Senior Forestry and Fire Protection Planning Manager

Dudek • Portland, OR

104d • $115,000 - $135,000 • Remote

About The Position

Dudek's journey began in 1980 with a vision to serve Southern California's water and wastewater agencies. Today, we are a 100% employee-owned firm supporting clients nationwide and delivering projects that improve and protect the built and natural environments of communities throughout the United States. Our work has been recognized by leading industry organizations, and we've been honored with multiple national Top Workplace Awards. Our employee-owners are unified by a singular commitment to supporting projects that address key societal issues, such as the transition to renewable energy, infrastructure hardening and repair, environmental protection, and community resilience. Dudek is seeking a Senior Forestry and Fire Protection Planning Manager to support the growth of our natural resources team in the Pacific Northwest. The successful candidate will possess a well-established network within the region and contribute to the development and diversity of our natural resource services.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in forestry, natural resources, environmental science, or a related field.
• 12 years' experience in arboriculture, urban forestry, fuels planning, wildfire mitigation, and/or hazard tree and vegetation risk assessment within the Pacific Northwest.
• Certification as an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist with Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ).
• Additional qualifications include writing skills, project management and client development experience, as well as experience with GIS, GPS, regional plant/tree identification, and arboricultural and vegetation management practices.
• Knowledge of developing urban forest management plans is important, including familiarity with data sources, urban forest sustainability principles, climate change research, tree maintenance practices, ISA standards, and financing.
• Twelve or more years of experience in one or more of the following areas: forestry planning (such as silvicultural prescriptions), fuels treatment planning or prioritization, wildfire mitigation or post-fire recovery, or hazard tree/vegetation risk assessments.
• Proficiency with FVS, FlamMap, or similar modeling tools (e.g., BehavePlus, FARSITE) is preferred.
• Familiarity with Pacific Northwest forest types or comparable fire-adapted ecosystems is beneficial.
• A valid driver's license and active personal automobile liability insurance are required by the first day of employment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working for or with USFS, BLM, NRCS, state forestry agencies, tribal governments, or local fire districts.
• Experience supporting municipal permitting processes related to utility infrastructure fire safety is a plus.
• Familiarity with Fire Protection Plan (FPP) preparation and relevant fire safety codes (e.g., International Fire Code, NFPA 855) for infrastructure projects such as Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
• Experience with ROW vegetation clearance, IVM strategies, or utility wildfire mitigation plans.

Responsibilities

• Builds strong relationships with clients, including key decision makers and agency representatives working to proactively identify and pursue new business prospects.
• Coordinates and facilitates client, partner, and regulatory agency meetings where Dudek work products are presented and reviewed.
• Cross-sells other disciplines within the company and actively seeks opportunities for collaboration.
• Leads proposals for projects of varying complexity, scopes of work, budgets, and bids for new projects.
• Actively engages in the professional community, including attending and speaking at industry conferences and training sessions.
• Draft chapters for urban forest management plans, encompassing best practices, municipal budgeting, work performance metrics, tree inventory sustainability assessments, canopy cover study applications, community engagement strategies, as well as ordinances and policies.
• Oversee projects from initiation through completion, ensuring timely execution and optimal efficiency.
• Conduct thorough individual tree evaluations and risk assessments; utilize tablets, field computers, and GPS units for data collection in the field.
• Produce arborist and technical reports on tree and urban forest management, including written recommendations for tree management.
• Offer expert consultation and guidance to clients regarding tree care, preservation, and management strategies.
• Perform individual tree evaluations and risk assessments with precision.
• Present research findings to decision makers, project teams, and industry groups.
• Remain current with advancements in industry methods, techniques, and best practices.
• Lead or support the development of Silvicultural Analyses, Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs), Fuels Assessments, or Vegetation Management Plans, according to expertise.
• Utilize FVS, FlamMap, or similar vegetation/fire behavior modeling tools to inform treatment planning and prioritize risk assessments.
• Conduct or supervise hazard tree identification, post-fire risk evaluations, or vegetation risk reduction efforts across utility corridors, roadways, or public lands.
• Author or contribute to wildfire and forestry sections for NEPA documentation, as part of multidisciplinary project teams.

Benefits

• $115,000-$135,000 annually*
• Final agreed-upon compensation will be based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, an individual's related experience, education, certifications, skills, and work location.

What This Job Offers

• Industry: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree