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Operations Forester

Mast ReforestationHelena, Montana, United StatesHybrid, Onsite
This job is no longer open

About Mast Reforestation (Mast): 


As the leading end-to-end reforestation company in the U.S., Mast is on a mission to make reforestation scalable. As bigger and hotter fires destroy more forestland every year, Mast provides fast, resilient forest restoration for landowners impacted by devastating wildfires. As the only vertically-integrated reforestation company in the industry, Mast has removed the financial, procedural, and seed supply barriers that typically stand in the way of getting reforestation done.  Mast collects native, diverse seed species and manages site preparation, planting, and ongoing monitoring, delivering high quality projects.  By assembling first-of-its-kind third party capital, Mast delivers these projects at no-cost to landowners.  With trusted forestry companies Silvaseed and Cal Forest in its portfolio, Mast is the largest seed bank and reforestation container stock producer in the Western U.S.

Mast is also an innovation center for the non-timber forestry supply chain, developing various biological and technical products for achieving land management goals more efficiently. To learn more, visit www.mastreforest.com and watch this video of our recent Montana project (hyperlink: https://www.mastreforest.com/reforestation)

If you’re inspired by our work, we’d encourage you to apply!


The position can be based in Montana, Idaho, Eastern Washington or Eastern Oregon, USA. Successful forestry projects require a combination of domain expertise and the ability to work with a constellation of stakeholders to get the job done.  As an Operations Forester at Mast Reforestation (Mast), you will take the lead on ensuring that our carbon projects are done well, resiliently, and provide outcomes that delight landowners while furthering our mission to mitigate the worst effects of climate change.

What you’ll do:


  • Work with a motivated team of internal stakeholders (foresters, GIS analysts, biometricians, project managers) and regional consulting foresters to plan and execute forest carbon reforestation projects on post-catastrophic wildfire lands.
  • Perform site assessments using aerial imagery, pre-fire inventories, public databases, and on the ground data collection methods using automated data collection tools for data management and analysis
  • Write forest regeneration prescriptions for forest types throughout the intermountain west, taking into consideration long term survival under changing climatic conditions.
  • Perform operational-level training and supervision of contractors and their crews, including as related to site assessment, vegetation management, treeplanting, forest surveying, and cone collections.
  • Source forest management contractors and their crews, including the planning and overseeing of hiring events.
  • Manage contractor relations including contract signing, pre-work meetings, safety, scheduling, budgeting, production, oversight, and administrative functions like invoicing.
  • Interface with landowners on operational issues as they relate to project implementation.
  • Plan and direct forest surveys and related studies and prepare reports and recommendations.
  • Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to Mast's specifications, and state and federal laws
  • Make frequent visits to project sites across Western North America.

What you bring:


  • A completed undergraduate degree in forestry, environmental science, or a related field.
  • 3+ years of experience as a practicing field operations forester.
  • Operational experience with site assessments necessary for artificial regeneration and/or restoration of forested ecosystems.
  • Operational experience of silviculture practices in one or more Western North America forest types
  • Operational experience managing heavy machinery in site preparation and biomass operations.
  • Comfort with sourcing and organizing forest management crews.
  • Understanding of silviculture and forest mensuration.
  • Prior experience in post-fire forest management, and ideally regeneration.
  • A technical understanding of site planning, site preparation and civil engineering for forest operations.
  • Physical capability to work in forested environments and adverse terrain in all weather conditions.
  • Operational experience with GIS 
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
  • The ability to embrace change and modify behavior and plans to effectively achieve goals. Self-motivation, adaptability, flexibility, and change agility are necessary.

Other preferred qualifications:


  • M.Sc. or equivalent experience in the realm of applied forestry, forest ecology, biomass, or wildland management
  • Licensed Registered Professional Forester or equivalent certification or expertise in Montana and Idaho, and/or California, Oregon, Washington state is preferred, but not required
  • A functional understanding of the influences of climate change upon long term forest health and management, seedling viability, and conifer species migration
  • A functional understanding of the influences of wildfire upon forest ecosystems
  • A functional understanding of seed procurement and processing and nursery seedling production
  • A functional understanding of seed biology and seedling ecophysiology
  • A functional understanding of biomass projects
  • Proficiency in Spanish language

$75,000 - $100,000 a yearThe compensation package includes a base salary plus numerous benefits.  As of June 2024, the geo-located base salary for this role falls within this band: $75,000 to $100,000 p.a.  We’ll determine the final base salary based on various factors, including the candidate’s relevant experience, skills level and residing location.

Mast Reforestation, Silvaseed & Cal Forest offer:


- Competitive salary- Location-based compensation- 80% health insurance coverage for Full-Time non-seasonal employees, including Medical, Dental & Vision insurance plans- Voluntary insurance plans with competitive premium rates: Pet insurance, Life insurance, Accidents.  - Company paid Short Term Disability insurance and Group Term Life insurance- Company’s incentive stock options (ISO) for eligible employee groups- Retirement saving plan: Sustainable 401(k) and Roth 401(k) with climate-focused investment options.- Commuter Benefits in eligible cities- 6 paid holidays.  Two company-wide closing weeks per year.  - Flexible PTO for Salaried employees.  Generous PTO accrual for Hourly employees.- Allowances for out-of-state employees- Relocation support for out-of-state employees- Our Seattle office is dog friendly!Apply for this job

This job is no longer open

Life at Mast Reforestation

Thrive Here & What We Value1. Competitive salary2. Location-based compensation3. 80% health insurance coverage (Medical, Dental & Vision)4. Voluntary insurance plans: Pet, Life, Accidents5. Short Term Disability and Group Term Life Insurance6. ISO for eligible employees7. Sustainable 401(k) and Roth 401(k) with climate-focused investments8. Commuter Benefits (eligible cities)9. Paid holidays: 6, Closing weeks: 210. Flexible PTO & generous accrual for Hourly employees
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