Community Wildfire & Forest Health Coordinator

Washington, DC, United States

Community Wildfire & Forest Health Coordinator (Environmental Planner 3) Monday - Friday | 8am – 4:30pm | HYBRID

NOTE:

The Hiring Team may make a hiring decision at any time, and the first review of candidates will be on 4/10/14. It is within your best interest to apply for this position at your earliest convenience. Additionally, this position will operate in a hybrid/remote setting, with the expectation of being able to come into the office as needed. This position has the ability to work from anywhere within Washington State.

Who we are:

The Washington State Conservation Commission (SCC) is a non-regulatory state agency that supports and coordinates our state’s 45 conservation districts and administers voluntary conservation programs. Together, the SCC and conservation districts provide incentive-based services that empower people across Washington to take actions that keep natural resources and working lands healthy for all.

What you will be doing:

As a Community Wildfire & Forest Health Coordinator, you will be integral to the Conservation Commission's efforts in delivering crucial programs and support, particularly in Forest Health and Community Wildfire Resiliency. Your role will involve close collaboration with Conservation Districts and various agencies to manage the SCC Forest Health and Community Wildfire Grant program effectively. This includes providing expert guidance, coordinating closely with partners like the Washington State DNR, and representing the SCC and CDs on important committees. Additionally, you will play a vital role in budgeting, project tracking, and reporting on fund utilization. Effective communication will be key, both internally and externally, as you navigate complex issues and contribute to decision-making processes. With the health of our forests and community resilience at the forefront, your expertise will shape impactful recommendations and strategies to address dynamic challenges in forest and wildfire management.   Some of the duties include:

Manage SCC Forest Health and Community Wildfire Resiliency grant program comprehensively, including budgeting, grant evaluation, guideline development, troubleshooting, tracking, and reporting.

Act as the primary liaison for pass-through funds, such as DNR funds, for Forest Health and Community Wildfire initiatives.

Serve as the subject matter expert for forest health and community wildfire within SCC.

Lead the development of budget requests supporting forest health, community wildfire, and post-fire forest recovery projects.

Represent SCC as the point of contact for the multi-agency MOU concerning programs and services for non-industrial private forest landowners in Washington State.

Act as SCC's primary liaison for various committees and working groups, including Forest Health Advisory Committee (FHAC), Washington Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network (WAFAC), and Washington Prescribed Fire Council (WPFC).

Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

To qualify for this role, a candidate must possess one (1) of the following education and/or experience options:

[OPTION 1] Bachelor’s degree involving major study in forestry, natural resource planning, agriculture, risk management, public administration, or a related field

Four (4) years of experience in at least two (2) of the following areas: Forestry, wildfire prevention and management, community resilience, fire adapted communities, or natural resources management

Strategic communications regarding politically sensitive or potentially contentious topics

Partnership development in natural resource fields

Analyzing, developing or recommending changes to laws, policies, rules or regulations

Managing grants or other assistance programs

[OPTION 2] Master’s degree in one (1) of the fields listed below:  Forestry, wildfire prevention and management, community resilience, fire adapted communities, or natural resources management

Strategic communications regarding politically sensitive or potentially contentious topics

Partnership development in natural resource fields

Analyzing, developing or recommending changes to laws, policies, rules or regulations

Managing grants or other assistance programs

Two (2) years of experience in at least two (2) of the fields listed below: Forestry, wildfire prevention and management, community resilience, fire adapted communities, or natural resources management

Strategic communications regarding politically sensitive or potentially contentious topics

Partnership development in natural resource fields

Analyzing, developing or recommending changes to laws, policies, rules or regulations

Managing grants or other assistance programs

[OPTION 3] Eight (8) years of combined education and/or experience that directly relates to the functions of this role.

Preferred Qualifications: A Master's degree (or higher) with major emphasis in land use; urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning; landscape architecture; geography; land use or environmental law; public administration with an environmental emphasis; or closely related field

Two (2) years of professional experience in forest management, forest health, community wildfire programs, natural resource planning, wildfire prevention and recovery, and/or program development.

Direct experience with Firewise USA, Fire Adapted Communities, or similar programs

Working knowledge of national and state strategies and plans for forest and wildfire management

Experience working directly with a diversity of groups from urban, suburban and rural landscapes including farmers and ranchers

Ability to translate complex technical materials to language average people can understand

Proven ability to work collaboratively with people of all personalities, backgrounds and political and social perspectives

Proven ability to communicate technical, or complex, information to a diverse audience in a way that can be clearly understood

Experience leading others with or without positional authority

Proven ability to develop long-range work plans, think conceptually, observe and interpret trends, analyze data, identify key relationships, draw logical conclusions, maintain effective working relationships with governmental officials and manage major program activities

Please provide the following documents to be considered; failure to do so may result in you not being considered for the position:

A letter of interest   (no more than 2 pages) explaining how you have prepared yourself for this position.

A current resume or CV , detailing experience, and education

A current list of at least three (3) professional references with current contact information

NOTE:   By submitting these materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed.  A resume will not substitute for completing the “duties summary” section of the application.   Please do not refer to resume for detail, or your application may be disqualified.

Opportunity for All:

The Washington State Conservation Commission celebrates our differences and we are committed to a workplace that supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, families with children (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as an individual with the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with disabilities or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state , and local laws.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our organization.

Contact Information:

For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact Jowi Deguzman via email at [email protected] . Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

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