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Public Affairs Director

A Forestry Director of Public Affairs helps shape public perception and influence policy through strategy and problem-solving. Their work ensures that responsible forest management is understood and supported by industry communities, policymakers and leaders.

Relationship building, communication and advocacy are key responsibilities when working in Public Affairs in the forestry industry. Public Affairs is vital to the sustainable forestry sector because those who work in this field build trust, influence policy and engage key stakeholders, such as elected officials, community groups and industry organizations. Building and maintaining valuable relationships and consistent advocacy helps keep sustainable working forests working.

This position may also be referred to as a Director of Government & Community Relations, Director of External Affairs, Director of Communications & Public Engagement, or Director of Strategic Partnerships.

Shawn DeRome

Public Affairs Director, Rayonier

My job is to help maintain a healthy business climate so that my company can do what it does best: stewardship and sustainable land management. Building genuine relationships at both the local and state levels is a big part of what I do.

Education

A forestry industry Director of Public Affairs should have a bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, environmental studies or a related field, preferably with an emphasis on forestry.

Helpful courses to take in high school: English/language arts, speech or debate, government civics and business classes. Leadership roles in the student council are also beneficial.

Tools of the Trade

  • An office space and tools for completing day-to-day work tasks. Tools may include a computer, smartphone, recording devices (such as a camera and tripod) and branded company materials (for presentations and media relations).
  • Digital marketing tools used for crafting, managing, scheduling and sending communications via email, social media and press release websites.
  • Policy and legislative tracking tools like StateNet, GovPredict or Quorum.

Important Skills

A Director of Public Affairs should be able to craft and deliver clear, compelling messages across multiple platforms, including media, public forums and internal communications.

Expertise in government policies, especially as they relate to forestry and land management, is a must. The Director of Public Affairs needs to be able to read and understand government regulations, environmental laws and land use policies. Navigating and discussing complex regulations is essential for advocacy and stakeholder engagement.

The Director of Public Affairs must also be able to build and maintain relationships with stakeholders, community leaders, industry partners and government officials.

Job Responsibilities

The Director of Public Affairs uses their communication and networking skills, along with industry knowledge, to advocate for and influence positive policy change on behalf of the forestry company and industry.

Bridging forest management and society is a key function of the Director of Public Affairs role. Maintaining a balance between stewardship and sustainability while ensuring society and policymakers are aware and well-educated is critical to this position.

Primary job responsibilities include:

  • Working with company departments to identify areas or projects in need of additional support. 
  • Developing and executing strategic communication plans to ensure alignment with department and company goals.
  • Concentrating on current and emerging public policy and community issues that impact the company’s diverse interests in forestry, land management and real estate.
  • Building and fostering relationships among various stakeholders such as industry associations, legislators and community leaders.
  • Leading internal public affairs efforts, such as a company political action committee, or PAC.

A forestry Director of Public Affairs provides the forestry organization with strategic insight, a voice in policy discussions, and meaningful connections that help shape sustainable working forests.

For further reading, take a look at the article, Rayonier Career Spotlight: Eastern Director of Public Affairs, Shawn DeRome.

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