Wildfire Prevention Project Manager – FULL TIME

This position will touch many areas of work the FireSafe Council performs, including (but not limited to) grant writing and grant management, Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) management, Firewise USA, Hazardous Fuel Reduction (HFR) and vegetation management projects, Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) assessments, and other cost-share programs offered through various contracts including County Fire, the City of Saratoga, and the Saratoga Fire District.

The Project Manager will also support Senior Project Managers for large projects such forest health and multi agency fuel break and escape route work. The Project Manager will work under direct supervision of the Program Director. The Project Manager will work collaboratively with our agency partners, professional tree contractors, and Santa Clara County FireSafe Council (SCCFSC) team members.

Responsibilities & Scope of Work:

Program Management

Manage programs county-wide that support resident defensible space work in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) area of Santa Clara County. Work directly with the Program Director to identify qualifying residents, budget, and program deliverables. Assist with project reporting and planning.

Programs include:

  • Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) Assessment Program
    • Meet with residents and assess their defensible space (this is an education program)
    • Provide residents with follow up report and support materials
    • Manage incoming requests and HIZ assessment records
  • Neighborhood Chipping Program
    • Manage project and registrations using Fire Aside Chipper Day program
    • Work with the Program Director to budget and prepare/map efficient routes to multiple properties from a spreadsheet
    • Survey & inspect chipping piles prepared by residents
    • Measure, photograph, tag and document on site data in the field
    • Calculate quantities, prepare bid packages, gather quotes and submittal
    • Submit PO requests
    • Schedule contractor crews
    • Answer resident e-mails and calls
    • Complete after project paperwork and final report
  • Special Needs Assistance Program
    • Answer requests for the cost share program and work with qualified residents and contractors to complete defensible space projects
  • Saratoga Dead Tree Program
    • Answer requests and work with residents to answer questions, collect required documentation, and process reimbursement requests
  • County Fire Fuel Reduction Program
    • Work closely with the Program Director and County Fire in identifying small HFR projects
    • Work with County Fire crews to manage projects

 

Project Management

Work with the Program Director on various community outreach and education (COE) projects. Also work with the Senior Project Managers on hazardous fuels reduction (HFR) to plan and coordinate forest health and large hazardous fuel reduction projects such as construction and maintenance of strategic fuel breaks and evacuation routes.

COE Project Management includes:

  • Assist the Program Director with CWPP project work
    • Planning
    • Partner outreach and coordination
  • Assist the Program Director with Firewise USA communities

 

HFR Project Management includes:

  • Review hazardous fuel reduction project parameters as defined in our funding agreements, community wildfire protection plan, and new project proposals
  • Evaluate site conditions
  • Assist with biologic reviews in cooperation with our agency partners
  • Develop pre-project treatment plans and maps in cooperation with the Senior Project Manager
  • Write bid requests and evaluate proposals
  • Select contractors or specify conservation crews as appropriate
  • Schedule vegetation treatment, monitor work and guide crew supervisors
  • Ensure compliance with prescribed treatments, safety protocols, environmental mitigation measures and other project elements
  • Keep project timelines and budgets proceeding for deadline completion
  • Prepare post-project reports
  • Update of written Standard Operating Procedures and documentation processes
  • For large scale projects, work with Senior Project Managers to develop bid requests, select contractors, process purchase orders and invoices, and follow up after project completion
  • Conducting site visits as requested to residential homes, public and private roads, private property lots. Many are contained in public and private watersheds and near open space preserves. Project sites vary from high-income hillside gated residences to remote canyons and ridges with dirt roads leading to small cabins.
  • Keep accurate records and be able to communicate effectively with other members of the team
  • Compliance with Health and Safety policies including hazard identification
  • Use GIS or Google Earth to evaluate site concerns, develop efficient service routes and review project location and public and private parcel boundaries
  • Prepare post project reports for submission to Program Director including: collect and report project data (distance, area, and volume measurements of treatment locations; crew head counts and equipment verification, photo documentation, and GPS tracks to determine final project boundaries)
  • Resident outreach and communication

 

Grant Writing and Reporting includes:

  • Under the supervision of the CEO, assist the Program Director in researching and writing grant proposals
  • Submitting grant proposals by deadline
  • Maintaining organized files
  • Pre award and post award work
  • Coordinate with Project Managers and the Bookkeeper to prepare and submit grant reports
  • Create and submit advance requests when needed
  • Create and submit invoices when needed
  • Create and submit budget modifications when needed
  • Communicate with funders when we need assistance or they have questions
  • Close out grants when expired

 

Education:

The Project Manager position requires minimum education at the level of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, five years or greater work experience in vegetation management in the field and entry level supervisory responsibility of three to fifteen persons. Additional education and/or training in fire science, wildland firefighting, environmental studies, arboriculture, forestry, landscape construction, project management, and communications or other related fields is helpful.

 

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

NFPA Assessing Wildfire Hazards in the Home Ignition Zone certificate (can be accomplished on the job), Proof of Valid Driver’s License, access to reliable all-weather vehicle, proof of current auto insurance.

Reliable personal transportation is essential for field work moving between job sites.

 

Desired Qualifications:

Candidates who bring a range of natural resource management skills, landscaping, forestry or arborist training, wildland firefighting, leadership and project management, and other related skills are desired. Knowledge in the following areas is desired, although training will be provided for candidates who meet most qualifications, but lack experience in other areas.

  • Hazardous fuel reduction project planning and implementation
  • Wildland fire behavior; defensible space inspection
  • Tree removal, pruning, and brush removal; arboriculture
  • Managing operations on roadways using traffic control
  • Understanding of CEQA process and document preparation
  • Forest management; forestry; silviculture
  • Habitat restoration; landscaping
  • Identify native and non-native trees and plants
  • Program management
  • Project management
  • Public relations
  • Teamwork and leadership skills
  • Project site mapping and ownership/jurisdiction identification
  • Cartography and project graphics production for public outreach
  • GIS skills in Google Earth and ESRI ArcGIS
  • Biological assessments and monitoring
  • Grant writing and management
  • Knowledge of Firewise USA
  • Knowledge of CWPPs

 

Functional Capacities:

The following functional capacities are required to perform the duties outlined above.

The ability to:

  • comprehend technical information and complex written materials
  • remember information and track progress of work
  • analyze, plan, organize and solve complicated problems
  • interpret topographic and other maps and remain oriented in off-trail environments
  • see and read printed material, and media displayed on a computer monitor or handheld device including text and images
  • see details at a distance in the landscape and perceive movement in the periphery
  • hear and gather information on the telephone, in person, in a group setting, and outdoors in wind and adverse conditions
  • speaking, including public speaking
  • communicate in writing, orally, and with hand signals in loud environments
  • manipulate items such as pens, markers, paper and flagging tape, camera, GPS and cell phone, computer, printer and other office equipment
  • lift and carry up to 40 pounds
  • climb, descend, and traverse natural slopes up to 100% grade.

 

Additional Information

Project Manager is a 30 – 40 hour per week, non-exempt position with supervisory responsibilities. Since some work is seasonal, there will be times of less activity. Compensation range is between $35 and $45 per hour, depending on experience. Approximately 50% of the Project Manager’s effort will be field based, with computer, phone, and collaborator meetings comprising the balance of the workload. Reliable personal transportation is essential for field work moving between job sites.

Work schedules will be coordinated with others; however the Project Manager will usually set their own hours based on field work and project schedules. Most projects only take place on weekdays. This position is grant funded. Retention of all FireSafe Council staff is dependent on program funding.

 

To Submit Your Application

To apply, send a cover letter and resume by March 31, 2024 to our Program Director, Amanda Brenner Cannon, at info@sccfiresafe.org.

 

Non-Discrimination Policy

The SCCFSC is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants. In accordance with Federal law and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and SCCFSC policy, we prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, age, genetic information, medical condition, mental or physical disability, sex, gender identity, gender expression, gender transitioning, religion, military and veteran status, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, if all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or any other status or condition protected by Federal, State and local laws.

To file a complaint of discrimination: write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C, 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD).