Help Put Wildfire Resilience Projects on the Ground

The Clear Lake Environmental Research Center (CLERC) is seeking an experienced Project Coordinator to help coordinate the implementation of wildfire resilience, hazardous fuels reduction, forestry, and land stewardship projects throughout Lake County.

This is a hands-on project coordination position for someone who is comfortable moving between the field, the office, contractors, landowners, and project partners. We are looking for a candidate who can step into an active portfolio of projects and quickly become a dependable point of coordination—keeping work moving, resolving field logistics, communicating with property owners and contractors, monitoring progress, and making sure the details needed for successful project implementation do not fall through the cracks.

CLERC manages countywide grant-funded projects focused on wildfire resilience, hazardous fuels reduction, forest health, reforestation, defensible space, evacuation route readiness, ecological restoration, and community engagement.

What You’ll Do

The Project Coordinator works under the direction of CLERC’s Stewardship Director and serves as a key liaison among CLERC, private landowners, contractors, agency partners, and field staff.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Coordinate project schedules, site access, and field activities with contractors and participating landowners.
• Monitor contractor performance and project progress through regular field visits.
• Verify work quality and contract compliance and communicate field issues and recommendations to project managers.
• Participate in contractor meetings, pre-work site visits, and project closeout inspections.
• Meet with landowners to explain project objectives, timelines, and planned treatment activities and address questions or concerns throughout implementation.
• Coordinate field logistics, equipment, access, project milestones, and deadlines.
• Document completed work through photographs, written reports, GPS data, GIS mapping, and project tracking systems.
• Track completed acreage and project accomplishments and assist with grant reporting and reimbursement documentation. 
• Create and maintain project maps and spatial data for project planning, contractor field use, bid packages, landowner meetings, grant reporting, and other purposes.
• Assist with environmental compliance activities, including biological surveys, identification and mapping of sensitive resources, and implementation of environmental protection measures.
• Work collaboratively with CAL FIRE, the U.S. Forest Service, local fire agencies, Fire Safe Councils, Tribes, nonprofit organizations, consultants, and other community partners.

Who We’re Looking For

This position is best suited for an experienced project coordinator who is ready to step into an active portfolio of wildfire resilience and land stewardship projects and assume meaningful responsibility from the start.

The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience coordinating contractors, field activities, schedules, landowners, and project logistics, along with the judgment and initiative to keep work moving and address issues as they arise.

Required qualifications include:

• Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Environmental Science, Biology, Natural Resources, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least two years of relevant project coordination experience; three or more years of progressively responsible experience coordinating environmental, forestry, wildfire resilience, restoration, construction, or natural resource projects strongly preferred.
• Experience working outdoors in varied terrain and weather conditions.
• Strong organizational and project coordination skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to develop positive working relationships with landowners, contractors, agency staff, and community members.
• Ability to independently manage multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
• Valid California driver’s license.

Preferred Experience

We are particularly interested in candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Wildfire mitigation, hazardous fuels reduction, forestry, vegetation management, restoration, or similar field projects.
• Contractor or field crew oversight.
• Grant-funded environmental or forestry projects.
• CAL FIRE, U.S. Forest Service, or other public land management programs.
• GPS and GIS, particularly ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Pro.
• Biological surveys or environmental monitoring.
• CEQA, NEPA, or environmental permitting.
• California forest ecosystems and native plant communities. 

Physical Requirements

This is an active field position. The Project Coordinator must be able to hike over uneven terrain in burned and unburned forests, lift and carry up to 50 pounds, and work outdoors during all seasons and in varying weather conditions.

About CLERC

The Clear Lake Environmental Research Center is a Lake County environmental nonprofit working to advance the environmental and economic sustainability of Clear Lake, its neighboring lands and waters, local communities, and beyond.

We are looking for someone who brings sound judgment, attention to detail, adaptability, professionalism, and a collaborative, can-do approach to getting important work accomplished.

CLERC is an equal opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.