Director, Public Affairs

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! Are you a strategic leader who excels at navigating complex public policy, shaping legislative outcomes, and building powerful community relationships? Do you have a passion for formulating public affairs strategies that accelerate revenue opportunities, reduce corporate liabilities, and enhance company reputation? We are seeking a Director of Public Affairs (Western Region) to lead our state and local government relations, public policy advocacy, and strategic community engagement. In this role, you will manage all aspects of our advocacy campaigns across Idaho, Arkansas, Texas, Washington, and Louisiana , ensuring tight alignment with regional business units while fostering an environment in which Rayonier can operate profitably. How You Will Contribute Reporting to Public Affairs Leadership, you will drive our success across several critical areas: Strategic Advocacy Leader: Translate business objectives into clear regional policy priorities, legislative strategies, and advocacy campaigns that protect and increase asset value. Government & Industry Champion : Build and leverage a strong network of state and local elected officials, regulatory agencies, and industry trade associations to shape policies that support timberlands, wood products, real estate, and energy/minerals. Governance & Compliance Monitor: Manage political giving budgets while maintaining strict oversight of campaign finance and ethics laws across multiple state and local jurisdictions. Collaborative Advisor & Storyteller : Partner with internal communications teams and external PR agencies to develop compelling communication tools and messaging that support our regulatory positions and highlight our work as a trusted corporate neighbor. Key Accountabilities Legislative Strategy & Public Policy Track legislation, provide testimony, and actively engage in the legislative process to shape policy outcomes beneficial to Rayonier and the industry. Formulate strategies to improve revenue opportunities, reduce corporate liabilities and expenses, and protect company assets across ID, AR, TX, WA, and LA. Direct contract lobbying consultants to ensure execution against their scope of work and maximize return on investment. Oversee political giving budgets in full compliance with state and local ethics and campaign finance laws. Cross-Functional Engagement & Stakeholder Relations Collaborate closely with regional managers across timberlands, wood products, real estate, energy, and minerals to identify key issues and revenue opportunities. Develop strong working relationships with government agencies regulating land use, air, water, wildlife, and regional economic development. Build collaborative relationships with key industry trade associations in the timber, real estate, wood products, and energy sectors. Represent the company at legislative hearings, political fundraisers, community boards, and industry public events. Strategic Communications & Community Engagement Partner with communications teams and external public relations agencies to develop effective advocacy materials, strategic messages, and PR tools. Collaborate