Manager, Wood Fiber Supply Standards and Policy
Provide strategic leadership on issues affecting forest fiber access and supply, policy development and implementation, and leadership on consensus-standards, product environmental attributes and market access. This includes public and private forestry issues, scientifically sound forest management, certification, greenhouse gas and forest carbon accounting and deforestation standards and policies, life cycle assessment, compostability, other standards development, and other issues as assigned. It requires significant cross departmental collaboration especially with industry affairs and public policy.
Essential Job Functions:
- Develop and implement forest and fiber supply strategies pertaining to legislative regulatory, and other policies at the federal, state and international level to ensure adequate fiber access and supply and market access for members and related research
- Actively participate in the development and implementation of biomass/carbon policy strategies by providing expertise on biomass/carbon regulatory and legislative issues
- Represent AF&PA in coalitions with allies in advancing AF&PA's legislative and regulatory goals
- Lead efforts with member companies to formulate and implement strategic positions on policies
- Advance policy objectives for wood fiber supply with external partners and allies, certification organizations, universities, and others
- Lead the Wood Fiber Policy Committee, including developing and implementing budgets, and planning and leading meetings
- Develop and maintain relationships with other member committees as needed for other projects
- Lead member calls and provide regular communications to members and non-members on Forest Certification system changes and updates
- Represent AF&PA in consensus-based standard development, including though the ASTM E60 Committee on Environment (including Circular Economy), D10 Packaging, and D20 Plastics
- Represent AF&PA and serve as US Expert on appropriate ISO Working Groups, including ISO TC 207 Environmental Management and ISO 323 Circular Economy
- Represent AF&PA on USDA's biopreferred committee
- Provide expertise and leadership on member issues on non-forestry consensus-based standards
- Participate in cross-functional internal issue teams, such as Biomass/Carbon Neutrality, Sustainability and Fiber Sustainability/Market Access to collaborate on issues such as:
- State Legislation on products manufactured with boreal fiber
- Federal and International policies to combat Global Deforestation
- United Nations-led negotiations on that could affect the forest products industry
- Manage external consultants retained to provide expertise on relevant projects
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications/Skills/Knowledge:
- College degree in an environmental policy, sustainability, or natural resources science discipline
- 5 or more years of experience in a role focused on sustainability, standards development, policy development, or a related field
- Experience and knowledge of forest products industry issues, forestry and forest certification standards and systems, and wood fiber supply chain management preferred
- Experience with policymaking processes and sustainable product attribute programs preferred
- Experience with ANSI, ASTM, and ISO standard development processes preferred
- Ability to multi-task with high organizational skills
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Knowledge of relevant computer software, including Microsoft Office, and various graphic design and publishing programs
- Ability to set priorities and work with limited supervision
- Interest in sustainability, environmental policy, natural resources issues
- Ability to work with divergent viewpoints to develop consensus-based positions
Compensation:
Salary will be commensurate with experience and job location.
Location:
Washington, DC preferred; however, strong candidates located in other US locations will be considered for remote work with travel expected. If located in the Washington, DC area, the work schedule will include a regular hybrid workweek with two days in the office.
About Us:
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) values diverse backgrounds and capabilities and invites all talented individuals to apply to be part of our team and support our culture and mission. We encourage the exchange of knowledge, innovative ideas and different perspectives to reach our goals and we support work/life balance.
AF&PA serves to advance U.S. paper and wood products manufacturers through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. The forest products industry is circular by nature. AF&PA member companies make essential products from renewable and recycle resources, generate renewable bioenergy and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry's sustainability initiative - Better Practices, Better Planet 2030: Sustainable Products for a Sustainable Future. The forest products industry accounts for approximately four percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures nearly $300 billion in products annually and employs approximately 950,000 people. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $60 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 45 states.