Lead Forester

Reports to: Lead Forest Scientist

Location: Remote in Southeast US

About Funga

Funga is a public benefit corporation harnessing forest fungal networks to address the climate crisis. We combine modern DNA sequencing and machine learning technology with breakthrough research on the forest microbiome to put the right native, biodiverse communities of mycorrhizal fungi in the right place. This leads to more quality wood created more quickly, more carbon sequestered, and more resilient forests. We serve land partners seeking to implement regenerative forestry practices that improve productivity and sustainability, and corporate carbon buyers building high-quality carbon removal portfolios with strong social and biodiversity outcomes. We’re a team of passionate scientists and builders on a mission to draw down at least three gigatons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by 2050.

If you are excited by starting new things, learning as you go, and being hands-on in applying your work to the private sector, you will dig working with us. We encourage you to apply even if only some of the below criteria are met - just make sure to tell us why you’re excited about Funga!'

About the Role

We are hiring a Lead Forester to oversee implementation of our carbon forestry programs, including sampling campaigns, field trials, and operational plantings. We seek an accomplished forester with experience hiring and leading field crews to get trees in the ground, while also generating high quality forest dynamics data. Our partner landowners are key to Funga’s success, and the Lead Forester will build and maintain strong relationships with these stakeholders and their teams. We are looking for someone who is willing to question traditions in forestry as we develop new ways to understand and manage forests. Our programs are initially focused in the Southeastern US Loblolly pine footprint, and we expect a significant amount of field travel throughout the southeast. Our future expansion plans include the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

We are a small team, and each of us operates beyond our roles on a daily basis. We are looking for someone excited to implement new approaches, problem solve, and think creatively. We need a leader who can motivate field crews, with a vision for ultimately scaling our field programs. This role is an opportunity to help develop an on-the-ground forestry team within the southeast and address one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.

In Summary, the Lead Forester will:

• Build and lead forestry field crews to increase our operational footprint.
• Lead and manage the scale-up of our plantings across thousands of acres each year.
• Coordinate and manage cruise inventories and soil sampling across hundreds of forestry sites.
• Coordinate and manage planting schedules and large project plantings.
• Coordinate and manage field geospatial data and data products (maps, geo-referenced field data, plot monumentation, Lidar products, etc.)
• Coordinate and manage field data collection and data quality.
• Operate a high precision GPS (Trimble, etc).
• Communicate seamlessly with our Lead Forest Scientist and associated Applied Science, Data Science, and Operations teams.
• Maintain excellent relationships with our partner land holders, including creating feedback loops to Funga leadership so we may best meet their needs.