Forest Health Project Manager – Tuolumne River Trust

Summary
Forest Health Project Manager
This is a posting for a part-time Forest Health Project Manager for the Tuolumne River Trust, functioning out of TRT’s Sonora office. This position is grant-funded and will include 20-30 hours of work a week, but may have the potential to develop into a full-time position. The Forest Health Project Manager will help TRT implement forest health projects across the landscape, with a focus on public lands management on the Stanislaus National Forest.

Information
The Forest Health Project Manager will help implement the Tuolumne River Trust’s (TRT) forest restoration program on the Stanislaus National Forest and adjacent private lands. The Project Manager will play a central program role by working closely with TRT’s Headwaters Program Director to secure funding, manage grants, supervise contractors, and implement projects. This individual will possess an understanding of sustainable forestry practices, national forest management policies, and a passion for ecological forest and watershed restoration. At home among the trees, in nature, and with fellow environmentalists, the right candidate will be equally interested in building collegial and productive working relationships with foresters, loggers, landowners, scientists, and agency representatives, especially employees of the U.S. Forest Service and Tuolumne County. With a deep base of natural resource management, the Forest Health Project Manager will help implement projects designed to increase the health and resilience of the Sierra Nevada forests, protecting and advocating for the ecological, social, and economic values that these forests provide.
The ideal candidate is an experienced forest/fire ecologist, forester, or related natural resource conservation project manager with a background in forest health and fire resiliency and a solid history of multi-stakeholder collaboration. The successful candidate must have working knowledge of forest ecology and related resource concerns, ideally with experience relevant to Sierra Nevada forests and plant communities. Experience with conservation planning, overseeing project implementation, and managing contracts and subcontractors is essential, as is a demonstrated ability to be self-directed while working collaboratively with other staff members and partners. Additional experience with permitting and construction project management is a plus. This position is currently funded through grants from state agencies.

Equity at TRT
TRT holds a deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity as core principles integral to the work we do. As we add new members across all levels of the organization, we seek diverse perspectives and lived experiences that foster learning, creativity, innovation, and equity.

Duties and Responsibilities
The Forest Health Project Manager will advance TRT’s forest restoration program through project implementation, liaising with private contractors, the Stanislaus National Forest staff, and staff from Tuolumne County. This individual will be responsible for implementation of contracts, marking of boundaries, and project monitoring.

Primary duties include:
• Managing contractors, including:
Assist the Headwaters Program Director with contractor selection for roadside fuel breaks, understory fuels reduction, mechanical thinning, weed control, and other project work, including development of Requests for Proposals and review of submitted proposals.
Assist the Headwaters Program Director with development of contracts for implementation of grant-funded work.
Establish pre-project flagging to mark work site boundaries, riparian buffers, etc.
Schedule and oversee contractor work, including:
Preliminary site visits.
Contractor trainings for wildlife and cultural resources awareness.
Daily or weekly site visits to ensure adherence to project scope and required mitigations. o Purchase materials and deliver to work site
Complete project documentation and monitoring, including:
Quarterly or semi-annual grant progress reports to project funders.
Project photo-monitoring, including establishment and documentation of photopoints.
Documentation of invasive plant occurrences, treated area extents, and other field data using mobile phone/tablet-based GIS software.
Fieldwork including (but not limited to)
Project layout and oversight.
Timber stand exams.
Stake and Survival Exams.
The Forest Health Project Manager may be asked to assist in grant writing efforts necessary to implement new projects.
Other duties as assigned.

Suggested Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have a background and track record that includes:
Strong oral and written communication skills, interpersonal skills, and ability to communicate effectively
with staff, volunteers, and the public.
Team player and ability to interact effectively with people from different cultures and experiences.
Knowledge of forestry, vegetation management, wildfire behavior, watershed stewardship and conservation, resource management, basic hydrology, basic soil science, native plant and animal communities, and/or forest ecology.
3-years of relevant experience.
Bachelor’s Degree in forest ecology, forestry, silviculture, natural resources management, or a closely- related field.
Familiarity with FSH 2409.12—the Forest Service Timber Cruising Handbook
Experience implementing and managing projects, including coordinating the work of other professionals, and collaborating with internal and external partners.
Skilled in GIS, resource inventory, and mapping.
Project goal oriented with initiative in fulfilling programmatic and grant-related obligations.
Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Strong computer skills, including Word and Excel.
Physically able to work in the field (hiking off-trail through heavy brush, lifting, carrying supplies and equipment, etc.) during all seasons.
Ability to work from a home office with good internet connection during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Must have a valid driver’s license, be fit and able to walk to forest project sites as well as be able to lift at least 20 pounds.
Understanding of forest modeling, LiDAR, and other current and forest management tools.
Travel
Project locations are typically within 1-3 hours of the Sonora office. The Forest Health Project Manager will be compensated for travel, but is responsible for transportation to and from project locations. Proof of a valid US Drivers license and insurance will be requested at the time of employment.

How to Apply
jobs@tuolumne.org

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Initial review of applicants will be done through an anonymized process with names and addresses removed. Please send an email with cover letter and resume as attachments with subject heading Forest Health Project Manager to jobs [at] tuolumne [dot] org.

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