Forester Log Procurement

Founded in 1855, Collins is family-owned and produces softwood and hardwood products at their facilities in Chester, California, Lakeview, Oregon and Kane, Pennsylvania. In Chester, Collins also has the Builders Supply retail hardware and building materials store. Collins is highly respected for their sustainable forest management, practiced across their 370,000 acres of FSC®-certified lands in California, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.

Position Summary:

The Procurement Forester is responsible for developing, purchasing, and managing the company's timber and log supply to support continuous and profitable sawmill operations.

This position manages relationships with private timberland owners, state and federal land managers, logging contractors, log suppliers, brokers, and other forest-product suppliers. The Procurement Forester evaluates standing timber, negotiates timber purchases, coordinates harvesting and log deliveries, monitors log quality and volume, and ensures that purchased timber meets the company's operational, financial, legal, and sustainability requirements.

The successful candidate must combine strong forestry knowledge with sound business judgment, financial analysis, negotiation skills, and an understanding of sawmill operations.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Identify and develop opportunities to purchase timber from private landowners, state and federal forestlands, timberland owners, brokers, and other suppliers.
• Maintain a pipeline of current and future timber procurement opportunities.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with landowners and timber suppliers.
• Evaluate timber sale opportunities and make purchase recommendations.
• Negotiate timber purchase prices and commercial terms within established company authority.
• Purchase stumpage and/or delivered logs in accordance with company procurement strategy.
• Maintain adequate timber and log supply to support sawmill production requirements or log sale opportunities.
• Monitor regional timber markets, pricing, availability, and competing demand.
• Prepare timber valuation and acquisition analyses, including timber cruising/inventories, estimating timber volume, species, and sorts, as well as harvesting, transportation, and road construction costs.
• Coordinate timber harvest schedules with logging contractors and company operations and monitor progress.
• Work with log-yard and sawmill personnel to ensure incoming logs meet mill specifications.
• Monitor timber under contract, timber harvested, logs in transit, and logs delivered.
• Develop and maintain an approved supplier and contractor network.
• Assist in preparing, negotiating, and administering timber purchase agreements.
• Work closely with the Sawmill Manager, Log Yard Manager, Production Manager, and other operational personnel to ensure procurement aligns with mill requirements, production levels, and market conditions.
• Measure and report log inventory to accounting and sawmill personnel bimonthly to ensure financial and production accuracy.
• Monitor third-party log scaling services at the Chester sawmill.
• Provide accurate procurement and delivery information to Accounting and Inventory personnel.
• Maintain short- and long-term timber supply forecasts.
• Ensure timber procurement activities comply with applicable laws, regulations, permits, and company policies.
• Monitor applicable road, stream, water-quality, reforestation, and harvesting requirements.
• Promote responsible forest management and sustainable procurement practices.
• Assist with forestry activities on Collins timberlands as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal skills are required to effectively work with landowners, contractors, suppliers, management, accounting, and mill personnel.
• Ability to work in remote and forested areas and travel to timber sales, logging operations, and supplier locations.
• Experience with log scaling and inventory.
• Experience working with logging contractors.
• Knowledge of sawmill operations and lumber recovery.
• Strong understanding of timber valuation and forest products.
• Ability to analyze timber volumes, costs, and profitability.
• Valid driver's license.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Forestry, Forest Management, Natural Resources, Forest Engineering, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Prior experience in timber cruising, timber procurement, forest operations, or related forestry work.
• Prior experience purchasing timber for a sawmill as well as timber contracts.
• California Registered Professional Forester’s license not required, but desire to obtain license within 3 years highly encouraged.

Physical Requirements

The position requires the ability to:

• Walk forest terrain.
• Climb slopes and uneven ground.
• Stand and walk for extended periods.
• Inspect standing timber and harvested logs.
• Enter and exit vehicles frequently.
• Carry field equipment.
• Safely work around logging equipment and trucks.
• Perform field inspections under varying weather conditions.

Environmental Conditions:

May be exposed to rough terrain, dust, noise, trip hazards, and extreme weather and temperatures. 

Required Personal Protective Equipment:

Individuals must be willing to wear the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at all times. Positions may require additional PPE at specific times. Examples of PPE which may be required include high visibility garments, hand protection, eye protection, hearing protection, a hard hat, foot protection, a face shield, and a respirator.

Salary dependent on experience and qualifications, $85,000-$105,000