Forests, Fire, and Communities Senior Program Manager

Washington Conservation Action; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington Conservation Action seeks a Forests, Fire, and Communities Senior Program Manager to advance ecological and community resilience to wildfire. You will promote beneficial fire, Indigenous fire stewardship, science-based forest health treatments, and community resilience through coalitions, state advocacy, and Tribal engagement.

The role collaborates with DNR, local and Tribal governments, and environmental partners to advance funding and policy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in forestry, natural resources, environment, or related field, or 5–8 years of related experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for practitioners, policymakers, and agencies.
• Experience managing grants, including proposals, reports, and budgets.
• Proven ability to lead projects, campaigns, and coalitions.
• Experience with tribal relations and government affairs is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Advocate for ecological and community resilience to wildfire and promote Indigenous fire stewardship.
• Coordinate with coalitions, agencies, and local/tribal governments on policy and program implementation.
• Lead efforts to secure state funding and provide strategic policy leadership on fire and forest health.
• Build and strengthen partnerships with Tribes, local governments, communities, and environmental NGOs.
• Oversee program management, reporting, and cross-program collaboration within WCA.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Policy advocacy

Coalition building

Grant management

Project management

Communication

Tribal relations

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor's degree in forestry, natural resources, environment

Job description

Are you excited to help Washington State evolve our approach to wildfire toward "good fire" and fire-adapted communities? If yes, this may be the job for you! The Forests, Fire, and Communities Senior Program Manager leads WCA's work on ecological and community resilience to wildfire by promoting beneficial fire, Indigenous fire stewardship, science-based forest health treatments, and community resilience work driven by the needs of Washington's communities. The position pursues these goals through collaborative work in external coalitions, communications, coordination with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), legislative advocacy, and engagement with local and Tribal governments.

About Our Organization

Washington Conservation Action is a statewide environmental advocacy organization advancing environmental policies and pushing for actions that equitably address climate pollution, restore healthy salmon runs, sustain our state's forests, and protect our democracy. For Washington to remain a national leader on environmental issues, we need environmental champions in elected office and to hold them accountable on our issues. To keep our environment protected, healthy, and vibrant, we are committed to supporting Native candidates, candidates of color, and environmental leaders.

Washington Conservation Action is a 501(c4) nonprofit organization. Washington Conservation Action Education Fund is our 501(c3) nonprofit partner organization. Together, we advance a shared vision for Washington state where nature and people live in balance for the flourishing of all.

Washington Conservation Action is based in downtown Seattle. Our team of nearly 50 work in a flexible hybrid or remote model; staff living in the greater Puget Sound area join together in the office two days a week for collaboration, creativity, and celebration. All staff members have access to tools and systems to support hybrid or remote work. We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and the opportunity to make a difference. We are committed to a diverse, socially just, and welcoming work environment. People of color, people with varying abilities, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are especially encouraged to apply. We continue to advance the application of a racial equity lens to our work. We are led by a CEO who is a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon.

Responsibilities

Advocate for restoration of beneficial fire and Indigenous fire stewardship to the landscape: Support re-integration of good fire into the forested landscape by addressing barriers to prescribed fire and supporting Tribal fire.

• Build sociopolitical support for beneficial fire and use policy levers to reduce barriers to beneficial fire.
• Advocate for state funding and state agency leadership on prescribed fire.
• Collaborate with practitioners and prescribed fire leaders, including the Washington Prescribed Fire Council.
• Co-lead a Tribal fire strategy together with WCA's Tribal Nations Program, including building relationships with Tribal government regarding fire, advancing shared priorities to support Tribal fire, and encouraging greater integration of Tribal perspectives into state policies and programs on fire.

Promote expanded support for community wildfire resilience: Establish the elements of community wildfire adaptation as a core pillar of Washington's approach to wildfire.

• Participate in wildfire resilience-focused coalitions alongside wildfire practitioners and local leaders, including Washington Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network and Community Wildfire Solutions.
• Strategize and advocate for state funding and effective policy to support community wildfire resilience, alongside Latinx and frontline organizations.
• Build partnerships and share tools with county governments and elected leaders to integrate wildfire preparedness and community resilience into county planning.
• Explore pathways to improve state smoke policy outcomes aligned with environmental justice.

Support ecologically-based restoration of forest health: Hold state agencies and forest landowners accountable to credible, science-based forest health treatments.

• Advocate for state funding of ecologically appropriate forest health treatments.
• Monitor implementation of the 20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan for Eastern Washington and the Western Washington Forest Health Strategic Plan, advocating for science-based forest health treatments, effectiveness monitoring, and public data.
• Build collaborative relationships with DNR staff working on forest resilience and forest health.

Coordinate with staff across WCA to strengthen and communicate our work: Collaborate across the organization to enhance the effectiveness of our work.

• Coordinate with WCA's two other policy programs - Climate & Clean Energy and Clean Water & Salmon to identify opportunities for synergies between programs and offer expertise in support of campaigns.
• Coordinate with WCA's Government Affairs, Political, and Tribal Nations programs to advance Forest Program goals, and offer expertise in support of campaigns.
• Support better integration of environmental justice and rural economic development into the Forest Program's work.
• Work with communication and field staff to communicate with our members and grassroots partners regarding Forest Program work.
• Support WCA's annual State of our Forests and Public Lands Report and Carbon Friendly Forestry Conference.

Required Skills

• Bachelor's degree in forestry, natural resources, environment, or related field; or at least 5-8 years related experience.
• Knowledge of forestry issues, which may include forest management, forest certification, forest product manufacturing, or natural climate solutions. Knowledge of these issues in a Pacific Northwest context is a plus.
• Professional and/or lived experience related to wildfire, which may include wildland firefighting, prescribed burning, Indigenous fire stewardship, community preparedness, emergency response, or forestry.
• Demonstrated success in project management, policy development and implementation, campaigns, and working in coalitions.
• Experience managing grants, including grant proposals, reports, and budget management.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize and communicate information across practitioners, policymakers, and agencies.
• Demonstrated success in facilitation.
• Ability to develop relationships and find common ground with Tribes and a range of stakeholders, including local government, grassroots organizations, environmental NGOs, and the forest industry.
• Commitment to environmental protection and principles of Tribal sovereignty and racial, social, and economic justice.

Desired Skills

• Experiencing collaborating with Tribal governments, and an understanding of Tribal natural resource management.
• Professional experience in community or economic development, particularly related to natural resources.
• Experience working and/or living in rural communities and engaging with rural stakeholders.
• Ability to research and analyze potential policy campaigns, new projects, and partners.
• Flexible, creative, and able to work in a changing and unpredictable non-profit environment.
• Ability to communicate with various audiences.
• Good at navigating complex working environments and building relationships with integrity.
• Ability to work effectively, both independently