Closing Date: 22nd November, 2025
Description:
National Forest Foundation (NFF) is pleased to offer an Exempt, Full-time, position to lead the NFF's contracts and procurement team and oversee service contracts, purchases, and other similar actions to advance the organization's conservation investments nationwide.About the NFF: As the official national partner to the US Forest Service (USFS), the National Forest Foundation was chartered by Congress in 1993. Today, the NFF advances forest resiliency, healthy watersheds and wildlife habitat, and recreation for all by working with communities and organizations across the country. The Foundation has grown significantly in the last few years in programmatic impact, revenue and support, and organizational capacity. NFF leads with impact, deploying roughly 90% of its expenses towards projects and programs across the country's 193-million-acre National Forest System. NFF is forward-thinking and innovative, with ambitious strategies and goals to advance and prepare forests for a new economy.
Position Function: The Contracts and Procurement Attorney is a dynamic team and organizational leader that reports to the Senior Director of Conservation Awards. The incumbent is responsible for leading NFF contracting and procurement processes to advance conservation work that benefits U.S. National Forests and Grasslands, and supporting strategic initiatives, long-term goals, and internal organizational needs.
Position Duties and Responsibilities: The Contracts and Procurement Attorney will:
- Serve as an engaged leader of the contracts and procurement team, providing mentorship and coaching for the team of 4-5 full-time staff.
- Oversee the implementation of the organization's procurement policy and support oversight of policy and other compliance requirements throughout the full contracting lifecycle.
- Oversee training of NFF staff on for contracting procurement matters to supporting compliance and best practice.
- Coordinate with staff seeking to engage in procurement actions and provide advice throughout the procurement process.
- Oversee solicitation and coordination of bids for large projects offering scrutiny and advice on potential transactions.
- Practice active risk management in contracts and procurement to reduce organizational exposure.
- Lead staff teams to review bids and select vendors, and award contracts based on policy, price, quality, performance considerations, and other factors.
- Facilitate the development and negotiation of agreements, ensuring best practices and organizational standards are upheld.
- Provide substantive review of agreements for compliance and accuracy, resolving discrepancies consistent with organizational requirements.
- Review and update standard contract templates to reflect best practices and organizational changes.
- Work with other departments within the organization to ensure that contracts are effective and sound and make recommendations for improvement where necessary.
- Conduct occasional reviews to ensure vendor compliance with contract terms, from both procurement and policy perspectives.
- Oversee review and approval of invoices from vendors to ensure that they accurately reflect services rendered or goods delivered and are compliant with all requirements.
- Oversee training for all staff on procurement, contracts, and purchasing.
- Conduct policy research and make recommendations for matters relating to conservation awards matters and natural resource issues.
Education and Qualifications: NFF expects the Contracts and Procurement Attorney to possess the following educational and experiential qualifications:
- A Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and a minimum of eight years of experience with contracting, procurement, bid evaluation/review, contract preparation, and compliance screening, preferably full contract lifecycle management
- Experience on natural resource issues including public works construction and/or wildfire risk reduction strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience as a dynamic leader that motivates teams, builds trust, and advances strategic goals.
- A demonstrated commitment to the mission of the NFF and a deep understanding of National Forest management or other natural resource issues.
- Must be authorized to work in the United States.
Abilities and Skills: NFF expects the Contracts and Procurement Attorney to possess the following proven abilities and skills:
- Strong understanding of contract principles and procurement processes.
- A growth mindset, rampant curiosity, and a passion for problem-solving.
- Proven capacity to inspire and motivate others toward shared goals while maintaining a commitment to equity, transparency, and continuous improvement.
- Deep knowledge of contracting and procurement using federal and non-federal funds, with the ability to navigate and apply 2 CFR 200, FAR, and other related regulations effectively.
- Strong analytical skills and meticulous attention to detail.
- Meaningful experience in interpreting complex provisions and translating them into clear, actionable guidance for staff.
- Demonstrated proficiency in common office procedures and software, including Microsoft 365 and Office Suite, with an emphasis on document preparation and review. Familiarity with Microsoft Dynamics systems is considered a plus.
- A proven track record of successful negotiations and dispute resolutions, reflecting strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Travel: This position requires occasional domestic travel to attend meetings, trainings, convenings, and related events. The travel estimate for this position is up to 5% per year.
Location: The location for this position is flexible throughout the lower 48 states. This position is a remote/work-from-home position and requires reliable internet access and a dedicated workspace.
Compensation: NFF offers a competitive compensation and benefits package that reflects our total rewards strategy. The starting salary range for this position is $103,750 to $126,875, with the ability to grow to $150,000 based on performance outcomes over time and assessed annually.
Benefits: NFF is proud to offer our staff:
Health and Wellness:
- Medical and dental insurance paid at 75% by NFF for you and any dependents.
- Vision insurance paid 50% by NFF for you and any dependents.
- Health savings account (HSA) with employer contributions between $1,878-$3,750 per year, predicated on coverage type.
- Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSA).
- Employee assistance program (EAP) at no cost.
- 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% employer match after one (1) year of service.
- Short-term and long-term disability insurance at no cost.
- Basic life and AD&D insurance at no cost, with voluntary life insurance options.
- Whole life insurance at a discounted rate.
- Employees start with 35 days of annual leave, sick leave, personal leave and holidays (annual leave accrual rates increase with years of service)
- Family & medical leave for up to sixteen (16) weeks with up to four (4) weeks paid.
- Training & Development Programs
- Professional development reimbursement for up to $1,000 per year.
- The opportunity to support an incredible mission and advance work that creates generational benefits improving the health of our National Forests and Grasslands, ecosystems, and the communities that depend on them.
To Apply: Applications must include both a cover letter and resume. Incomplete packages will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. This posting will close on November 22nd, 2025, or earlier if filled. Please visit our careers site to apply online.
The National Forest Foundation is an equal opportunity employer – meaning we provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable law. Further, we prohibit discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, and termination. We strive to foster a work environment where every individual is respected, valued, and treated fairly. This statement reflects our unwavering dedication to fairness, respect, and equality in employment practices and sets the foundation for a positive work environment.
Salary Description
$103,750 to $126,875