Forest Ecologist

PURPOSE or FUNCTION OF THE POSITION: 

The Forest Ecologist advances Save the Redwoods League’s capacity to plan, implement, and monitor restoration projects across California’s coast redwood and giant sequoia ranges, with emphasis on forest and fire ecology, collaborative partnerships, and landscape-scale conservation.

This role provides scientific and technical leadership for restoration planning, field implementation, and monitoring; translates forest science into on-the-ground action; and serves as a technical resource within partnership efforts including Redwoods Rising and the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition.

This position can be located in McKinleyville, CA or Visalia, CA

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Provide scientific and technical leadership for restoration planning, implementation, monitoring, and adaptive management across coast redwood and giant sequoia landscapes.
• Develop monitoring strategies (surveillance, effectiveness, research) including questions, metrics, data standards, and coordination of field data collection and management (in collaboration with the GIS Program Manager).
• Partner with agencies, Tribes, NGOs, and research institutions; serve as a technical advisor within collaboratives focused on forest health, fuels reduction, prescribed fire, and wildfire risk reduction.
• Support organizational priorities by contributing to cross-team efforts (Restoration & Stewardship, Development, and Marketing & Communications) through technical input, clear communication products, and fundraising support as needed.
• Provide training and field support to staff, contractors, and crews; represent Save the Redwoods locally and at public events; and perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications: 

• Graduate degree in forestry, conservation biology, or related field (or equivalent experience).

• 5+ years’ experience in a combination of restoration forestry, fuels reduction/fire ecology, management planning, climate adaptation, and/or field research.

• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, including ability to organize data, conduct analyses, and develop practical technical recommendations.

• Excellent writing and science-communication skills, including ability to synthesize scientific literature and tailor messages to varied audiences.

• Commitment to Save the Redwoods’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion values, cultural attributes, and pragmatic, non-confrontational approach to conservation.

• Strong knowledge of California natural history and ecology.

• Able to work independently and collaboratively, building productive relationships in complex environments.

• Strong project-management and organizational skills; able to set priorities, stay flexible, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced setting.

• Strong verbal communication and public-speaking skills; able to manage multiple complex tasks under time constraints.

Desired Qualifications: 

• Cultural competency and ability to work effectively across cultures and identities; additional language proficiency is a plus.

• Understanding of federal, California, and local environmental regulatory frameworks.

• Proficiency with GIS and Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and collaboration tools (SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams); R experience a plus.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• May supervise Forest Fellows; frequently manages contractors and field crews in collaboration with partners.

WORKING CONDITIONS/physical effort: 

• Frequent travel (primarily within California) with occasional evening/weekend and overnight commitments; valid driver’s license and safe driving record required.
• Work includes office-based duties and regular fieldwork in forest conditions (uneven terrain, remote locations) and occasional lifting/carrying up to 30 pounds.
• When supporting prescribed fire activities, required certifications must be current and work must be performed within certification scope and supervision requirements (unless holding higher qualifications).