Landscape-Scale Restoration Manager

The Nature Conservancy; Washington (Washington County); Hybrid; USD 75,200 - 86,530; Full time

Job summary

The Landscape-Scale Restoration Manager at The Nature Conservancy leads Washington State’s notable forest restoration efforts, coordinating with Tribes, federal agencies, and regional partners to translate priorities into implementable projects. The role blends strategic planning with hands-on delivery across thinning, prescribed fire, and stewardship initiatives.

The ideal candidate has a BA/BS with 5+ years in conservation or related fields, strong project management, and experience navigating

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree and 5 years’ experience in conservation, forestry, fire, natural resources, landscape restoration, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including scopes, timelines, budgets, agreements, and deliverables under deadlines.
• Experience working with or within federal land management systems (e.g., U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, or similar)
• Experience negotiating contracts, agreements, or implementation pathways for natural resource projects.
• Experience developing partnerships with Tribes, government agencies, community organizations, contractors, and/or other external partners.
• Skilled and clear communicator able to represent program goals and outcomes effectively via written, spoken, and presentation formats with internal and external audiences.

Responsibilities

• Leads and coordinates landscape-scale restoration initiatives that advance cross-boundary forest health, wildfire resilience, and community wellbeing across priority geographies.
• Identifies and resolves implementation bottlenecks across partners, contracts, and workflows to keep restoration projects moving from planning to completion.
• Advances federal restoration projects through contracting and agreement pathways, including stewardship contracts, partner agreements, and related mechanisms.
• Builds and maintains strong working relationships with Tribes, federal and state agencies, collaboratives, contractors, community partners, and other stakeholders to support shared restoration goals.
• Supports development and implementation of restoration strategies that connect NEPA-ready opportunities with on-the-ground delivery, including mechanical treatments, prescribed fire, cultural burning opportunities, and follow-on stewardship needs.
• Oversees or coordinates agreements, scopes of work, partner deliverables, and budget tracking associated with restoration projects and partnership commitments.
• Applies ecological, operational, and community context to inform restoration sequencing, implementation feasibility, smoke management considerations, and workforce opportunities.
• Represents the Conservancy in collaborative forums and communicates program objectives, progress, risks, and opportunities to internal and external audiences.
• Helps identify and advance policy, funding, and partnership opportunities that increase the pace, scale, and durability of restoration outcomes.

Skills

BA/BS degree

Project management

Federal land systems experience

Contract negotiation

Partnership development

Communication skills

Education

BA/BS degree in conservation or related field

Job description

What We Can Achieve Together

The Landscape-Scale Restoration Manager leads one of the most ambitious forest and fire restoration efforts underway in Washington State's dry forests. This role focuses on advancing equitable, climate-resilient cross-boundary restoration from planning through implementation on federal lands, in close partnership with Tribes, the U.S. Forest Service, WA State and regional partners.

The manager serves as a practical integrator across forestry, prescribed fire, science, and partnerships, working to resolve bottlenecks, align projects and partners, and ensure restoration work moves forward at the pace and scale required. This role is both strategic and deeply operational, requiring the ability to navigate federal systems, advance complex agreements, and deliver real on-the-ground outcomes. This role is critical to ensuring that decades of investment in forest restoration translate into durable, on-the-ground outcomes.

We're Looking For You

The Landscape-Scale Restoration Manager helps translate restoration priorities into implementable projects on the ground. They coordinate with Tribal, federal, state, and community partners to refine priority landscapes, support National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)-ready restoration pathways, oversee key agreements and deliverables, and help design implementable treatment packages that integrate mechanical thinning, prescribed fire, cultural burning opportunities, workforce development, and community-informed smoke management. The role focuses on removing barriers to delivery, including aligning partners, advancing agreements, coordinating contracting and implementation pathways, and ensuring that NEPA-ready work progresses through thinning, prescribed fire, and follow-on stewardship.

This role requires a strong understanding of how restoration work is implemented on federal lands, including familiarity with stewardship contracting, partner agreements, and agency processes. The manager works closely with agency staff, contractors, and partners to align timelines, resolve constraints, and maintain momentum through complex, multi-project initiatives.

Responsibilities & Scope

• Leads and coordinates landscape-scale restoration initiatives that advance cross-boundary forest health, wildfire resilience, and community wellbeing across priority geographies.
• Identifies and resolves implementation bottlenecks across partners, contracts, and workflows to keep restoration projects moving from planning to completion.
• Advances federal restoration projects through contracting and agreement pathways, including stewardship contracts, partner agreements, and related mechanisms.
• Builds and maintains strong working relationships with Tribes, federal and state agencies, collaboratives, contractors, community partners, and other stakeholders to support shared restoration goals.
• Supports development and implementation of restoration strategies that connect NEPA-ready opportunities with on-the-ground delivery, including mechanical treatments, prescribed fire, cultural burning opportunities, and follow-on stewardship needs.
• Oversees or coordinates agreements, scopes of work, partner deliverables, and budget tracking associated with restoration projects and partnership commitments.
• Applies ecological, operational, and community context to inform restoration sequencing, implementation feasibility, smoke management considerations, and workforce opportunities.
• Represents the Conservancy in collaborative forums and communicates program objectives, progress, risks, and opportunities to internal and external audiences.
• Helps identify and advance policy, funding, and partnership opportunities that increase the pace, scale, and durability of restoration outcomes.

Work Location & Schedule

• The primary work location for this position is flexible within dry forest region of Central Washington (Cle Elum, Ellensburg, Wenatchee, Yakima), with the ability to be onsite at TNC locations in Washington State required.
• Travel up to 20% time throughout Washington State (including overnight), with occasional travel to other locations throughout the United States.
• May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.

What You'll Bring

• BA/BS degree and 5 years’ experience in conservation, forestry, fire, natural resources, landscape restoration, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including scopes, timelines, budgets, agreements, and deliverables under deadlines.
• Experience working with or within federal land management systems (e.g., U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, or similar)
• Experience negotiating contracts, agreements, or implementation pathways for natural resource projects.
• Experience developing partnerships with Tribes, government agencies, community organizations, contractors, and/or other external partners.
• Skilled and clear communicator able to represent program goals and outcomes effectively via written, spoken, and presentation formats with internal and external audiences.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with stewardship contracting, Good Neighbor Authority, or other federal restoration delivery mechanisms.
• Direct experience advancing forest restoration, fuels reduction, or prescribed fire projects from planning into implementation.
• Demonstrated ability to work across agencies, contractors, and partners to deliver tangible project outcomes.
• Experience working in landscapes with complex wildfire risk, community interface, and/or Tribal stewardship priorities.
• Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Ability to use science, data, and local context to inform restoration strategy, implementation planning, and adaptive management.
• Politically savvy, adaptable, diplomatic, and able to navigate complex external relationships with sound judgment.

This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program. Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers." To learn more about the Auto Safety Program, visit the Auto Safety information page. Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.

Salary Information

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $75,200 - $86,530. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

Who We Are

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.

One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

What We Bring

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!

TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

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TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to [e-mail] with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.