Nurturing Forests. Empowering Communities. Lead Forestry Projects in Colorado.

The Colorado State Forest Service is hiring two Lead Project Foresters to provide technical leadership and operational oversight for forestry programs and projects that support forest health, wildfire mitigation, and resilient landscapes across Colorado.

There are two separate positions available:

State Forest Gould, CO
Apply here: https://csusystem.wd12.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/fortcollins_careers/job/Lead-Project-Forester_R2026106515

Durango, CO
Apply here: https://csusystem.wd12.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/fortcollins_careers/job/Lead-Project-Forester_R2026106404-1

Please note: These are two separate positions with separate application links. If you are interested in being considered for both locations, you must submit a separate application for each position.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the planning, prioritization, and implementation of forestry programs and projects, including forest stewardship, wildfire mitigation, Good Neighbor Authority (GNA), Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs), and other forest health initiatives.
• Supervise and mentor Foresters, Forestry Technicians, seasonal employees, and interns.
• Manage project budgets, grants, contracts, and agreements while ensuring compliance with agency requirements.
• Support field office operations, annual work planning, and interagency coordination; serve as Acting Supervisory Forester when assigned.
• Build and maintain partnerships with private landowners, local governments, Tribal Nations, state and federal agencies, and community organizations.
• Provide technical oversight of silvicultural prescriptions, vegetation management projects, and forestry operations.
• Coordinate with other CSFS field offices to ensure consistent program delivery and efficient resource sharing.

What We’re Looking For

• Strong leadership, supervision, and team development skills.
• Experience managing complex forestry projects from planning through implementation.
• Demonstrated experience with budgeting, grants, contracts, and project management.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.
• Commitment to safety, customer service, and science-based forest management.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Forestry, Wildlife Biology/Management, Fire Ecology, or a related natural resource field.
• Three (3) or more years of professional forestry experience in areas such as forest ecology, silviculture, forest management or planning, watershed protection, wildfire mitigation, or fuels reduction.

Salary: $60,000–$65,000, based on experience

Why Choose Colorado State Forest Service?

We not only value our forests—we value our employees. Joining our team comes with incredible benefits:

• Identity Wear Stipend: Elevate your professional image with a stipend for personalized executive wear.
• Work-Life Harmony: Achieve optimal work-life integration through tailored and flexible scheduling options.
• Connectivity Privilege: Stay seamlessly connected with either a cell phone allowance or a provided work cell.
• Premium Healthcare Benefits: Prioritize your well-being with access to exclusive and comprehensive healthcare benefits.
• Time-Off: Recharge with 15 days of sick leave and 24 days of annual leave.
• Retirement Plan: Secure your financial future with a remarkable 12% employer contribution to your retirement plan.
• Employee Assistance Program: Access premium well-being resources through our Employee Assistance Program.
• Professional Development: Enhance your skills through personalized professional training opportunities facilitated by CSU.
• Educational Empowerment: Receive 9 hours of education credits annually through CSU.
• Tuition Privileges for Family: Secure your family's future with 50% off tuition for children, partner, and spouse.
• Community Leadership Initiative: Give back to your community with paid administrative leave dedicated to volunteering.