Southern California Project Coordinator

Description

National Forest Foundation (NFF) is pleased to offer an exempt, full-time, 2-Year term position that will support the Southern California Ignition Reduction Program (SCIRP), a public-private partnership of governmental agencies and their partners working together to reduce human-caused ignitions, primarily along roadsides.

About the NFF: As the official national partner to the US Forest Service (USFS), the National Forest Foundation was chartered by Congress in 1990. Today, the NFF advances forest resiliency, healthy watersheds and wildlife habitat, and recreation for all by working with communities and organizations across the country. The Foundation has grown significantly in the last few years in programmatic impact, revenue and support, and organizational capacity. NFF leads with impact, deploying roughly 90% of its expenses towards projects and programs across the country’s 193-million-acre National Forest System. NFF is forward-thinking and innovative, with ambitious strategies and goals to advance and prepare forests for a new economy.

Position Function: The Southern California Project Coordinator reports to the Southern California Program Director and will work closely with key members of SCIRP, including the USDA Forest Service, California Department of Conservation, California Department of Transportation, and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The Project Coordinator will support project development and implementation of roadside ignition projects; coordinate with federal, state, and private partners; and support fundraising efforts for projects. This position will work with their supervisor and key members of SCIRP to support project solicitation, project prioritization, and development of the 10-Year Project Portfolio and Master Plan.

Position Duties and Responsibilities: The Southern California Project Coordinator will:

• Work closely with the key SCIRP members and teams to develop project pipeline tools that will support project prioritization, planning, and implementation.
• Support development of the 10-Year Project Portfolio and Master Plan.
• Develop relationships and facilitate communication between SCIRP partners and project leads.
• Develop agendas, facilitate, and document takeaways for meetings among SCIRP partners and project leads.
• Coordinate with agency partners to complete environmental review, including coordinating associated activities and processes as needed.
• Coordinate and oversee site visits with SCIRP partners and project leads.
• Provide regular updates to the SCIRP Executive Committee and Core Team.
• Work with NFF staff and SCIRP members to secure funds from government sources, foundations, corporations, and individuals to support projects.
• Support preparation of progress and funding reports for federal, state, and local government funding sources as well as for philanthropic support from corporations, foundations, and individuals.
• Oversee the advertisement, negotiation, and award of contracts for services related to SCIRP projects.
• Maintain a breadth of knowledge about current trends, emerging issues, policy interventions, and innovations related to wildfire risk reduction and relevant land management policy and regulations.

Education and Qualifications: NFF expects the Southern California Project Coordinator to possess the following educational and experiential qualifications:

• Minimum of an undergraduate degree in natural resource management, biological sciences, environmental policy, or another related field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum of three (3) years’ experience in project management, government agency relations, or natural resource management.
• Familiarity with the US Forest Service, California Department of Conservation, California Department of Transportation, and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
• Knowledge of Southern California and Central Coast natural resource management and policy principles, practices, and concepts sufficient to perform the full range of activities connected with planning and coordinating natural resources projects.
• Knowledge of and experience in U.S. Forest Service and/or State of California land management policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Experience working effectively in collaborative efforts with individuals or groups that have a multitude of views.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Abilities and Skills: NFF expects the Southern California Project Coordinator to possess the following proven abilities and skills:

• Ability to work collaboratively to manage projects with multiple partners, including advanced communication skills and coordination and facilitation skills.
• Ability to represent the NFF in a clear and professional manner through excellent written and oral communication skills and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to effectively set priorities, manage timelines, and create workflows, while managing a variety of projects and tasks to successful completion.
• Ability to utilize a variety of document and data management platforms.
• Ability to work well and be flexible in a team-oriented environment.
• Self-driven and motivated to stay focused and productive in a fully remote work environment
• Must have valid U.S. driver’s license and clean driving record.
• Ability and willingness to travel when required to project sites in Southern California and Central Coast, as needed.
• Excellent analytical skills with a strong attention to detail.

Location: The location for this position is Southern California in a community near the Los Padres, Angeles, San Bernardino, or Cleveland National Forests. Applicants must be able to travel regularly throughout the Central Coast and Southern California. This position is a remote/work-from-home position and requires reliable internet access and a dedicated workspace.

Compensation: NFF offers a competitive compensation and benefits package that reflects our total rewards strategy. The salary range for this position is $75,000 with the ability to grow to $97,500 based on performance over time. Starting salary within this range is determined by a combination of experience, internal equity with comparable roles, and organizational budget, and is assessed annually as part of NFF's compensation review process.

Benefits: NFF is proud to offer our staff:

Health and Wellness:

• Medical and dental insurance paid at 75% by the organization for you and any dependents.
• Vision insurance paid 50% by the organization for you and any dependents.
• Health savings account (HSA) with employer contributions between $1,878-$3,750 per year, predicated on coverage type.
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSA).
• Employee assistance program (EAP) at no cost.

Financial Wellbeing:

• 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% employer match after one (1) year of service.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance at no cost.
• Basic life and AD&D insurance at no cost, with voluntary life insurance options.
• Whole life insurance at a discounted rate

Flexibility and time off:

• Employees start with 35 days of annual leave, sick leave, personal leave and holidays (annual leave accrual rates increase with years of service)
• Family & medical leave for up to sixteen (16) weeks with up to four (4) weeks paid.

Personal Development:

• Training & Development Programs
• Professional development reimbursement for up to $1,000 per year.

Journey of a Lifetime:

• The opportunity to support an incredible mission and travel to / work in spectacular locations.

To Apply: Applications must include both a cover letter and resume. Incomplete packages will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. This posting will close on October 30th, or earlier if filled. Please visit our careers site to apply online.

The National Forest Foundation is an equal opportunity employer – meaning we provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable law. Further, we prohibit discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, and termination. We strive to foster a work environment where every individual is respected, valued, and treated fairly. This statement reflects our unwavering dedication to fairness, respect, and equality in employment practices and sets the foundation for a positive work environment.