Dir Western Timberlands

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 Director of Western Timberlands is responsible for the strategic management and performance of the company’s western timberland operations. This position oversees timberland planning, harvesting, procurement, reforestation, forest management, land stewardship, regulatory compliance, and long-term resource optimization across the company’s western operating region.

This position provides leadership to forestry and timberland teams and serves as a key link between the company’s timber resources and manufacturing operations.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the long-term strategy for western timberland operations in alignment with the executive team.
• Establish and operate annual and multi-year timber harvest and procurement plans.
• Manage timberland resources to ensure forest health and maximize long-term economic value while maintaining sustainable forest management practices.
• Develop operating budgets, capital plans, and performance objectives for western timberlands.
• Establish measurable goals for timber inventory, harvest volumes, costs, reforestation, productivity, and resource performance.
• Provide regular operational and financial reporting to executive management.
• Identify opportunities to improve timberland productivity, asset value, and operational efficiency.
• Evaluate timberland acquisitions, dispositions, leases, easements, and other strategic opportunities.
• Establish harvest priorities based on forest inventory, age class, species, market conditions, operating costs, and mill requirements.
• Oversee forest management plans, silvicultural prescriptions, road systems, access, and harvest scheduling.
• Develop and maintain relationships with landowners, timber owners, consultants, logging contractors and other industry participants.
• Monitor regional timber markets, pricing, species availability, competition, and supply trends.
• Ensure reforestation activities are completed within required regulatory and company timelines.
• Develop silvicultural strategies to improve future timber quality, growth, and yield.
• Develop response plans for wildfire, windthrow, insect outbreaks, disease, and other forest emergencies.
• Identify opportunities for additional revenue from timberland assets, including leases, easements, carbon opportunities, recreational uses, and other compatible activities where appropriate.
• Ensure all timberland operations comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including compliance with forestry, environmental, water quality, road construction, harvesting, reforestation, and land-use requirements.
• Maintain strong working relationships with regulatory agencies and local stakeholders.
• Promote responsible forest management and environmental stewardship in furtherance of FSC certification and company values.
• Monitor changes in forestry regulations and communicate their operational and financial impact to management.
• Promote a culture of safety, professionalism, accountability, and operational excellence.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Recruit, hire, and manage forestry staff based in Chester, CA and Lakeview, OR.
  • Responsible for performance management of direct reports in accordance with company values, objectives, and policies.
  • Provide mentoring, coaching, training, and support consistent with developing and sustaining a high-performing and accountable team.
  • Lead, develop, and retain a high-performing western timberlands team.
  • Establish clear responsibilities, performance expectations, and accountability.
  • Develop succession plans for key timberland positions.

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Experience with timber inventory, harvest planning, silviculture, and reforestation.
• Strong understanding of sawmill operations and timber supply chains preferred.
• Excellent financial, analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute long-term strategic plans.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel extensively throughout the company’s western timberland operations.
• Experience with timberland valuation and financial modeling.
• Knowledge of western forest health, wildfire risk, and climate-related forest management considerations.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Forest Management, Natural Resources, Business, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in timberland management, forestry, timber procurement, or forest products operations.
• Strong understanding of western U.S. forestry practices, timber markets, and regulatory environments.
• Demonstrated experience managing budgets, contractors, employees, and complex field operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Registered Professional Forester or equivalent professional designation where applicable.
• Experience managing timberlands across multiple western states.
• Experience evaluating timberland acquisitions and timber sale opportunities.
• Familiarity with GIS, forest inventory systems, harvest scheduling software, and forestry data systems.
• Experience with managing natural capital projects.

Physical Requirements

This position requires a combination of office-based strategic management and extensive field operations. Regular travel throughout the company’s western timberland holdings, logging operations, timber sales, contractor operations, and sawmill facilities is expected.

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 DOE $140,000 - $175,000