The Position and Responsibilities

The President of OFIC is selected by and reports to the Board of Directors and is the only position that reports directly to the Board. As OFIC’s senior executive, the President’s primary responsibilities are to represent Oregon’s forest sector in an effective and credible manner; to support the Board of Directors; to organize the work of staff and volunteer committees; and to implement OFIC’s strategic plan and its legislative, regulatory, and public affairs agenda.  The President:

• Sets agendas for Board meetings and Operations Committee meetings.
• Directs the development of OFIC’s long-term strategy; including emphasis on public relations, forest policy, and forest-related initiatives.
• Supports efforts to ensure adequate public timber supply to support a robust statewide mill infrastructure.
• Sets goals to accomplish strategic priorities.
• Ensures action is taken on Board decisions.
• Is responsible for managing OFIC staff and an annual budget of $1.3 million. 
• Recommends and implements OFIC’s state legislative agenda as well as the agenda for federal issues that affect Oregon’s forest sector.
• Maintains and enhances relationships between the association and its external stakeholders; including forestry organizations, government entities, business interests, conservation groups, and the general public.
• Maintains and develops the OFIC membership.

The President of OFIC must maintain a good working relationship with all of the following:

• The Governor and his staff.
• The Oregon State Legislature.
• The State Board of Forestry; Oregon State Forester; and other state, federal and local officials involved in forestry, environmental regulation, or economic development.
• Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI); Oregon State University (OSU) College of Forestry; and other organizations involved in forestry education, research, or advocacy. 
• Organizations representing the broader business community.
• Members of the forest sector, conservation community, news media, and general public.

The President manages the administrative, outreach and business activities of OFIC, including direct supervision of program managers and administrative staff; and ensures timely, accurate, and efficient completion of work.  Specific responsibilities in this regard include:

Management

• Provide direct supervision and managerial guidance to OFIC staff; including assigning tasks, setting priorities, recommending salary increases and promotions, and reviewing performance. 
• Prepare OFIC budget; oversee all expenditures; review revenue, expenditure and financial statements regularly with the Operations Committee and the OFIC Board; and facilitate annual third-party financial audit.
• Set program priorities, supported by work plans that devote available resources to the highest priorities; and identify additional resources that might be required for successful program execution, subject to Board approval.

Board Support

• Inform/advise Operations Committee and OFIC Board of Directors on internal and external issues that may affect the association and/or Oregon’s forest sector, and recommend successful strategies to address them.
• Set Board/Operations Committee meeting agendas that focus discussion on key action items; prepare support materials and minutes for the Operations Committee and the Board.
• Attend meetings and monitor activities of all OFIC program committees.
• Plan and staff the OFIC Annual Meeting.
• Recruit new OFIC members.
• Write, or oversee the writing of, a bi-monthly membership newsletter.

External Affairs

• Serve as OFIC spokesperson.
• Represent OFIC with legislative leaders; the Governor and Governor’s staff; the State Forester and Oregon Department of Forestry staff; members of the Board of Forestry; other state, federal, and local officials; other organizations representing the forest sector; the broader business community; conservation leaders; the OSU College of Forestry; the news media; and other public forums.
• Recommend and implement OFIC’s legislative/regulatory priorities and strategy.
• Recommend and implement a contribution strategy for the OFIC Political Action Committee with the objective of electing legislators sympathetic to and supportive of the achievement of the strategic goals of the forest sector.
• Monitor and help identify/promote candidates for State Board of Forestry vacancies.
• Collaborate with leaders of other forest sector associations; the broader business community; and conservation leaders, as appropriate, on effective legislative and political strategies.
• Respond to all media inquiries and develop proactive media strategies to raise awareness of the role of private forest products producers in Oregon’s economy and quality of life.  
• Work with OFRI on public and forest landowner forestry education efforts, as appropriate.
• Work with the OSU College of Forestry to maintain the quality of professional forestry education and cutting edge forestry research in Oregon.

Planning

• Lead development/updating of OFIC’s long-term strategic plan.
• Stay current on emerging policy, economic and scientific trends affecting the competitiveness of the forest sector, and ensure that key issues are addressed in the OFIC strategic plan.
• Build consensus within the OFIC Board on strategic priorities and their implementation.
• Ensure that future planning efforts address the following strategic threats and opportunities:

• Create or fully engage in opportunities to raise awareness of the role of the broader “forest cluster” in Oregon’s economy through involvement in the Oregon Business Plan, Business Oregon, and the emerging green building and bio-energy sector.  
• Adopt new program initiative(s) to explore the potential for carbon credits, renewable energy from forest biomass, wood as a green building material, expansion of international trade opportunities for manufactured wood products from Oregon forests, and other ways to compete in the global market.
• Boost public and forest sector support for the OSU College of Forestry’s professional education and research program.
• Maintain and strengthen a cohesive relationship between Oregon forest landowners and mill owners.
• Assess the relationship between private and public forestland in Oregon.  The strategic plan should identify ways to enhance infrastructure, transportation competitiveness, etc. 
• Maintain strong relationships with OFIC “sister” organizations; including the National Alliance of Forest Owners, the Washington Forest Protection Association, the American Forest Resources Council, the Oregon Small Woodland Owners Association, Associated Oregon Loggers, Douglas Timber Operators, Oregonians for Food and Shelter, and others.

Ideal Professional Background

The successful candidate will have an undergraduate degree in Forestry, Business, or some other appropriate field; and a strong background in external affairs. An advanced degree, such as an MBA, J.D., or in Forestry, while not required, is highly desirable. The successful candidate will also possess:

• Work experience in external affairs and in-depth understanding of the economic and political environment affecting Oregon’s forest sector.
• Demonstrated understanding of state and federal legislative and regulatory processes.
• Significant experience in managing and developing an organization, the related staff, and a sizeable budget in a non-profit or private company.
• Experience working with policy-setting boards.
• Proven track record in public relations and advocacy, including as a media spokesperson.
• Experience developing and successfully implementing a strategic plan. 
• Experience developing collaborative working relationships between business and conservation communities and in building consensus among diverse and sometimes conflicting parties.
• Experience in understanding public perspectives and values, and successfully communicating credible information on complex and potentially controversial topics.

Ideal Personal Background

The successful candidate must have strong leadership, communication (written and oral), and presentation skills. He/she must excel at building positive relationships and consensus and at managing people and financial resources.  He/she must be tactful and diplomatic, personable and professional, and skilled in applying tact and diplomacy with others to gain cooperation. A strong work ethic is required, as is high integrity and the ability to maintain a calm and steady hand. He/she must be able to think strategically and thereby contribute to the long-term success of the organization. Finally, the successful candidate must have the professional presence and demeanor to be the senior executive of one of the most prestigious organizations in the forest sector in the Pacific Northwest.  

Contact Information

Jeffrey M. Siegrist, Managing Principal

Jeffrey M. Siegrist & Company

Post Office Box 4444

Pawleys Island, South Carolina 29585

Phone: (803) 831-9383

Mobile: (704) 661-0535

Email: jeff@siegristandcompany.com

Website: www.siegristandcompany.com

Client Website: www.ofic.com

SOURCE: PUBLIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL 01/25/12