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Wood Utilization Project Coordinator – Sierra Institute for Community and Environment
Taylorsville, California
Position is open until filled, with review of applications beginning on May 20, 2024.
Anticipated start date is June 2024.
The Sierra Institute for Community and Environment’s Wood Utilization Project Coordinator will advance development of the organization’s wood product campus at Crescent Mills, and will advance the critical bridge between landscape management to wood utilization and infrastructure development projects. This is an exciting opportunity to lead development of an innovative wood product campus and novel work that represents the cornerstone of landscape restoration and community revitalization efforts following the 2021 Dixie Fire. This is a multiyear position with long-term growth potential for increased project responsibilities, and potential for assuming increased staff leadership responsibilities.
Key responsibilities for this position include:
- Identification and recruitment of wood utilization businesses, including biomass-to-hydrogen, cross-laminated timber production, as well as traditional small-diameter wood products such as post and pole, firewood, etc.;
- Marketing wood products produced at local sawmills and community-scale wood utilization facilities;
- Facilitation of communication between in-woods contractors, external partners, and Sierra Institute staff to promote consistent and coordinated availability of wood for utilization; and
- Supporting the development of long-term supply contracting mechanisms on public and private lands;
Complete knowledge of all systems and products is not expected, but a keen desire to learn and advance innovative wood utilization operations locally and across rural forest communities is essential. The position requires an individual capable of handling a dynamic set of responsibilities with diverse skill sets required to move projects from the conceptual phase through implementation.
The Sierra Institute’s Wood Utilization program focuses on rebuilding rural economies by turning low value wood into high value products that facilitate forest restoration while creating living-wage jobs for rural residents. The Project Coordinator is expected to participate in all aspects of the organization’s Wood Utilization program, operating with significant independence under the supervision of the Executive Director. The Wood Utilization Project Coordinator must be capable of handling internal and external coordination among staff and partners, serving in a leadership role, overseeing diverse activities from business partnership development to supply contracting, and will be required to balance a variety of project work. The Sierra Institute’s work is highly collaborative, requiring a willingness and commitment to working closely with other staff and diverse external partners to advance this work.
The Project Coordinator will be expected to play a key role in building and maintaining strong relationships with partners, and the position may require supervision of full-time employees and/or contractors. This position works primarily indoors in an office setting, and is required to work at a computer for the majority of each day. Field work may occur, particularly during the summer and fall seasons. Some travel for meetings, site visits, and workshops is expected (up to 20%), with occasional overnight stays (generally less than 1 night per month). Work will fall primarily within the hours of 7:30 AM and 5:30 PM Monday-Friday, though some variation is expected to accommodate field work and other needs. This is primarily an on-site job at Sierra Institute’s Taylorsville Office.
More Details:
About the Sierra Institute: The Sierra Institute promotes healthy forests, watersheds, and communities by investing in the well-being of rural communities and strengthening their participation in natural resource management. Our work is grounded by the concept of triple bottom line values, supporting initiatives that simultaneously benefit the environment, economy, and equity within a given landscape. Sierra Institute strives to cultivate innovative projects through a collaborative-minded office culture—staff often work on interdisciplinary projects both internally and with external partners. Sierra Institute staff must be adaptable, finding their roles must expand to fit the needs of specific projects and partnerships.
The diversity of our work provides an opportunity to think critically about how communities engage with natural resource management, from workshops to assess community capacity to field trips with high school students to marking timber. Staff routinely draw on the expertise and background of others to improve our collective work, and the Project Specialist should expect to be an integral member of this team.
In addition, Sierra Institute supports a flexible work schedule and a close-knit staff that provide a welcoming sense of community.
Location:
Sierra Institute is located in Taylorsville, CA (pop. 154) and lies within the historic land of the Mountain Maidu People and a large meadow referred to as “Indian Valley,” that includes the communities of Greenville and Crescent Mills.
Taylorsville is an historic small town, with a written history dating back to the construction of the first flour mill in the Pacific Northwest in 1856. Downtown Taylorsville is home to two historic establishments, the Taylorsville Tavern, a favorite watering hole for loggers and locals, and Young’s Market, a revitalized country store and sandwich shop that first opened its doors in 1862 that is – debatably – home to the oldest working cash register in the nation manufactured in 1914. The community of Taylorsville has long been a blend of long-time residents, ranchers, loggers, and newcomers drawn to the area for its beauty. Taylorsville offers unique, rural community events that bring the community together, such as the Silver Buckle Rodeo held over the 4th of July, the Holiday Light Parade the Saturday after Thanksgiving; and New Year’s Eve fireworks in the fields across from the Tavern.
Taylorsville is surrounded by many outdoor recreation opportunities such as Lake Almanor, Plumas and Lassen National Forests, and Lassen Volcanic National Park.
These adjacent public lands feature untouched backcountry routes in winter, and endless, empty dirt roads to explore in summer. Adventure lies just out the back door of the office!
Compensation:
The wage for this position will be commensurate with experience and in the range of $60,000 to $85,000 dependent on experience. The Sierra Institute maintains a competitive benefits package, including health, dental and vision benefits. Retirement benefits accrue after the first year. The incumbent is also eligible for paid holiday, vacation, and sick leave consistent with Sierra Institute’s benefits package.
How to Apply:
Please send your cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references as one PDF to jobs@sierrainstitute.us with “Wood Utilization Project Coordinator” in the subject line. Please call (530) 284-1022 with questions.
