Indigenous Partnerships Coordinator

Preferred Application Deadline: Open until filled
Location: Remote, Western United States  (Preference for Northern California or Southern Oregon) 

Reports to: Indigenous Partnerships Manager

Salary: $68,000 - $79,000, dependent on experience

• Associate: $68,000 - $72,000

• Sr Associate: $73,000 - $79,000

Travel: ~20% of the time, primarily within California and frequent day travel to Tribal partners in Northern California
Preferred Start Date: November 4, 2024

Employment Status: Full time

About Blue Forest

Blue Forest is a conservation finance non-profit founded in 2015 that is focused on advancing ecosystem restoration through scientific research, financial innovation, and collaborative partnerships. Since 2018, Blue Forest has managed investor capital through its flagship financial product, the Forest Resilience Bond (FRB), which deploys private capital to finance forest restoration projects to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. More recently, Blue Forest has also established Blue Forest Asset Management (BFAM), an investment management platform connecting investors to compelling, mission-aligned opportunities in a broader set of asset classes beyond FRB projects, such as private equity and private credit investments.

Blue Forest is made up of an interdisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, foresters, finance, and communications professionals committed to the mission: “To accelerate ecological restoration through conservation finance, enabling climate resilience for ecosystems and communities”. Employees at Blue Forest are:

• Committed to Continuous Learning

• Driven by Collaboration

• Thoughtful Innovators for Impact

• Grounded in Science

• Passionate about Restoring Earth’s Ecosystems

As we grow and develop new financial solutions to pressing environmental problems, we are seeking to amplify and collaborate with those historically excluded in conservation finance. We recognize that a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization is not only vital but also a key driver of strength, resilience, and success.

As an organization supporting the restoration of ceded and unceded Indigenous lands across the West, we affirm and recognize Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. Through our Indigenous partnerships program, we aim to build meaningful relationships with Native Nations and Indigenous communities and increase financial resources for Indigenous-led ecosystem stewardship.   

Position Summary

The Indigenous Partnerships Coordinator will establish and grow partnerships with Tribal Nations and organizations for Forest Resilience Bond (FRB) projects primarily in Northern California and Southern Oregon. Most projects will center around the restoration of lands within National Forests. 

Partnership development involves learning about a project to understand past Indigenous engagement and ensure current and future plans incorporate Indigenous values. It also involves learning about Indigenous partners’ priorities and interests and identifying opportunities to support and expand Indigenous partnerships, which may include opportunities for Tribal workforce development, community or youth involvement, science and research collaboration, or capacity building to expand co-stewardship of public lands. 

This role will also engage with Indigenous scientists and cultural practitioners to explore opportunities to support and engage with their work. Additionally, this role will support our science team in further engaging with Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

This role will foster existing as well as develop new relationships from scratch, liaising between Tribal and non-Tribal entities while centering Tribal sovereignty, priorities, and needs at the forefront.

Responsibilities & Duties

• Project Development (80%)

  • Collaborate with Blue Forest team members developing conservation finance projects for forest and watershed restoration primarily across Northern California and Southern Oregon

  • Support FRB implementation partners in identifying areas to establish and expand partnerships with Tribal Nations and organizations in restoration projects

  • Support Tribal Nations and organizations' restoration projects and priorities by supporting exploration of funding and financing opportunities, communications and partnership building capacity, and grant writing

  • Strengthen the team’s ability to meaningfully work with Tribal Nations and organizations

  • Travel ~3-4 days a month to meet with local partners in person

• Science Partnerships (20%)

  • Build relationships with Indigenous scientists and cultural practitioners and explore opportunities to support their research interests through funding exploration and collaboration with Blue Forest’s science and research team

  • Work with Blue Forest’s science and research team to further engage Traditional Ecological Knowledge within their scope of research

Qualifications

• Preference for candidates with lived Indigenous experience

• Based in the Western United States

• 1 - 3 years of experience establishing partnerships with Tribal Nations and organizations or experience liaising between Tribal and non-Tribal entities

• Strong communication and interpersonal partnership skills; Confidence in establishing new relationships

• Excellence in cultural competency and ability to navigate diverse work styles and environments

• Self-starter who thrives when taking initiative and setting personal milestones

• Ability to work independently remotely, as well as collaboratively within a team and with cross-functional teams.

• Preference for candidates with:

  • Familiarity with the policies and frameworks governing the Forest Service and Tribal Nation relationship

  • Background in environment, natural resources, forestry, or Tribal government

  • Understanding of the principles of Traditional Ecological Knowledge / Indigenous Science

Additional Information

Blue Forest is a fully remote company with staff located across all four continental U.S. time zones. The Indigenous Partnerships Coordinator will generally be expected to be online during their respective standard working hours in order to collaborate with other team members. Blue Forest also hosts an in-person team retreat each year. 

Benefits

• 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision coverage; subsidized coverage for dependents

• Access to a 401k retirement plan with a 4% employer match

• Starting 3 weeks paid vacation and 17 paid holidays; paid sick leave and volunteer time

• 3 months of paid family leave

• Employer-paid life and long-term disability insurance

• Access to Dependent Care FSA

• Public Lands Exploration stipend (reimbursements for visits to National Forests, county parks, etc.)

• Monthly Home Office stipend or co-working space provided 

• Travel and partial dependant care costs provided for business travel 

• Additional stipends for health & wellness; home internet and cell service

• Financial support for professional development 
  

Covid Vaccine Requirement

All Blue Forest staff are required to be “fully vaccinated” against COVID-19, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines that term. Proof of full vaccination shall be a condition of employment and must be provided prior to starting work, except where prohibited by law. Blue Forest is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and the company will engage in the interactive process regarding reasonable accommodations for candidates who cannot be vaccinated due to a disability/medical condition; a sincerely held religious belief, practice or observance; or a claimed exemption under applicable state law.

How to Apply

To apply to this position, please submit an application through recruitee. People from historically underrepresented populations and candidates with non-traditional career paths are especially encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, and those submitted by 9/18/24 will be given priority consideration.

If participating in the interview process would require you to incur additional expenses to participate, such as childcare, please let us know and we are happy to reimburse for reasonable expenses incurred up to $30/hour for twice the length of each interview in which you participate. There will be space to request this reimbursement upon offer of an interview.

Blue Forest provides equal employment and opportunities for advancement, compensation, training, and growth according to individual merit, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, genetic information, disability, veteran-status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable Federal, state, or local law. Applicants must have authorization to work in the United States.