Senior Program Manager of Conservation

TreePeople is an environmental nonprofit organization that mobilizes individuals, families, communities, philanthropists, and public agencies to work together to create green, resilient communities by providing education on the benefits of planting trees, capturing the rainwater, greening schools, and providing fun environmental educational activities. TreePeople unites with communities to grow a greener, shadier and more water-secure region at homes, neighborhoods, schools and in the local mountains.

• Manage various programs to effectively implement restoration efforts on mixed conifer montane forests in Southern California mountains.
• Prepare, administer and monitor contracts for reforestation activities including site preparation, tree planting, maintenance activities and non-commercial thinning and/or fire hazard reduction operations.
• Assist in project planning and permitting which will include coordination with outside consultants and regulating agencies to ensure compliance.
• Develop scopes of work, requests for proposal, reviews and evaluations of contractors.
• Inspect and monitor projects to evaluate field performance and recommend appropriate corrective actions as necessary.
• Visit sites and assess forest health, insect and disease issues, wildfire hazards, and other resource concerns.
• Maintain documentation, and district database, of project activities.
• Responsible for day-to-day communications with contractors, partners and applicable government regulators to ensure desired outcomes of assigned projects.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry or equivalent (Natural Resources or closely related field).
• 3+ years field experience in the Western US, Southern California preferred.
• CA state-licensed Registered Professional Forester (RPF) preferred
• Strong knowledge of western US tree species, silviculture, wildfire behavior, risk, and mitigation strategies, biology, ecology, natural resource management and wildlife habitat conservation and improvement opportunities.
• Familiarity with California Forest Practice rules, including Riparian, Wetland, and Channel Migration Management Zone (RMZ, WMZ, CMZ), unstable slope identification, forest road BMPs.
• Knowledge of California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) laws related to the use of herbicides is preferred.
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, ArcGIS Pro, Field Maps and Google suite.
• Valid driver’s license and good driving record, with ability to safely operate four-wheel drive vehicles on steep and narrow mountain roads and to navigate using map and compass or GPS.
• Highly self-motivated and able to work without consistent direct supervision.
• Soft skills: Excellent written and oral communication, teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability, attention to detail, time management, decision-making and the ability to translate communications into appropriate action.
• Ability to manage multiple projects under strict time constraints, to multi-task and prioritize in a fast-paced work environment.
• Ability and desire to work with a diversity of people including local, state, federal, and non-governmental resource professionals, non-profits, industry professionals and other community representatives, volunteers and citizens.
• Spanish language fluency is a plus.