Southern Oregon Forest Restoration Project Manager

The Nature Conservancy•Ashland, OR

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Oregon is seeking a Southern Oregon Forest Restoration Project Manager to support priority forest restoration and conservation projects in the Rogue Basin of Southwest Oregon and the Upper Klamath Basin of Southcentral Oregon. This role collaborates with a range of key partners to advance ecologically based forest restoration projects and beneficial fire use. The program focuses on dry forest and fire science, on-the-ground demonstration projects, policy advocacy, and partnerships with Indigenous-led stewardship. This position contributes to TNC’s Western Dry Forests Program, aiming to restore forest resilience to wildfire and climate change. As part of the Resilient Forests and Communities (RFC) Strategy team, the Project Manager will report to the Forest Strategy Director. The preferred location is Ashland, Oregon, with a secondary option in Klamath Falls, Oregon. The role requires frequent travel within Southern Oregon and occasional out-of-state travel.

Requirements

BA or BS degree and 5 years’ experience in environmental science, ecology, conservation, natural resource management, forest or fire management, environmental law or policy, or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience leading complex, cross-organizational projects.
Experience communicating technical or scientific information with varied audiences in written, spoken, and graphical form.
Experience building partnerships and working collaboratively with varied teams and partner organizations, including Tribes, non-profit partners, government agencies, elected officials and/or community groups.
Training related to the histories, cultures, and sovereignty of Tribal nations.
Experience using common software applications including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and ArcGIS.
A valid driver's license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program.

Nice To Haves

Post-graduate degree and 2-3 years of experience in environmental science, conservation, natural resource management, forest or fire management, landscape or disturbance ecology, environmental law or policy, or related field.
Demonstrated understanding of the current science, policies, and practices guiding ecological restoration of dry forests in the interior Western U.S.
Experience working with Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities on natural and cultural resource management.
Experience working with community-based forest restoration partnerships, collaborative groups, or other cross-organizational natural resource management efforts.
Possesses strong interpersonal skills and political savvy.
Experience with contract development, administration, and oversight, particularly in the realm of implementing on-the-ground natural resource management and conservation projects.
Experience applying scientific and technical information to guide conservation decision making and on-the-ground activities.
Experience coordinating people and resources to complete projects on time and with attention to detail.
Ability to think critically, problem solve, and work through challenges on complex, multidisciplinary projects.
Experience with ecologically based wildland fire (prescribed fire and/or wildfire) management.
Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.

Responsibilities

Support and help execute the RFC strategy across Southern Oregon focused primarily on the Rogue and Upper Klamath Basins.
Advance the Oregon Dry Forests and Fire Program and the Western Dry Forests program in Oregon through ongoing local partnerships and projects.
Use strong project management skills to channel scientific and technical knowledge to advance dry forest restoration, including project scoping and planning, implementation oversight and contract administration, and monitoring plan design and oversight.
Apply sound financial management skills, including developing and managing budgets, identifying and securing varied funding, grant administration, and developing, negotiating, and overseeing contracts with vendors and restoration service providers.
Support identification and development of varied funding opportunities to support dry forest restoration activities.
Represent TNC externally, serving as a local liaison to a wide range of partner organizations.
Effectively communicate progress and outcomes to wide range of audiences to build cross-organizational support and foster collaboration.
Work both independently and as member of multidisciplinary teams.
Plan, convene, and lead meetings, workshops, trainings, field trips, community engagement and outreach events, and other forums in collaboration with partners to build shared understanding.