorough knowledge of forestry practices, certifications and voluntary/compliance GHG reductions programs

Our Benefits

We care about your total well-being and will support you with the following, subject to your location and role.

• Health: Medical, dental and vision insurance, Company-paid life, accident and long-term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts
• Wealth: Competitive pay ($85,000-$130,000 US/year based on experience), matching 401(k) with immediate vesting upon enrollment, generous employee referral program
• Happiness:
  • Professional Growth: Online training courses, virtual and classroom development experiences, education assistance program
  • Work-Life Balance: Paid-time off (vacation, sick, company holidays, volunteer time), flexible work schedules (subject to your location and role)

Physical Demands of the Job

• Stand    Occasional (5% - 33%)
• Move or traverse             Occasional (5% - 33%)
• Use hands         Frequent (34% - 66%)
• Reach with hands and arms      Occasional (5% - 33%)
• Climb or balance           Never (0%)
• Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl   Occasional (5% - 33%)
• Talk/hear            Frequent (34% - 66%)
• Taste/Smell       Never (0%)
• Lift/carry/push/pull        Occasional (5% - 33%)
• Keyboarding      Frequent (34% - 66%)
• Ability to focus on task Constant (67% - 100%)
• Visual strain      Never (0%)
• Tasks requiring limited muscle effort, for example lifting up to 5 kgs     Occasional (5% - 33%)
• Tasks requiring light physical effort, for example lifting 5 kgs to 10 kgs Occasional (5% - 33%)
• Tasks requiring medium physical effort, for example lifting 10 kgs to 20 kgs     Occasional (5% - 33%)
• Tasks requiring heavy physical effort, for example lifting > 20 kgs          Occasional (5% - 33%)

SGS is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as such we recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristics protected by law.
 
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. 

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts the company’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. 
 
If you are applying for a position within the United States and you have difficulty completing the on-line employment application because of a disability, please call 201-508-3149 for assistance and leave a message. You will receive a call back.  Please note, this phone number is not for general employment information, but is only for individuals who are experiencing difficulty applying for a position due to a disability.