Southeast Regional Coordinator

The overall purpose of this assignment is to coordinate and support processes and activities to meet the needs of landowners within Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi.

National Network of Forest Practioners

Deadline: 2004/02/15

The National Network of Forest Practitioners is an alliance of rural people working on the ground to build a forest economy that is ecologically sound and socially just. We are a clearinghouse for information and technical assistance, and a place for people to meet, learn, and make their voices heard. As one of the leading community forestry organizations in the United States, we work with people solve problems, experiment with new approaches, work with unconventional partners, and compete in the marketplace.

For more information, visit www.nnfp.org.

In October 2003, the NNFP convened the "Southeast Leadership Forum" (SELF) with the purpose of identifying community assets, needs, and next steps for supporting rural landowners and community leaders engaged in forest-related activities in Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, and Mississippi. The participants highlighted a number of challenges and recommendations they wanted to tackle (eg: lack of technical assistance, lack of minority land surveying and evaluation, lack of tools needed to determine the best market value for a product, lack of programs such as owner cooperatives, land retention, availability and reliability of skill labor, intergenerational links not taking place and, the lack of research in rural minority communities). NNFP is seeking a dynamic individual to be its Southeast Regional Coordinator to provide follow-up to the SELF meeting, catalyze landowner efforts, and provide on-going support.

NNFP's approach to regional organizing is to support these local efforts through networking, facilitation, planning, and providing assistance in mobilizing financial and technical resources and expertise. The initial three months of this position are intensive and full-time, requiring significant travel, to ensure the processes, structures, and resources are in place for landowners to carrying out their priority projects. Following this period, the Southeast Regional Coordinator will work at a part-time level to provide on-going support to these activities. It is anticipated that less travel will be required. At the end of the initial three-month period, performance will be evaluated in terms of progress made towards the objectives outlined below.

Performance Objectives:

The over purpose of this assignment is to coordinate and support processes and activities to meet the needs of landowners within the four-state region. To accomplish this purpose, NNFP has identified a number of objectives. A suggested list of activities follows the objectives, although the coordinator has the liberty to use whatever strategies and processes seem most effective. Generally, each state will focus on different activities, as the priority issues differ between regions.

1. Establish an on-going planning/implementation process for two of the four states that is locally driven and implemented. Possible activities include: identifying and confirming key contacts for each state and priority issue/interest area; volunteer recruitment; establishing appropriate advisory groups; and convening/facilitating meetings.

2. Support the development of strategic plans (objectives, strategies, activities) for the implementation of at least two key activities identified by the landowners at the SELF meeting. Initiate implementation where possible.

3. Provide assistance in mobilizing sources of funding and other support, as needed, to implement landowner work plans. Possible activities include: identifying sources of funds; drafting/reviewing letters of interest and proposals; identifying individuals and organizations with the necessary expertise; and providing technical assistance.

4. Ensure information and activities are coordinated across the region to build on each other, and avoid "reinventing the wheel". Possible activities may include: peer exchanges; group conference calls; and other networking activities.

Core Competencies: The coordinator must be familiar with landowner issues and community-based forestry, as it is practiced in the Southeast. The coordinator must have skills in the following areas:

• Landowner issues and community-based forestry in the Southeast

• Community organizing and volunteer recruitment

• Networking

• Identifying and accessing local and national resources and contacts

• Strategic planning

• Grant writing

• Meeting facilitation

• Verbal and written communication

• Knowledge of computers and technology

• A proven track record of timely implementation

The coordinator will report to the Executive Director. The coordinator is expected to participate by conference call in weekly NNFP staff meetings, and to regularly brief the NNFP's Cultural Diversity Working Group.

Application Deadline: February 15, 2004 To apply, send cover letter and resume to: Southeast Regional Coordinator Search, NNFP, 305 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903. Fax: 401-273-6508. For more information, contact: Nanda Shewmangal at 401-273-6507 x 15.

For more information, visit: www.nnfp.org