Cumberland Plateau Partnership Coordinator
Location: Remote (must live/work within the range of white oak), with in-person meetings, partner visits, and events in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and occasional travel (≈ 25%) elsewhere
Reports to: Director of Conservation Partnerships
Starting Salary: $60,000 (this is a 2-year, grant-funded position)
Application Deadline: ASAP, interviews will be conducted as qualified applications are received
About WOI & This Role
The White Oak Initiative (WOI) is a national network dedicated to restoring and sustaining America’s white oak forests, where ecological resilience, community values, and wood-products industries meet. Fiscally sponsored by the Alabama Forestry Foundation, the WOI brings together diverse partners to strengthen upland oak ecosystems and ensure a sustainable future for white oak.
The Cumberland Plateau Partnership Coordinator will be the primary liaison for the WOI in Kentucky, Tennessee, and northern Alabama, responsible for connecting network partners and facilitating communication. You’ll help weave together the work of policymakers, influencers, conservation organizations, local agencies, technical experts, and researchers, linking regional efforts to the WOI’s broader network and mission.
Expect to travel, attend remote and in-person meetings, and engage regularly with a diverse network of individuals and organizations by email, phone, and video conference.
You’ll report directly to the Director of Conservation Partnerships, working side by side to align regional momentum with WOI’s national strategy and storytelling.
What You’ll Do
Regional Engagement & Network Building
Act as a regional hub for WOI efforts in the Cumberland Plateau, connecting public agencies, nonprofits, universities, and industry.
Collaborate with the Director of Conservation Partnerships to bring new regional partners into the network.
Facilitate communication between partners through meetings, roundtables, check-ins, and field visits.
Facilitate, contribute to, and sometimes attend in-person events, site tours, and workshops in KY, TN, AL, and occasionally beyond in support of the WOI’s national work.
Bridge local and national WOI work, ensuring the region’s stories, lessons, and innovations are amplified.
Facilitation, Coordination & Communication
Co-plan and host partner workshops, training, writing sessions, and strategy meetings with the Director of Conservation Partnerships.
Prepare partner updates, regional summaries, and highlight stories for newsletters, annual reports, and WOI channels.
Ensure alignment between regional voice and WOI’s broader communications strategy.
Capture insights and feedback from the field to inform the WOI’s strategy and continual improvement.
Data, Insights & Reporting
Collect non-sensitive qualitative and quantitative data from partners to showcase outcomes, challenges, and lessons.
Share regular regional syntheses with the Director of Conservation Partnerships, fueling grant reports, strategic updates, and storytelling.
Keep partner contact databases, event histories, and communication logs current in WOI’s tools: Microsoft Teams, Motion App, and Little Green Light (LGL).
Backbone Support, Systems, and Logistics
Work with the Director of Conservation Partnerships and Executive Director to ensure robust adoption of WOI’s tools: Microsoft Teams, Motion App, and LGL.
Coordinate logistics: meeting planning, communications, travel support, venue selection, and partner coordination.
Help weave Cumberland Plateau work into the WOI’s overall strategy, goal setting, and partner-facing narratives.
Eligibility Requirements
Education
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (experience may substitute).
Experience
At least 2 years in conservation, project management, stakeholder engagement, or related field.
Proven track record of creating and stewarding partnerships while convening groups toward shared goals.
Skilled in facilitating collaborative meetings and stakeholder alignment.
Comfortable with project management tools, tracking, analytics, and reporting.
Demonstrated ability to thrive in remote/hybrid team settings.
Familiarity with forestry, ecology, or white oak / upland forest systems is a plus.
Attributes & Skills
Collaborative style: you listen well, build trust, create space for voices, bridge different viewpoints, and openly accept critical feedback.
Deep commitment to conservation, restoration, and sustainable management.
Strategic mindset: able to connect dots, see systems, and design for long-term impact.
Resourceful: able to identify opportunities and stretch partnerships to deliver impact.
Highly organized and detail oriented.
Excellent written and verbal communication across platforms.
Tech-savvy: comfortable with CRMs, project tools, data systems, and remote work tools.
Adaptable, solution-minded, and able to thrive amid complexity and change.
Compensation & Benefits
The starting salary is $60,000annually.
Benefits include: medical, dental, vision, life/disability, paid holidays, sick leave, vacation, and Employee Assistance Program.
Travel expenses covered for work-related travel.
How to Apply
Please send your résumé and cover letter to jamie@whiteoakinitiative.org as soon as possible. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews and immediate consideration.
ABOUT the WHITE OAK INITIATIVE AND ALABAMA FORESTRY FOUNDATION
The White Oak Initiative is a coalition comprised of government agencies, conservation organizations, forest products industries, trade associations, universities and Extension offices, forest practitioners, and landowners. Our mission is to be an advocate and catalyst for sustainable upland oak forest management, with a focus on white oak regeneration. We accomplish this through convening, connecting, and collaborating with stakeholders to increase the economic, social, and ecological benefits of upland oak forests. The White Oak Initiative is funded by government grants, corporate and foundation support, and individual donations. The Alabama Forestry Foundation is the fiscal sponsor for the White Oak Initiative. The Alabama Forestry Foundation partners with an Employee of Record (EOR) service for payroll and human resources administration. While day-to-day supervision and work will be directed by the WOI and Foundation, the selected candidate will be formally employed through the EOR.
Accommodation
If you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with White Oak Initiative, please contact jamie@whiteoakinitiative.org.
Equal Opportunity Employment
The White Oak Initiative recognizes that our work is made stronger and more impactful by the contributions of diverse groups. We welcome people from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, national origin, creed, class, ancestry, or other grounds.