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Forest Climate Manager

Chapel Hill, NC

The Company: Aurora Sustainable Lands, is a carbon stewardship company that invests in industrially harvested forests. By conserving and managing these forests, Aurora taps into the oldest and most cost-effective carbon removal tool to offer companies carbon credits that reflect the carbon captured and stored by these forestlands. Established in 2021, Aurora is a joint venture between Anew Climate, LLC, the largest marketer and originator of carbon and environmental credits in North America, and a group of equity investors led by Oak Hill Advisors and including EIG and GenZero, among other leading financial sponsors.  Aurora now owns and manages over 1.7 million acres of forestland spread over 14 U.S. Eastern states, and the firm is now one of the 7th largest forestland owners in the U.S. The forestland is located throughout the eastern United States including Appalachia, South, Great Lakes, and Northeast regions.

General Summary: Aurora seeks a dedicated carbon professional to lead on developing a climate adaptation and resilience strategy across the Aurora portfolio, serve as a project liaison to our carbon development partner, Anew Climate, and contribute to forest climate education and Aurora branding efforts. Day-to-day responsibilities will cover a broad spectrum of activities including engaging external partners, synthesizing climate and silvicultural research, facilitating cross-functional teamwork, collecting, processing, or analyzing carbon project data, planning and facilitating field tours for various stakeholders, and presenting technical information to a broad range of audiences. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced professional seeking a dynamic position in the center of the forest carbon market and looking to make a positive climate impact on a landscape scale.

Primary Responsibilities and Competencies:

  • Create climate adaptation plans by region and ultimately by property
  • Establish and foster partnerships for carbon silviculture (USDA Climate Hubs, academic and research institutions, nonprofits, policy think tanks) to leverage external resources and ensure a science and data-driven approach
  • Guide silvicultural decision making through the creation of silvicultural toolkits across the portfolio to enhance climate outcomes using science-based research and practices
  • Liaise with carbon development partner, Anew Climate, on carbon project development, verification response support, and technical or strategic troubleshooting
  • Contribute to forest climate education and Aurora branding efforts through field tours with potential carbon credit buyers and investors, presentations at conferences, and meetings with stakeholders and consultants
  • Work with the development team on marketing, branding, and investor relations as it relates to climate adaptation and carbon operations management
  • Work with impact team on generating and facilitating partnership opportunities benefitting biodiversity, wildlife, habitats, community education, and more
  • Coordinate with carbon team on annual carbon project reporting and verification oversight, harvest planning for reversal risk management and carbon-timber optimization
  • Coordinate with portfolio management team on silvicultural prescriptions, harvest locations, and volumes for timber planning and contracting, while ensuring compliance with existing carbon project protocols
  • Engage with transactions team on forest carbon analysis and valuation
  • Assist on annual FSC audit support
  • Support operational staff in field audits (FSC, carbon, etc.) and carbon inventory training or auditing
  • Maintain project timelines and meet strict deadlines

Required Education, Experience and Certification:

  • BS or MS/MF in Forestry or Forest Sciences
  • 3 to 5 years of experience in carbon project development, natural resource management, or an ecosystem service markets related occupation
  • Advanced proficiency in science communication
  • Experience working with stakeholders, investors, or external clients
  • Familiarity with voluntary/compliance forest carbon protocols in North America
  • Familiarity with forest inventory methodologies and mensuration
  • Familiarity with varied natural forest ecosystems
  • Strong interest in climate change and environmental issues
  • Preferred Education, Qualifications & Experience:
  • Master’s degree or higher in natural sciences
  • Experience working with Improved Forest Management Projects
  • Strong experience with CARB regulatory framework and Forestry Protocol, American Carbon Registry, Climate Action Reserve, or Verra
  • Familiarity with FVS, FIA, carbon modeling, remote sensing, and ESRI mapping software
  • Experience working in natural hardwood ecosystems

Skills:

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Expertise in project management and demonstrated ability to coordinate among various stakeholders
  • Excellent presentation skills
  • Highly effective analytical skills
  • Highly self-motivated, goal-oriented, and has the ability to work both independently and in a collaborative team setting
  • Accustomed to time and budget constraints
  • Client-service oriented and professionalism
  • Willing and able to travel as necessary (up to 30% of the time)

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