JOB TITLE: Forestry and Fuels Program Assistant Director  
CLASSIFICATION: Assistant Director/Program Director I 
FULL SALARY RANGE: $40.06 - $51.06 ($83,325 - $106,205 annual salary) 
EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Full-Time, Exempt 

About the Watershed and Research Training Center 
The Watershed Research and Training Center (WRTC) sustains healthy lands and healthy communities. What started in the early 1990s as a local project to re-train displaced loggers and mill workers in Trinity County, CA is now a vibrant nonprofit organization working locally, statewide and nationally on a host of landscape conservation and community development issues. In addition to putting dozens of our community members back to work in the woods each year, we lead several forest and watershed conservation programs, coordinate state wood utilization and fire management partnerships, and have played an influential role in state and federal policy-making and program direction. We are a team of approximately 70 year-round staff with up to 80 additional seasonal staff dedicated to caring for people and the landscapes we depend upon. 

About the Forestry and Fuels Program 
The Forestry and Fuels Program is one of the Watershed Center’s flagships, in operation for nearly 30 years. This program addresses the complexities of increasing landscape and community resilience to climate change and wildfire, sustainable forestry, and increasing local employment in forest stewardship, all operating within one of the most diverse temperate forest ecosystems and fire environments on earth.

Core program functions span cooperative cross-boundary planning and project design, landowner engagement and technical assistance, project preparation and layout, and project implementation (accomplished both with our own crews and aligned private contractors). Along with core forestry and fuels management functions, the program also encompasses botany and wildlife divisions, and works in close coordination with our Watershed Stewardship and Fire Management Programs to accomplish complex resource benefit objectives at the project and landscape scales. Our growing program team comprises a combination of year-round professional staff, field crew managers, and seasonal technical and labor crews planning and implementing across a complex suite of dozens of projects annually. The program has a mix of grants and agreements with Federal Land Management agencies and the various entities under the State of California.

 Job Summary 
The Assistant Program Director is a new position and is responsible for working collaboratively with the Program Director to support the successful operations of the Forestry and Fuels Program. The new position plays a key leadership role in the Forestry and Fuels Program, supporting strategic oversight, operational effectiveness, and programmatic impact across the program and four divisions. This role is responsible for ensuring operational excellence, staff support, and successful project implementation across the program. Final duties will require discussion with the program director and the successful candidate.  
 
This position ensures the successful implementation of approximately 50 projects annually, supports and supervises division leads, and contributes to program development and staff training and capacity building. The Assistant Director acts on behalf of the Program Director when delegated and ensures coordination, accountability, and continuous improvement across the program and with other organizational units. The Assistant Director represents the organization and program as needed in both internal and external settings. This role reports to Forestry and Fuels Program Director, Randi Paris.

 Job Duties and Core Responsibilities  

Project and Program Oversight (~50% FTE) 

● Monitor the progress and performance of ~50 active projects in the program area, ensuring alignment with program goals, timelines, budgets, and compliance requirements and identifying and addressing challenges proactively 
● Coordinate with funders and internal administrative staff to support grant and agreement management, compliance and documentation 
● Ensure alignment of projects with programmatic and organizational goals, environmental standards, and funding requirements 
● Facilitate cross-division and cross-organizational coordination on shared projects and priorities to improve integration, communication, and project delivery 
● Support data collection, reporting, and adaptive management practices to improve program impact and efficiency 

Staff Leadership, Division Coordination and Supervision (~30% FTE) 

● Supervise and support Division Leads, providing coaching, performance feedback, and staff development and training 
● Serve as a thought partner and operational ally to Division Leads, helping troubleshoot complex issues, manage team dynamics, and ensure resources are allocated effectively 
● Facilitate regular check-ins and coordination among field staff, the safety and fleet officer, and other organizational staff as appropriate 
● Help manage seasonal staffing plans, seasonal hiring processes, onboarding, training, and management strategies in collaboration with HR and operations teams 
● Foster a positive, inclusive, accountable and safety-conscious team culture across year-round and seasonal teams 
● Facilitate coordination between divisions on strategic priorities, shared staffing, and cross-cutting initiatives 
● Lead or co-lead program staff meetings and coordination

Program Development, Leadership and Strategic Planning (~20% FTE) 

● Partner with the Program Director to design and implement strategic priorities and goals for the program 
● Contribute to program strategy and sustainability by identifying opportunities, partnerships, and funding sources in collaboration with the Program Director and appropriate organization staff 
● Contribute to proposal writing, budgeting, and project design for new and continuing initiatives 
● Support internal coordination and strategy across divisions and other program teams 
● Represent the program in meetings with partners, funders, and community stakeholders as needed 

Required Qualifications, Skills and Competencies 

● At least 5 years of experience in natural resource management, forestry, or conservation, including staff and project supervision 
● At least 3 years of experience managing seasonal workforces and field-based programs 
● At least 3 years of experience managing forest restoration, fuels management, and/or other natural resources conservation projects 
● Experience working with tribal, federal, or state agency partners 
● Excellent leadership, communication, problem solving and interpersonal skills 
● Demonstrated collaborative management style 
● Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to manage diverse teams and priorities 

Preferred Qualifications, Skills and Competencies 

● 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in forest management, conservation, or natural resources management, including project and staff management 
● Demonstrated experience managing complex projects and teams across multiple locations, subject areas, and land ownerships 
● Experience using project management tools, budgeting, and producing required funder reporting 
● GIS skills 
● Degree in natural resource management or related field 

Work Environment and Additional Requirements 

● This role is primarily remote, with an option for hybrid office/remote work for candidates in Trinity County, CA. Candidates willing to reside in Trinity County are preferred, but candidates in Shasta, Siskiyou, and Humboldt County will also be considered. 
● This position requires travel to field sites, partner offices, and collaborative meetings (~15 %) 
● Physical ability to participate in field visits in remote locations across Trinity and adjacent Counties and ability to sit, use a computer and interact via online platforms required. 
● The work schedule is flexible, but may require occasional long days due to field visits and occasional team meetings in person. 

Compensation and Benefits 

● This position has a starting wage range of $40.06 to $45.06 
● Benefits include employer paid health, vision and dental insurance, retirements plan, paid time off, 12 paid holidays, and cell phone stipend