Program Manager, Forestry – Wildfire Prevention

Project Manager

ABOUT BURNBOT

BurnBot provides systematic fuels treatment services to prevent destructive wildfires. We’re firefighters, scientists, engineers, prescribed fire practitioners, ecologists, and community members answering the call to scale fuel treatment capacity. Our modern fuel treatment system recognizes and supports conservation efforts with a clean, gentle on the ground, smoke-free process, using technology to amplify our workforce and treat fuel loads 10x faster than previously possible.

THE ROLE

BurnBot is seeking a Project Manager to join our rapidly growing Programs team. This role is the day-to-day engine of project delivery, including managing, planning, and coordinating activities of projects to ensure that goals and objectives of projects are accomplished on time and on budget. Project Managers typically maintain regular site presence and serve as the primary ground-level point of contact between BurnBot, subcontractors, and agency partners.

This assignment is place-based and is dedicated to a specific project with an area of performance in Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties in California. 

Compensation: $90,000–$115,000 annually. Offers depend on role, location, responsibilities, experience, training, and education.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supports job walks and field verification for proposal building
• Tracks Quality Control and Contract Compliance for internal BurnBot operations and all subcontractor operations on contracts
• Provides clerical and administrative support for Programs, projects and assigned contracts
• In coordination with organizational stakeholders, ensure all projects comply with OSHA, environmental regulations, and fire requirements
• Maintains day-to-day relationship touchpoints at the site and project level
• Captures issues early and escalates effectively through Central Ops, Regions, and subcontractor channels
• Maintains project artifacts including scope documentation, maps/GIS inputs, schedules, and acceptance checklists
• Assists with duties associated with regional build-out, such as demos and operations on small strategic projects within the scope of project.
• Ensures project status is current, auditable, and communicated in the standard cadence
• Provides enterprise surge support as an out-of-region assistant as needed
• Oversees and supervises various field projects and supports programs functions
• Other duties as assigned

TYPICAL SCOPE

One large project or a bounded set of related deliverables requiring consistent field presence and verification. This is a hands-on, site-level role, not a desk job. 20%-30% of the role may be completed via remote tele-work. The remaining 70%-80% will be spent on project site, at regional hubs, or traveling.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Natural Resources, Project Management, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in project or field management in forestry, wildland firefighting, prescribed fire, or a related field
• California Registered Professional Forester (RPF) license, current and in good standing with the California Board of Forestry
• Experience with roadside fuel mitigation or vegetation management along transportation corridors
• Proficiency with GIS tools/mapping platforms, Google Suite, and virtual meeting platforms
• Valid driver’s license
• Ability to resolve issues using personal expertise and sound judgment, and to recognize when to escalate for efficient resolution
• Excellent communication and customer service skills — listening, responding, and supporting with a positive, service-oriented mindset
• Ability to travel up to 60% of the time
• Physical ability to lift/push/pull weights of up to 100 lbs regularly
• Ability to work in outdoor environments with uneven terrain and variable weather
• Ability to bend, twist, lift, reach, grasp, and climb various surfaces and heights for 8+ hours per day
• Passion for BurnBot’s mission to reduce catastrophic fire wildfire risk

IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU…

• Have direct experience with wildland firefighting, prescribed fire, utilities, infrastructure or forestry
• Are familiar with government or agency contract structures, scope documentation, and compliance requirements
  PMP certification
• Have a background in biology or natural resources, or are willing to be trained, experience with nesting bird surveys, species monitoring, or environmental compliance in a field context is a plus