Under the supervision of the Supervisory Forester, the Lead Project Forester will lead and manage complex projects/programs, falling within one or more of the following program areas:

• Community Wildfire Protection Plans and wildfire hazard mitigation
• Forest agriculture
• Forest stewardship planning
• Good Neighbor Agreements
• Outreach and engagement programs
• Collaboratives and Partnerships

The Lead Project Forester may perform some, or all, of the following: project budget management, program oversight, personnel direction, grant and agreement development and implementation. The Lead Project Forester coordinates program delivery with program staff and will serve as the primary contact point for local officials and key CSFS partners within their assigned project/program area(s), under the supervision and mentoring of the Supervisory Forester.

The Lead Project Forester will lead Area work teams associated with complex programs, train and mentor Field Office or Area foresters, develop and manage program and project budgets, provide input to Area strategic work plans, cultivate emerging issues and opportunities, serve as the acting Supervisory Forester as needed, and support all Area operations. The Lead Project Forester must have a thorough knowledge of overall Field Office and Area operations, local collaboratives and partnerships, silviculture, best management practices, insect and disease identification and management, wildfire mitigation and community protection, timber harvest operations, contract development and administration, and will be a local Subject Matter Expert on their assigned complex projects/programs.