District Manager

Company Overview:

Come grow with us! We are One Rayonier, a team that works together to create value by prioritizing safety, challenging the status quo, giving back to our communities, and driving innovation through continuous learning. With nearly 100 years of experience, we’re still discovering new ways to make lives better with our trees, our land, and — our most important resource — our people.

At Rayonier, we strive to create an employee experience where you feel valued and proud to be part of our team. We foster a respectful, inclusive and collaborative environment that celebrates your unique talents and perspectives.  Experience the Rayonier difference: We’re big enough to offer exciting career paths, but small enough for you to know your colleagues by name. Come join a team that empowers you to make a difference!

Rayonier is seeking a visionary and result-driven leader to take ownership of our Columbus District. This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for integrating every aspect of timberland management for a district of approximately 275,000 acres. As the District Manager, you function as the primary architect of your district’s success—from developing capital budgets to ensuring that silviculture, harvesting, and transportation activities are executed to the highest standard. You will provide the vision and leadership necessary to implement safety and environmental programs, you serve as the driving force ensuring our large-scale district operations return maximum value to the organization. 

How You Will Contribute

We are seeking an experienced leader with a deep understanding of forest asset management. In this role, you will be:

• A Strategic Leader: You will lead, supervise, and direct a diverse staff of foresters to achieve District objectives while coaching and mentoring them to excel and grow within the organization.

• A Financial Decision Maker: You will own the profit/loss responsibility for your district, meeting quarterly and annual financial objectives and cost control targets.

• A Tactical Planner: You will lead tactical-level harvest planning and prepare annual timber harvest plans that optimize log deliveries to ensure they are on time, on spec, and meet quality standards.

• A Cross-Functional Partner: You will work closely with real estate staff to stratify the land base for non-strategic properties and other value-added opportunities.

• A Community Ambassador: You will maintain strong relationships with local communities, state and federal agencies, and other key stakeholders.

Key Accountabilities

• District Ownership: Manage the implementation of short- and long-term forest management plans, including inventory, transportation, and environmental compliance.

• Operational Oversight: Provide direct oversight of logging and expanded silviculture activities, including site preparation, reforestation, pre-commercial/commercial thinning, and fertilization.

• Financial Mastery: Prepare and manage annual capital and operating budgets; monitor industry conditions and market reports to negotiate pricing and volume with outside customers.

• Market Optimization: Market wood products to ensure best use and lowest cost, maximizing the total value of the forest asset.

• Safety Leadership: Conduct safety meetings, review near-misses, and ensure full compliance with safety programs, forest stewardship principles, and Best Management Practices (BMPs).

What You Bring to the Team

Education: Bachelor’s degree in forestry required; Master’s degree in related field preferred.

Experience: A minimum of ten (10) years of forestry experience, including at least five (5) years of supervisory experience.

Core Competencies: Strong leadership, negotiation, and organizational skills with the ability to communicate across all levels of management, contractors and the public.

Technical Expertise: Intermediate proficiency in MS Office, basic proficiency in forest management information systems and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), such as ArcGIS preferred.

Professional Skills: Highly developed communication and organizational skills with the ability to lead project teams efficiently.

Ready to make a significant impact on the future of sustainable forestry with an industry leader? Apply today and drive the lifecycle of our timberlands with the Rayonier difference!

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

This role requires extensive physical activity, including hiking across varied terrain (uneven ground, slopes, wetlands, and dense vegetation), carrying equipment and supplies, and performing strenuous tasks like inventory measurements and sale setup. Work involves maintaining stability on uneven surfaces, navigating obstacles, and working in challenging positions, often outdoors in diverse weather conditions. Operating machinery, power tools, and motor vehicles are also required. Some travel (approximately 10%) is required.

What We Offer

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, accident, disability, identity theft protection, and paid parental and caregiver leave. We also offer a health savings account, a dependent care spending account, and an employee assistance plan. We provide wellness reimbursements, home office reimbursements, employee discount programs, monthly vehicle allowance (for certain positions), annual health screenings, wellness incentives, wellness seminars, and financial counseling and planning tools.

Our 401(k) retirement savings plan includes company matching contributions (60% match on the first 6% of base and bonus deferrals) as well as a 3% enhanced retirement contribution that does not require an employee contribution.  

We recognize the importance of work-life integration and offer flexible work schedules and hybrid work from home options (for most positions), along with a minimum of three weeks paid vacation, five paid personal days, 11 paid holidays and paid sick leave each year.

We provide a comprehensive employee development program which provides career planning tools and resources, mentoring program, leadership development, training programs and an 80% tuition reimbursement.