About Timberflows
Timberflows is an Ontario-based early-stage company developing a digital marketplace for the global lumber trade.
Our platform is being designed to connect lumber suppliers with international buyers and streamline key parts of the cross-border trading process, including sourcing, quotations, trade coordination, verification, logistics, and transaction management.
We are currently developing the platform and are looking to strengthen our industry knowledge and commercial strategy by bringing an experienced lumber-industry leader into an advisory role.
About the Role
We are seeking a Strategic Industry Advisor - Lumber & Forest Products with extensive senior-level experience in the lumber, forest products, lumber distribution, trading, or related industry.
This is a strategic advisory role, not a full-time employment position. The advisor would work directly with the founders and provide industry perspective as Timberflows develops its platform and commercial model.
The advisor's experience would help us better understand the practical realities of the lumber trade and ensure that the platform is being developed with the needs of industry participants in mind.
Key Areas of Contribution
The advisor may provide guidance on:
- Lumber industry structure, commercial practices, and market dynamics
- Supplier and buyer relationships
- Lumber sales, trading, distribution, and/or international markets
- Product requirements, specifications, grades, and commercial considerations
- Cross-border lumber transactions and associated considerations
- Industry expectations around logistics, inspection, quality, and documentation
- Commercial strategy and marketplace development
- Identifying potential industry partnerships and business relationships
- Reviewing and challenging Timberflows' business assumptions and proposed workflows
- Providing introductions to relevant industry contacts where appropriate
- Helping the founders understand potential challenges and opportunities within the industry
- Providing ongoing strategic feedback as the platform develops
The advisor would not be expected to manage day-to-day operations or act as an employee of Timberflows.
Ideal Background
We are particularly interested in individuals who have:
- 25+ years of experience in the lumber, forest products, wood products, lumber trading, distribution, or closely related industry
- Significant experience in senior leadership or commercial decision-making
- Previous experience as a CEO, President, COO, VP, senior commercial executive, trader, sales leader, or comparable senior industry position
- Strong understanding of the North American lumber industry
- Experience with lumber sales, trading, distribution, procurement, or international markets
- An established network within the lumber or forest-products industry
- The ability to provide candid, practical feedback to an early-stage company
- An interest in contributing to the development of a technology-enabled approach to lumber trading
Location
Ontario, Canada
We are specifically seeking an Ontario-based advisor who has meaningful connections and experience within the Canadian/North American lumber industry.
Compensation
This is an equity-based advisory opportunity.
Timberflows is considering a minority equity interest of less than 5%, with the specific amount and vesting structure to be determined based on the individual's experience, expected involvement, and contribution.
This is not a salaried employment position, and there is no guarantee of future financial return from the equity.
The final advisory arrangement would be documented in a formal agreement between the advisor and the company.
What We Are Looking For
We are not simply looking for a person with an impressive title or résumé.
We are looking for an experienced industry professional who can bring decades of practical knowledge to an early-stage company, challenge our thinking, identify gaps we may not see, and help us understand the lumber industry from the perspective of people who have spent their careers in it.
If you have spent a significant part of your career building, leading, trading, selling, distributing, or managing lumber and forest-products businesses and are interested in helping shape an emerging technology platform, we would be interested in speaking with you.
Location: Ontario, Canada
Engagement: Strategic Advisory / Part-time
Compensation: Equity-based, less than 5%
Company stage: Early-stage / Platform development