Director of Natural Capital (6582)

About Us

Aurora Sustainable Lands is the 6th largest private forest landowner in the U.S. with 1.6M+ acres under management across 14 states. Our forestlands are managed primarily for climate outcomes and other environmental benefits over the long term.

Role Description

The Director of Natural Capital is accountable for making Aurora’s natural capital value clear, credible, and investable. The role quantifies and positions the ecological value embedded in Aurora’s land and forest assets—across carbon, biodiversity, and ecosystem services—to strengthen buyer confidence, support portfolio valuation, and enhance long-term asset value. This role bridges sustainability science and reporting, asset economics, and external markets, translating complex natural capital outcomes into decision-useful insights for investors, buyers, and leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Natural Capital Strategy & Valuation

• Lead Aurora’s natural capital valuation initiative across ecosystem services, biodiversity, and co-benefits.

• Develop strategies and adopt frameworks that convert natural capital outcomes into inputs for portfolio valuation, transactions, and investment strategy.

• Represent Aurora in external coalitions and working groups (International Sustainable Forestry Coalition, Natural Capital Project).

Portfolio & Commercial Integration

• Embed natural capital insights into forest carbon market positioning and long-term asset narratives using approved accounting standards and financial metrics.

• Partner with Finance, Portfolio Management, Operations, and GIS to ensure analytical rigor and adoption.

Buyers, Investors & Market Positioning

• Support strategic marketing, buyer engagement, and investor communications.

• Serve as subject-matter expert in select buyer, investor, and partner engagements.

Reporting & Narrative

• Oversee sustainability and natural capital analytics and reporting.

• Translate technical outcomes into board- and market-ready narratives.

Required Education and Experience

• 8+ years in natural capital, forestry, sustainability, environmental economics, or carbon markets.

• Deep understanding of forest carbon markets (US Improved Forest Management, Afforestation) and sustainability reporting frameworks (TNFD, SASB, EUDR)

• Familiarity with forest certification (FSC or SFI), carbon accounting (GHG Protocol), and geospatial data management (GIS).

• Proven communicator to commercial and executive audiences.