Restoration Program Manager

(Full-time, Exempt)

Position Summary

The Santa Lucia Conservancy (Conservancy) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust founded in 1995 to protect and steward in perpetuity the natural, cultural, and aesthetic resources of the Santa Lucia Preserve (Preserve) and serve as a model of ecologically sustainable development to communities outside of the Preserve. Through adaptive land management, conservation easement stewardship, ecological research, and environmental education, the Conservancy owns and co-manages through conservation easements 90% or 18,000 acres of the 20,000-acre Preserve. Located in Carmel Valley, CA, the organization also partners with academic and environmental institutions to advance land management practices and deepen understanding of local ecosystems and their relationship to human communities.

The Restoration Program Manager is a senior member of the Ecological Management Department and provides strategic and operational leadership for the Conservancy’s Restoration Program, overseeing habitat and fuels management, prescribed fire, and post-fire recovery. The role is supported by and contributes to adaptive, habitat-based management plans; supervises staff, contractors, and seasonal crews; and manages program budgets, grants, and reporting with partners such as NRCS, CAL FIRE, NOAA, and the California Coastal Conservancy. They also ensure regulatory compliance, maintain accurate data and recordkeeping, and help identify and secure funding through grant development and administration. This position reports to the Associate Director of Ecological Management and serves as essential staff during emergencies or urgent field conditions.

Primary Responsibilities

50% Plan and Manage Restoration Program

Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for the Restoration Program, ensuring that goals, activities, funding, and resources are effectively planned, coordinated, and executed.

• Oversee program budgets, contracts, grant agreements, and reporting requirements with agency partners (e.g., NRCS EQIP, CAL FIRE, NOAA, California Coastal Conservancy).
• Identify management needs and develops habitat-based plans to promote biodiversity, reintroduce ecological disturbance, and support natural ecosystem function.
• Lead the prescribed fire program and post-fire recovery in collaboration with the Ecological Management Department.
• Plan and manages habitat and fuel management efforts in partnership with program staff.
• Ensure accurate data collection, herbicide recordkeeping, and compliance with DPR and County requirements.
• Identify and pursue funding opportunities; contribute to grant development, writing, and administration to support program and organizational goals.

35% Supervise and Conduct Restoration Activities in the Field

Supervise seasonal staff, interns, volunteers, and contractors, and personally conduct habitat and fuel management activities throughout the year to deliver high-quality program outcomes:

• Perform invasive species and brush management practices through a variety of manual, mechanical, and chemical
• Execute seeding and planting treatments for habitat health.
• Execute pile burns and prescribed fires for habitat health and woody debris removal.
• Use hand tools, mowers, chainsaws, and herbicides for invasive species and brush management.
• Maintain tools, materials, and
• Enact safety procedures and maintain personal and crew safety.

10% Support Openland Stewardship

Support landowners with voluntary habitat and fuel management projects by providing guidance on native planting, invasive species management, wildlife monitoring tools, and coordinating with Conservancy staff for larger-scale vegetation, fuel, and habitat management initiatives.

• Provide field-based guidance on native plantings, seeding, and installation of wildlife-supporting features (e.g., owl boxes, raptor perches, plant cages).
• Assist landowners in identifying invasive species and applying appropriate small-scale removal or spot-mowing techniques.

5% Administrative duties

• Maintain Restoration “Fleet” (Ford Ranger, Toyota Tundra, chainsaws, DR Mower, New Holland Tractor, Diesel Kubota).
• Proactively manage risk.

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in ecology, botany, environmental science, biology, or a related field with a focus on conservation and ecological restoration
• A minimum of 4 years’ experience in ecological restoration or a closely related
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage contractors, employees, interns, and/or volunteers in performing tasks with a minimum of at least two years’
• Strong social and interpersonal skills including the ability to resolve and mediate conflict and maintain good working relationships with coworkers, volunteers, and members of the community.
• Highly proficient with ArcGIS Pro
• Knowledge of central California biodiversity, threats, and best management
• Experience implementing land management and ecological restoration
• Able to follow directions accurately, timely and completely with minimal
• Safe and responsible conduct in field and office environments, including herbicide use and use of vehicle and power equipment such as chainsaws, sprayer, tractor, hooking up and towing a trailer, loading heavy equipment,
• Competency in field-based data collection/mapping with aptitude for learning new systems, software, and
• Must hold a valid California driver’s license with a clean
• Must either hold a valid California Qualified Applicator Certificate/Qualified Applicator License or be able to obtain one within 30 days of
• An Incident Qualifications Card (Red Card) certification is highly
• Fluent spoken and written English

Working Conditions/Physical Effort

• Significant field work, occasional highly physical work and/or adverse working conditions in remote locations, long hours during peak field season(s), weekend work from time to
• Driving and hiking in uneven terrain and working comfortably for extended periods in rugged outdoor conditions, including occasionally lifting and carrying at least 40 pounds are required.
• Capacity to handle complex tasks under pressure and under time
• Ability to work in variable weather conditions, remote locations and often in physically demanding
• Valid driver’s license, safe driving record and current insurance. A company vehicle will be available for work

Compensation

The annual salary for this position starts at $85,000. Santa Lucia Conservancy offers a competitive benefit package including health, dental, vision, FSA, and life insurance, a 401(k) with up to a 6% employer match, 12 paid holidays, vacation, and paid sick leave.