Fire Adapted Communities

The Forest Stewards Guild, a national organization of foresters and allied natural resource professionals, is dedicated to practicing and promoting values-based forestry. The Guild has 700 members, over half of whom are professionals who manage some of the best forests in the United States and Canada. The Guild maintains regional offices in New Mexico, Maine, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. 

The Forest Stewards Guild seeks a full-time Fire Adapted Communities (FAC) Program Manager based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, dedicated to managing the Fire Adapted Communities New Mexico learning network (FACNM) and other duties as assigned. In this position, the successful applicant will support peer-learning and professional relationship building for members of the statewide network through outreach, education, network resources, and engagement. Network members include community leaders (HOA, Firewise, etc.), fire service personnel, local government officials (municipal, county, Tribal), and land management agency officials. The goal of FACNM programming is to create and share best practices for various aspects of community wildfire adaptation. To accomplish this goal, FACNM provides networking opportunities; education and outreach through blog posts, webinars, website upkeep and creation, and in-person learning exchanges; mitigation and educational events through the FACNM microgrant program; and planning for the annual New Mexico Wildland Urban Fire Summit (WUFS). The work of FACNM is supported through a variety of grant funding and proposal identification and preparation will be a requirement of the position.  

Ideal candidates will possess a proven track record in coordinating educational programming and events, coupled with exceptional organizational and facilitation skills. They should demonstrate effective communication abilities and possess knowledge and experience in forestry, wildfire mitigation, or fostering fire-adapted communities. A personable and outgoing professional disposition, combined with strategic thinking capabilities, is essential for success in this role. As project needs emerge, the Program Manager will collaborate with staff and partners to apply known solutions (including information from the National Fire Adapted Learning Network and National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy) and devise innovative solutions that drive project outcomes forward. 

The FAC Program Manager will engage the Fire Adapted Communities New Mexico learning network (FACNM) to accelerate fire hazard mitigation and increase other aspects of community fire adaptation by establishing and sharing best practices.  

The FAC Program Manager will play a pivotal role in leading and developing the statewide FACNM network. Responsibilities include identifying and completing administrative duties for FACNM; convening FACNM members and leaders for bi-monthly connection calls, webinars, and in-person events; conducting extensive public education and outreach; and actively supporting FACNM members in their community fire adaptation efforts. Additionally, the Program Manager will manage budgets and ensure meticulous project tracking for the various grants and agreements that support the FACNM program. This position will be based at the Santa Fe, NM office.  

Among other duties as assigned, the successful individual will:  

Manage the Fire Adapted New Mexico learning network (FACNM): 

• Work to build and sustain the strength of FACNM through member and leader recruitment and onboarding.  
• Convene, prepare for, facilitate, and follow-up on topics that arise during bi-monthly connection calls for FACNM members and leaders. 
• Establish and maintain relationships with a diversity of project partners and funders in the region. 
• Lead and facilitate education and outreach activities for private landowners, community organizations, natural resource professionals, and the public. 
• ​​​​​​​Be the face and voice of the FACNM for news outlets and interface with the media. 
• ​​​​​​​Establish and maintain a peer-to-peer communication platform for FACNM members on Mighty Networks.   

Expand wildfire mitigation 

• Complete site visits to FACNM member and leader project areas.  
• ​​​​​​​Share best practices with members and leaders to support their wildfire mitigation treatments on the ground.  
• ​​​​​​​Outreach to landowners across New Mexico about available mitigation opportunities. 
• ​​​​​​​Implement the FACNM microgrant program to support members and leaders in mitigation work and wildfire awareness events. 
• ​​​​​​​Connect FACNM members and affiliates with additional funding and implementation opportunities through the Community Wildfire Defense Grant program, Community Navigators program, or other resources. 

Support Forest Stewards Guild work  

• Maintain and grow partnerships for FACNM and affiliated programs. 
• ​​​​​​​As needed and desired, support Guild prescribed fire operations.  
• ​​​​​​​Assist with supporting the goals and objectives of the Greater Santa Fe Fireshed Coalition. 
• ​​​​​​​Represent the Guild at professional conferences or events and perform public speaking, such as PowerPoint presentations or panel discussions, to share project goals, deliverables, or monitoring metrics.  
• ​​​​​​​Collaborate as a team using software such as Asana, Slack, SharePoint, and Microsoft Teams.  
• ​​​​​​​Track budgets, in-kind match, metrics, and deliverables for projects.  
• ​​​​​​​Perform grant writing, administration, and reporting to a variety of different funders, including private foundations and government grants.   
• ​​​​​​​Other duties as assigned to support the Forest Steward’s Guild mission in the Southwest.  

Minimum Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s degree in science communication, forestry, environmental science, natural resource management or other applicable field, or five years equivalent experience of professional work.  
• Strong experience in partnership building and collaborating with multiple diverse partners, stakeholders, and funders.  
• ​​​​​​​Experience with program development and management. 
• ​​​​​​​Clear verbal and written communication skills.  
• Ability to work both independently and with a team.  
• Leadership skills and self-direction.  
• Strong organizational skills.   
• ​​​​​​​Effective knowledge of common software applications.  
• ​​​​​​​Experience related to wildfire preparedness or mitigation.  
• ​​​​​​​Valid driver’s license.  

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Experience disseminating scientific and complex project information to the public.   
• Experience working for or with nonprofit organizations. 
• Experience writing grant proposals and grant administration, including experience managing, tracking, and leveraging multiple budgets. 
• Forestry and/or ecological knowledge or experience in southwest ecosystems.  
• Knowledge of or experience regarding home hazard and urban fire conflagration mitigation. 
• Experience with implementing or contracting forestry or wildfire mitigation treatments.   
• ​​​​​​​Experience with developing Fire Adapted Communities. 

Compensation and Benefits Package  

• $27.59 - $32.00 /hour depending on experience 
• Paid leave is accrued monthly from the first day of employment   
• 12 paid holidays per year   
• Employer-sponsored comprehensive health and dental care coverage is available after 30 days of continuous employment with the employee contribution at 20%    
• Short and long-term disability policies paid by the Guild after 60 days of employment   
• Accidental death/dismemberment and life insurance policies paid by The Guild after 60 days    
• Flexible compensation plan available after 60 days    
• Participation in a retirement plan with an employer match is available after 90 days 
• Family Leave after 12 months, including six weeks paid leave and six weeks unpaid leave 
• Paid sick leave    

Location  

This position is located at the Forest Stewards Guild’s office in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Hybrid or work-from-home will be considered on a case-by-case basis.  

How to apply  

Interested applicants should click “I’m Interested” to submit a one-page cover letter, resume, three professional references, and a writing sample. We will start reviewing applications on July 29th, 2024. We prefer all application materials to be combined into one PDF. After clicking “Next” on the initial application page, you will have another opportunity to upload more documents. Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you are having trouble submitting materials on Smart Recruiters, you may email materials to gabe at forestguild.org. 

DEADLINE: Open until filled

Contact Us:

Questions can be directed to Gabe Kohler: gabe (at) forestguild.org.  

We believe that a diverse workforce reflects the strengths of all members of our community. The Forest Stewards Guild strives to create a collaborative, supportive, and respectful setting for all employees and partners. To meet this goal, we recognize and celebrate the wide range of differences that characterize our members, employees, partners, and collaborators. Indeed, it is those differences that enhance our organization and help us to meet our mission and vision. The Guild values diverse forests because they are more productive, more resilient, more adaptable, and better able to recover from disturbances. Similarly, our community is healthier when we are inclusive of a diversity of people and perspectives. 

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) guidelines.