Forestry Specialist (RPF or RPF-Track)

Napa County Resource Conservation District • Napa, CA

6d • $93,766 - $111,946 • Onsite

About The Position

Napa County Resource Conservation District (Napa RCD) is seeking a qualified Forestry Specialist to lead the technical planning, implementation, and project management of projects that improve forest health and wildfire resilience in Napa County. This position requires demonstrated expertise in applied forestry — specifically silviculture, forest stand management, and forest practice — and carries professional-level responsibility for landowner technical assistance, project oversight, regulatory compliance, and community education. Working closely with the Forest Health & Restoration Program Director, this position ensures that projects are planned in accordance with forestry best practices, comply with the California Forest Practice Act and applicable regulations, and achieve measurable outcomes for forest ecosystem resilience. This position also serves as a primary point of contact for landowners, partners, agencies, and community stakeholders, and represents Napa RCD at meetings, workshops, and public events. Note on Candidate Pool: This role requires a background specifically in forestry, silviculture, or forest management. Candidates with experience primarily in wildlife biology, environmental planning, wetlands, general conservation, or other natural resource fields without direct forestry or forest stand management experience are unlikely to meet the minimum qualifications for this position.

Requirements

• Possession of a valid California Registered Professional Forester (RPF) license issued by the California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection; and Four or more years of experience performing applied forestry work, which must include at least one of the following: silvicultural treatment planning, timber harvest operations or planning (THP/NTMP/NTMP-SYP), forest stand inventory and mensuration, reforestation, forest pest and disease management, prescribed fire planning, or range and watershed management with a direct forestry component.
• Demonstrated active pursuit of RPF licensure, possession of an authorized letter from the California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to sit for the RPF examination, documented eligibility to apply for that authorization (qualifying degree plus required experience hours), or commitment to pursue.
• Two or more years of progressively responsible forestry experience in one or more of the following: forest stand management, silviculture, timber harvest planning or operations, reforestation, forest pest control, pre-fire engineering or fuels management, or California forest practice regulation; and
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent coursework) in forestry, silviculture, or forest management — or a closely related field with substantial forestry coursework (e.g., forest ecology, forest resources management)
• Valid driver’s license with a good driving record
• Strong proficiency in written and spoken English
• Ability to successfully complete a background check

Nice To Haves

• Experience primarily in wildlife biology, environmental planning, wetlands, general conservation, or other natural resource fields without direct forestry or forest stand management experience are unlikely to meet the minimum qualifications for this position.

Responsibilities

• Design, manage, and implement on-the-ground forestry projects aimed at enhancing forest health and wildfire resilience. Key activities will include prescription development, project implementation, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and budget tracking.
• Provide technical assistance to landowners and land managers on forest stand management, including reforestation, fuels management, pest and disease management, and timber harvesting in accordance with the California Forest Practice Act. Assist landowners in developing Forest Management Plans (FMPs), Timber Harvest Plans (THPs), and Nonindustrial Timber Management Plans (NTMPs), and navigating financial assistance programs.
• Oversee field-based activities and community education efforts, ensuring compliance with safety standards, permitting requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Serve as subject matter expert and as a primary liaison with landowners, community partners, public agencies, consultants, and contractors.
• Apply strong forestry and ecological expertise, including GIS, forest inventory and forest management best practices, to advance equitable, effective, and science-based conservation outcomes.
• Support fund development by identifying funding opportunities and contributing to grant proposals, funding requests, and fee-for-service program development within the forestry program area.
• Represent Napa RCD and its programming at community meetings and events.
• Coordinate across Napa RCD teams to integrate forest health and wildfire resilience efforts into broader organizational programs.

Benefits

• paid holiday, sick, and vacation leave
• CalPERS retirement benefits
• fully employer-paid health, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance plans
• cell phone stipend
• access to a voluntary deferred compensation program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior