The Organization

Sustainable Northwest forges natural resource solutions that are good for nature, people, and local economies. We partner with Tribal and rural communities throughout the Northwest on projects that promote smart water use, clean energy, and healthy forests, farms, and ranches.

Our solutions are as unique as the problems we solve and include entrepreneurship, policy, market innovations, public or private investment, collaboration, and technical assistance – but the ultimate success of our work is based on relationships, trust, and inclusion.

Sustainable Northwest was founded in 1994 to forge collaborative solutions for conserving forest and community health. Today, our challenges have multiplied with climate change, catastrophic wildfires, and persistent drought plaguing our region. Yet we remain optimistic that nature, people, and local economies can thrive together.

Our Programs

Forest

We believe healthy, resilient forests support thriving communities. That’s why we partner with rural and Indigenous communities to develop locally-led solutions that advance forest health and resilience. For example, we are helping landowners affected by the 2020 Labor Day Fires reforest using climate-resilient practices.

Wood Markets

We believe we can improve forest and community health by constructing new homes and buildings with sustainable materials. Our wood markets team partners with rural, Indigenous, and urban communities to source the wood needed for new homes and buildings from forestry projects that improve forest and climate health while supporting rural communities and economies. Our most recent accomplishment is sourcing wood for the Portland International Airport’s new main terminal from 13 different family and Tribal forests in the Northwest.

Water

Our water program focuses on balancing water use among nature, people, and local economies. Our most recent accomplishment is helping amplify Tribal voices to successfully push for removal of four outdated hydropower dams on the Klamath River.

Regenerative Ranching

We believe healthy food can and should be produced in harmony with nature. Our regenerative ranching program is the largest in the West, with 120 ranchers on 7 million acres in 13 Western states. We are helping ranchers adopt climate-resilient practices, and measuring progress along the way.

Clean Energy

We believe everyone deserves affordable, clean energy produced locally. Our clean energy program partners with rural and Indigenous communities transitioning to clean energy. For example, we launched the nation's first e-tractor program for farmers and ranchers to accelerate the adoption of electric farm equipment.

The Opportunity

The Wood Advisor Project Manager will work closely with our Wood Advisor Specialist and broader Wood Markets team to grow the Wood Advisor Services program. The project manager will serve as a wood advisor to AEC clientele that include some of the largest companies in the US. Wood Advising is an emergent and in-demand role within the green building sector that helps project teams navigate the wood products supply chain to confidently and intentionally source wood in support of forest health, local jobs, and community values. Sustainable Northwest is spearheading development of these services and has supported numerous high-profile projects like the Portland TCORE airport project, with dozens more in the pipeline.

The successful candidate will support engagement and lead project work with architectural firms, developers, contractors, mass timber suppliers, and mills from pre-design through procurement, construction, and post-construction. Project management includes data collection and management (timber & lumber sourcing, forest management plans, harvest coordinates, etc), spreadsheets, budget management, final reports, and presentations. Success celebrates the people, stewardship, and climate values associated with the positive impacts achieved by intentional wood sourcing.

The work is creative and flexible, with the feel of a small nimble team complemented by the support, trust, track record, and network Sustainable Northwest has built over 30 years. Applicants are not expected to be experts in all named areas of the job description. Annual work plans are built to be mindful of employee strengths, organizational needs, and personal interests. Work is hybrid with Portland, OR the preferred permanent residence; but remote applicants within Oregon and Washington will be considered.

Position Details

Title: Wood Advisor Project Manager

Location: Portland, OR, in downtown office two days/week.

Remote in Oregon or Washington considered.

Reports To: Wood Advisor Specialist

Employment Status: Full-time Exempt, 35-hour work week

Salary: $67,000 - $75,000 at time of hire

Deadline: Position open until filled. Hiring committee will begin reviewing applications on 3/16/26. Preferred start date is 4/13/26.

Benefits: Sustainable Northwest offers a generous benefits package supporting employee wellness with medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance; three to six weeks PTO (dependent on length of tenure); sick time; 11 federal holidays; additional paid leave during yearend office closure Dec 26-31; flexible daily and weekly work schedules; 403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions; cell phone reimbursement; transit and bicycle benefits; pre-tax spending plan for medical and/or dependent care; and support for professional training.

Position Description: The Wood Markets team at Sustainable Northwest builds markets that recognize and reward wood products from responsibly managed forests, and honors companies that are the keystone of a healthy rural economy. The work includes three underlying principles: (1) forest management can and often does produce ecological, cultural, and economic benefits; (2) businesses are critical conservation partners; and (3) transparency creates opportunities to improve and demonstrate positive impacts. Work is relationship-based, bringing together partnerships across the builder (architect/engineer/construction - AEC) community, Tribes, conservation groups, mills, fabricators, and over 300 PNW family-owned businesses and forest owners.

In our Wood Advisor Services work, we help builders and building owners buy responsibly harvested, local wood that supports community and conservation values. The key to this work is a transparent, traceable supply chain that tracks the wood from forest to final product. We help businesses and people who own or manage forest land; mill timber into wood; manufacture or sell wood products like trusses, siding, decking, glulam beams, and more; design and construct buildings and homes with wood; or own buildings and homes that include wood products. Some of our wood advising projects can be viewed at: https://www.sustainablenorthwest.org/woodmarkets#projects.

Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To:

Serve as the main point-of-contact and primary representative for Wood Advisor clients. Manage an ongoing portfolio of fee-for-service and grant-funded Wood Advisor projects, including project management, data collection, and outcome reporting Support advancement of program sustainability, scale, and impact through ongoing development of projects leads, strategic partnerships, and grants. Support design and implementation of outreach, communications and education surrounding international sourcing practices, impacts, partners, and project successes, including workshops, forest-to-frame tours, lunch and learns, webinars, conferences, informational guides, case studies, digital media, etc. Other duties are assigned.

Required Qualifications:

Minimum two (2) years of work experience in architecture, construction management, wood products manufacturing, sustainable business with an emphasis on material procurement/supply chain management, or other of relevance.
Note: relevant graduate work may qualify for required years of this experience.
Excellent social and communication skills through email, phone and video conferences. Must demonstrate ability to engage with a diverse set of partners, create trust, communicate complex problems clearly, and successful management of data.
Experience in project management including task planning and successful implementation.

Preferred Qualifications

5+ years architectural, construction or mass timber work experience specific to building project management and material procurement.
Knowledge of wood products and wood product supply chain dynamics.
Knowledge of mass timber, particularly design-build and pre-construction processes and team dynamics. Grant management.
Experience working with Tribal communities, forest landowners, wood product suppliers, industry associations, local, state, and federal agencies, etc.
Basic knowledge of forest management practices, certification systems, etc.
Basic knowledge of green building practices, certification systems, etc.
ArcGIS and storymapping software experience
Business / economic / market development experience.
Graduate degree in architecture, engineering, construction management, wood science, business administration, natural resources, business, or other relevant subjects.

Please Note

The skills and experience listed above are what we believe is necessary to succeed in this position. However, we encourage all interested applicants to apply even if your skills are not a match with all requested qualifications. Please, underscore applicable skills unique to you in your cover letter. Sustainable Northwest is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of an applicant or employee’s race or ethnicity, national origin; gender, gender identity or sexual orientation; religion or creed; age, ability, or other legally protected status.

To Apply

A single PDF cover letter and resume to Dassi Owens, dowens@sustainablenorthwest.org. with ‘Wood Advisor Project Manager’ in the subject line.

Position will remain open until filled.

Committee will begin reviewing applications on March 16. No phone calls or email inquiries, please.

Interview questions will be provided in advance.

References will be requested from finalist candidates.

Sustainable Northwest

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