Outreach Coordinator-California Wildfire Mitigation Program

Outreach Coordinator–California Wildfire Mitigation Program (Shasta County)

The Western Shasta Resource Conservation District (WSRCD) seeks a proactive, full-time Outreach Coordinator based in Anderson, California, dedicated to facilitating the California Wildfire Mitigation Program (CWMP)–Shasta County. In this role, you will coordinate community outreach to eligible homeowners, conduct comprehensive home hazard assessments, drive impactful public outreach campaigns, facilitate community meetings, represent the WSRCD in media and public platforms, and handle additional delegated tasks. 

As a key member of our team driving the Community Wildfire Mitigation Program, your efforts will be instrumental in ensuring that our projects align with the overarching objectives of wildfire resiliency, building fire-adapted communities and promoting forest health, particularly by expanding wildfire mitigation efforts within the critical landscapes surrounding the communities of western Shasta County. Your work will directly contribute to the development of a state home hardening initiative to retrofit, harden, and create defensible space for homes at high risk to wildfires.

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 Outreach Coordinator will collaborate with staff and partners to devise innovative solutions that drive project outcomes forward.

The Outreach Coordinator will play a pivotal role in coordinating the California Wildfire Mitigation Program in Shasta County.  Responsibilities include: coordinating all aspects of landowner outreach for the CWMP in Shasta County, convening program partners, conducting extensive public outreach, and actively supporting the implementation of the CWMP. Additionally, the Outreach Coordinator will work with the Program Manager to oversee home assessments and act as the direct liaison between landowners and the project team. This position will be based at the WSRCD offices in Anderson, CA.

Among other duties as assigned, the successful individual will:

Lead Landowner Outreach for the CWMP Shasta County

• Work with the WSRCD CWMP Project Manager to convene and facilitate 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.
• Provide regular project updates to landowners. Review and track applications using Salesforce web application and other resources. 
• Interface with and provide support to Project Managers and Partners to ensure that ongoing goals and objectives are moving forward and regular meetings are being held.
• Be the face and voice of the WSRCD CWMP efforts for news outlets and interface with the media.

Expand Wildfire Mitigation Efforts

• Complete home hazard assessments for properties within the CWMP in Shasta County.
• Work with landowners and contractors to coordinate wildfire mitigation treatments on the ground.
• Outreach to landowners in Shasta County about the mitigation opportunities available.

Support WSRCD Forestry and Fire Mitigation work 

• Maintain and grow partnerships for WSRCD programs. 
• Represent the WSRCD 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 Ring Central Messenger, Zoom, and Google Suite. 
• Track budgets, matching funds, 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 WSRCD mission in Shasta County.

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 such as GSuite, Microsoft Suite, Canva, and Adobe Acrobat (ArcGIS Pro/ArcGIS Online/Field Maps is a plus). 
• 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 western ecosystems. 
• Experience with implementing or contracting forestry or wildfire mitigation treatments. 
• Experience with developing Fire Adapted Communities, and conducting home hazard assessment.

Additional Information
Compensation 

• $23.98 – $27.96/hour depending on experience

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work outside in extreme weather conditions.
• Ability to work for prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds at a time.

Job Type: Full Time

Benefits

• 12 Paid Holidays Per Year (New Year’s Day, MLK Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and 1 Floating Holiday)
• Medical, Dental, and Vision 100% paid by District
• Matching Retirement Plan
• 80 Hours of Paid Time Off accrued each year
• 80 Hours of Vacation accrued for first year (increases after 1 year)
• Most benefits start after 30 days of employment

Open until filled.