Florida State Coordinator

The Old Growth Forest Network (OGFN) is a 501c3 non-profit organization established in 2011, whose mission is to connect people with nature by creating a national network of old-growth forests that will never be logged. Our primary goal is to identify and help protect forests in each county of the US where forests can grow and educate the public about where those protected forests are located (see www.oldgrowthforest.net).

For the past 15 years, OGFN has partnered with public and private landowners to build this network, which now includes more than 345 forests across 41 states, including 11 in Florida. By shining a national spotlight on Florida’s remaining old-growth forests, OGFN elevates them from overlooked remnants to visible, celebrated assets vital to the state’s ecological future. This expansion will ensure that both existing and future old-growth forests, and the rare life they sustain, are acknowledged, documented, and defended as vital parts of Florida’s natural heritage legacy.

Funded as a 3-year project, OGFN will lead a statewide effort to identify ecologically mature forests, document their protection status, and deliver field-based education that deepens public and professional understanding of the unique value of older forests. This initiative will elevate overlooked forests into recognized conservation assets, reinforcing their ecological importance and laying the foundation to increase the share of Florida forests that reach 100 years of age and beyond. Our long-term goal is to recognize at least one protected, publicly accessible older forest in all 67 Florida counties. The Florida State Coordinator is a fixed-term part-time, hourly position for a remote worker located in Florida that can help us make dedicated progress building the Old-Growth Forest Network over the next 3 years.

Job Summary

The Florida State Coordinator will work with all members of the Old-Growth Forest Network team to grow and enhance our national network of forests and people who care about them, focusing on forests in Florida. The Old-Growth Forest Network is a virtual organization with a nation-wide focus, based on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. This person should have a deep enthusiasm for forest preservation and advocacy; ability to inspire others to take action on behalf of the forests.

The expansion of the Old-Growth Forest Network depends on volunteer County Coordinators who identify candidate forests in their area for possible Network inclusion. The Florida State Coordinator will recruit, activate, and interface with County Coordinators, forest management personnel, OGFN staff, and others to dedicate forests into the Network. The Florida State Coordinator will vet candidate forests based on descriptions, photos, interviews, and/or in-person visits for their suitability. The Florida State Coordinator will coordinate dedication events, including planning, logistics, publicity, and representing OGFN at many of the dedications. Additional specific responsibilities are described below.

The Florida State Coordinator is a primarily remote work opportunity that averages 10 hours per week with a starting rate at $23.50/hr and access to part time benefits. This position requires the ability to travel to specific forests around the state for short-term trips approximately once per month. This position is planned for three years, with funding currently secured for the first year, but may have the opportunity to grow during or beyond that term. The Florida State Coordinator will report directly to the Forest Conservation Manager.

Primary Job Duties

• Network building – Identify eligible forests throughout Florida’s 67 counties and manage the ongoing incorporation of new forests into the Old-Growth Forest Network. Maintain ongoing relationships and communications with forest owners/managers of forests and volunteer County Coordinators.
• Volunteer outreach and management – Activate and manage a community of county-level volunteers, typically 1 per county, in Florida to effectively motivate them and keep them energized about OGFN’s mission and promote community engagement with Network forests; aim to recruit and train at least 30 additional volunteers in new counties across 3-year term of position.
• Event planning and management – Plan, publicize, and attend forest dedications across the designated region as forests are added to the Network or other special events are scheduled. Partner with OGFN staff to help host occasional educational talks and workshops (typically 1x/year) and guided hikes (typically 5x/year).
• Record keeping - Maintain information in the constituent database, the archive of organizational documents, the forest information database, and partner organization information.
• Communication – Communicate closely with OGFN team members about project work, events, priorities, planning, and progress. Communicate directly with supporters and volunteers to inspire action on behalf of forests. Contribute to OGFN communications and social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc. Communicate with media contacts to promote OGFN events, including writing and disseminating press releases.
• Fundraising support – Invite, greet, and thank donors or funders who attend OGFN events as OGFN’s representative.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree Required (degree in ecology, environmental studies, environmental science, conservation biology, or forestry/natural resources is preferred)
• Experience in environmental nonprofit organizations, environmental government agencies, or academic institutions; significant outreach and/or advocacy experience preferred. Volunteer experience counts.

Knowledge and Skills

• Communication: Communicating effectively verbally and in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Ability to inspire: Convey deep enthusiasm for forest preservation and advocacy; ability to inspire others to take action on behalf of the forests.
• Administrative and Technical Literacy - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, designing forms, and workplace terminology. Literacy in Tools and Technology required for the job.
• Forest Ecology- Basic knowledge of forest ecology, botany/dendrology, or forestry (degree in ecology, environmental studies, environmental science, conservation biology or forestry is a plus).
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Decision Making and Negotiation- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one; bringing others together to bridge/reconcile differences and persuade others to embrace different viewpoints.
• Event Coordination: Ability to work with staff and outside partners to plan, publicize, coordinate, and attend forest events or other special events.

How to Apply

Please send your resume and a cover letter explaining your interest in the position to resumes@oldgrowthforest.net. Application deadline is August 26th, 2026.

This position will include access to part-time benefits.

English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.