Job Summary 

The Senior Program Manager works directly with the Director of Conservation to design, implement and oversee reforestation and forest health programs in the local mountains or wildland areas, in direct cooperation with TreePeople's grantors, partners and contractors. Projects include post-fire activities, such as: hazard tree removal, site preparation, fuels modification and reduction, non-commercial thinning, reforestation, release and maintenance as well as other work to improve forest health.  TreePeople works with federal government agencies, non-profit conservation organizations, conservancies and RCDs, as well as state and local government agencies and private landowners, tribes and various contractors.  

The Senior Program Manager will also oversee qualitative and quantitative assessments into Forest Stewardship Plans, silviculture plans. They will be responsible for overseeing forest management on various projects under TreePeople management, assist in planning focused activities, and other tasks assigned by the Director of Conservation. 

Essential Job Responsibilities 

• Manage various  programs to effectively implement restoration efforts on mixed conifer montane forests in Southern California mountains.
• Prepare, administer and monitor contracts for reforestation activities including site preparation, tree planting, maintenance activities and non-commercial thinning and/or fire hazard reduction operations.
• Assist in project planning and permitting which will include coordination with outside consultants and regulating agencies to ensure compliance.
• Develop scopes of work, requests for proposal, reviews and evaluations of contractors.
• Inspect and monitor projects to evaluate field performance and recommend appropriate corrective actions as necessary.
• Visit sites and assess forest health, insect and disease issues, wildfire hazards, and other resource concerns.
• Maintain documentation, and district database, of project activities.
• Responsible for day-to-day communications with contractors, partners and applicable government regulators to ensure desired outcomes of assigned projects.  

The Ideal candidate has the following qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry or equivalent (Natural Resources or closely related field).
• 3+ years field experience in the Western US, Southern California preferred.
• CA state-licensed Registered Professional Forester (RPF) preferred
• Strong knowledge of western US tree species, silviculture, wildfire behavior, risk, and mitigation strategies, biology, ecology, natural resource management and wildlife habitat conservation and improvement opportunities.  
• Familiarity with California Forest Practice rules, including Riparian, Wetland, and Channel Migration Management Zone (RMZ, WMZ, CMZ), unstable slope identification, forest road BMPs.
• Knowledge of California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) laws related to the use of herbicides is preferred.
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, ArcGIS Pro, Field Maps and Google suite.
• Valid driver’s license and good driving record, with ability to safely operate four-wheel drive vehicles on steep and narrow mountain roads and to navigate using map and compass or GPS.
• Highly self-motivated and able to work without consistent direct supervision.
• Soft skills: Excellent written and oral communication, teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability, attention to detail, time management, decision-making and the ability to translate communications into appropriate action.
• Ability to manage multiple projects under strict time constraints, to multi-task and prioritize in a fast-paced work environment.
• Ability and desire to work with a diversity of people including local, state, federal, and non-governmental resource professionals, non-profits, industry professionals and other community representatives, volunteers and citizens.
• Spanish language fluency is a plus.

Additional Requirements

• Working knowledge of forestry skills including the use of tools used in site preparation, fuel modifications, and other duties that pertain to forest management. 
• Office and remote field environments. Utilization of various means of transportation, potentially including 4x4 pickup trucks and stakebeds. Required to drive, ride or walk through rough terrain in difficult weather conditions, in daylight and dark, in wet and dry environments. Involves working long periods of time outdoors, sometimes alone, including adverse weather conditions. 
• Exposure to loud noise, extreme temperatures, fumes or air borne particles, outdoor weather conditions, and inclement weather. Exposure to heavy equipment operations. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to drive, walk, stand, talk, and listen. The employee is frequently required to bend, stoop, reach with hands and arms, lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.  
• Potential travel and ability to function as a team member on large projects throughout the Southern California region. Overnight travel is required on some projects. Overnight trips are typically 2-3 days in length and occur up to once or twice per month, up to 8x per year depending on project needs.

Work Environment 

This role balances office work with remote field assignments. Fieldwork often involves solo ventures into remote forest lands accessed by private unimproved roads, necessitating off-road driving skills. Expect extended periods outdoors, including adverse weather conditions like summer heat and extreme cold. Travel to wildland areas across Southern California is required, potentially involving out-of-town and overnight stays to projects in all four Southern California National Forests (Los Padres, Angeles, San Bernardino, Cleveland and other forested state, local or private land in the region (expenses covered).