Initial Posting Date:

08/25/2025

Application Deadline:

/

Agency:

Department of State Lands

Salary Range:

$0,000 - $0,000

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Elliott State Research Forest Board Member

Job Description:

The Department of State Lands (DSL) invites applications from individuals interested in serving on the Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF) Board of Directors. We are seeking community-centered leaders with expertise, lived experience, and a commitment to the values and mission of the ESRF.

About the ESRF Board

The ESRF Board advises DSL on the management of the Elliott State Research Forest. The publicly owned ESRF is envisioned as a nationally important center for forest science and management contributing to conservation, education, recreation, local economies while supporting Indigenous values. The Board advises on research and operations plans, community engagement strategies, outcomes essential to achieving the forest mission, and more.

What We Are Looking For

An ESRF Board that includes diverse perspectives and experiences is essential to successfully managing a public research forest for multiple benefits. At this time, we are especially interested in individuals with knowledge or lived experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Indigenous stewardship and cultural knowledge
• Forest ecology or silviculture
• Public administration or policy
• Community development
• Climate resilience and conservation
• Equity and environmental justice
• Research administration
• Rural economies
• Timber operators and processors
• Recreation interests
• Fish and wildlife
• Conservation finance
• Administration of Habitat Conservation Plans

Time Commitment

Board members are appointed to serve a four-year term. Board members attend at least five public meetings annually (typically full-day meetings), prepare by reviewing materials, and may also serve on subcommittees. The average estimated time commitment is 10-15 hours per month and as much as 20-30 hours may be necessary some months.

Application Instructions

Interested individuals must apply through the Workday portal and submit the following:

• Cover letter (2–3 pages) responding to the questions listed below
• Résumé

Cover Letter Questions

• Relevant Expertise and Lived Experience Describe your professional and personal background, including any expertise or lived experience relevant to the ESRF’s mission (e.g., ecology, Indigenous stewardship, rural development, public policy, research, etc.). How have you applied this experience in leadership, volunteer, or collaborative roles?
• Alignment with ESRF Mission and Values What aspects of the Elliott State Research Forest’s mission resonate most with you, and why? How would you contribute to its vision of inclusive, science-based, and community-oriented forest governance?
• Collaboration, Equity, and Representation Share an example of your participation in a collaborative or consensus-based process. Were you comfortable making compromises? How have you worked to advance equity or inclusion in your work? How would you bring a commitment to equity, diverse partnerships, and public accountability to your role on the Board?
• Public Interest and Decision-Making What is your experience with public governance, transparency, or stewardship of the public interest? How do you approach complex decisions that involve multiple, and sometimes c