The Southern Oregon Forest Restoration Project Manager will collaborate with local, state, federal, Tribal, and NGO forest and fire management partners on projects that advance science-based dry forest restoration to benefit both nature and people. The Project Manager will also work closely with and be supported by other Southern Oregon TNC staff consisting of two staff in the Ashland office, three staff based in the Klamath Falls office, and an additional staff member based at TNC’s Sycan Marsh Preserve, as well as colleagues across TNC’s conservation, stewardship, fire management, science, philanthropy, policy and government relations, and communications teams.

The Project Manager will be involved in the full lifecycle of project administration from project scoping and funding development to monitoring completion, troubleshooting challenges, and communicating internally and externally on project outcomes. Treatment implementation and on-the-ground management are not part of the role. Key to success in this role is a strong project management skillset, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to integrate science and on-the-ground restoration knowledge in an applied forest and fire management context. This work also relies on developing and sustaining the relationships and trust necessary to collaborate effectively internally and externally with a wide range of interests, stakeholders, and partners.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

Support and help execute the RFC strategy across Southern Oregon focused primarily on the Rogue and Upper Klamath Basins, including implementation of the Rogue Basin Strategy in collaboration with the Rogue Forest Partners, Southern Oregon Forest Restoration Collaborative, and Klamath Siskiyou Oak Network in Southwest Oregon, and the Klamath Lake Forest Health Partnership and the 20-year Master Stewardship Agreement between The Klamath Tribes, the Fremont-Winema National Forest, Sustainable Northwest, and TNC in Southcentral Oregon. The estimated balance of time spent in each geography is expected to be 60-70% in the Rogue Basin and 30-40% in the Klamath Basin but may fluctuate over time.

Advance the Oregon Dry Forests and Fire Program and the Western Dry Forests program in Oregon through ongoing local partnerships and projects and collaboration and sharing lessons learned between priority dry forest geographies in Central and Northeast Oregon and other TNC forest and fire programs across the Western U.S.

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 in support of TNC and partner projects.

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 including state and federal land management agencies, Tribal natural resource departments and other Indigenous-led organizations, community groups, private forest and fire contractors, NGO and non-profit organizations, and other partners.

Effectively communicate progress and outcomes to wide range of audiences ranging from community partners and elected officials to land management agency staff and technical experts to build cross-organizational support and foster collaboration.

Work both independently and as member of multidisciplinary teams, some led by TNC and some by partner organizations, collaborative groups, or partnerships across Southern Oregon.

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.

May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.

May involve frequent travel within Oregon and occasional travel out of state totally roughly 25-30%.

This position requires regular in-person work across multiple field and office locations, with frequent meetings conducted in-office and at partner locations.