Fireshed Coordinator – Community Wildfire Mitigation

The Forest Stewards Guild seeks a proactive, full-time Fireshed Coordinator based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, dedicated to facilitating the Greater Santa Fe Fireshed Coalition and coordinating the Guild’s Community Wildfire Defense program within the Fireshed. In this role, you will conduct comprehensive home hazard assessments, implement high-priority fuel mitigation treatments, drive impactful public outreach campaigns, facilitate Coalition meetings, represent the Fireshed in media and public platforms, and handle additional delegated tasks. As a key member of our team driving the Community Wildfire Defense program, your efforts will be instrumental in ensuring that our projects align with the overarching objectives of watershed restoration, building fire adapted communities and promoting forest health, particularly by expanding wildfire mitigation efforts within the critical landscape surrounding Santa Fe. Your work will directly contribute to the realization of objectives outlined in the 2020 Santa Fe County Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

Ideal candidates will possess a proven track record in coordinating collaborative partnerships, 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 disposition, combined with strategic thinking capabilities, is essential for success in this role. As project needs emerge, the Project Coordinator will collaborate with staff and partners to devise innovative solutions that drive project outcomes forward.

The Fireshed Coordinator will work in the Greater Santa Fe Fireshed landscape to address the goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy, through 1.) restoring and maintaining landscapes by expanding mitigation work in the priority landscape, the Greater Santa Fe Fireshed; and 2.) creating fire adapted communities by coordinating the Fireshed Coalition to accelerate mitigation and increase community fire adaptation through education and outreach.

The Fireshed Coordinator will play a pivotal role in leading the Fireshed Coalition. Responsibilities include providing administrative leadership to the Coalition, convening Coalition partners, conducting extensive public outreach, and actively supporting the implementation of the Fireshed’s Neighborhood Ambassador program. Additionally, the Coordinator will work with the Program Manager to oversee Community Wildfire Defense mitigation treatments, facilitate the hiring of implementation contractors, and manage budgets while ensuring meticulous project tracking for the Guild’s Community Wildfire Defense Project. Furthermore, the Coordinator may support the Program Manager in executing various Fire Adapted Communities projects across the region as needed. This position will be based at the Santa Fe, NM office. 

Among other duties as assigned, the successful individual will: 

Lead collaboration for the Greater Santa Fe Fireshed Coalition 

• Work to build and sustain the strength of the Coalition.
• Work with the Coalition’s Chair to convene and facilitate quarterly collaborative meetings.
• Maintain relationships with a diversity of project partners and funders in the region.
• Lead and facilitate education and outreach activities for private landowners, natural resource professionals and the public.
• Interface with and provide support to Committee Chairs to ensure that ongoing goals and objectives are moving forward and regular meetings are being held.
• Be an active member of the Coalition’s Communications and Monitoring Committees.
• Lead creation of the annual Coalition Collaborative Outcomes report.
• Be the face and voice of the Fireshed Coalition for news outlets and interface with the media.

Expand wildfire mitigation

• Complete home hazard assessments for properties within the Santa Fe Fireshed.
• Work with landowners and contractors to complete wildfire mitigation treatments on the ground.
• Outreach to landowners in the Fireshed about the mitigation opportunities available.
• Implement a sliding scale program to incentivize participation across all communities.

Support Forest Stewards Guild work 

• Maintain and grow partnerships for Southwest programs.
• As needed and desired, may support Guild prescribed fire operations.
• Represent the Guild at professional conferences or events and perform public speaking, such as PowerPoint presentations or panel discussions to share on project deliverables or monitoring metrics.
• Collaborate as a team using software such as Asana, Slack, and Microsoft Teams.
• Track budgets, 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.

Qualifications

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 multi-year collaborative projects
• 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 writing grant proposals and grant administration
• Experience with disseminating scientific and complex project information to the public
• Forestry and/or ecological knowledge or experience in southwest ecosystems
• Experience with implementing or contracting forestry or wildfire mitigation treatments
• Experience with developing Fire Adapted Communities, and conducting home hazard assessments

Additional information

Compensation and Benefits Package  

• $26.40 – $28.83/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. 

The Guild is dedicated to providing an open, transparent, and just organization and workplace. We strive for clear, open, and kind communication and are committed to recruiting, hiring, mentoring, and supporting staff from underrepresented communities. We are dedicated to building a work culture that recognizes the inherent value of our employees, supports a healthy work-life balance, and provides an environment that supports personal and job growth.