Project Manager - Community Wildfire Defense Grant

Burnbot; Sonora (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

BurnBot is seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead complex, place-based projects in Tuolumne County, coordinating with government agencies, landowners, and subcontractors. The role focuses on planning, execution, and delivery of forestry, fuels reduction, and prescribed fire projects across diverse landscapes, ensuring safety, schedule, budget, and regulatory compliance.

Regular site presence is expected, with remote work possible during non-field phases.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in project or field management in forestry, fuels reduction, wildland fire, or related field
• Valid driver’s license and ability to drive company vehicles
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Forestry/Natural Resources or similar
• Familiarity with ANSI A300 requirements
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Google Suite, Zoom/Teams
• Physical ability to lift up to 50 lbs and work outdoors
• Ability to work outdoors in forestry environments
• Passion for BurnBot's mission

Responsibilities

• Manage BurnBot's CWDG Project with stakeholders and governance
• Review parcel prescriptions for feasibility and contract compliance
• Develop detailed project plans and ensure tasks stay on time and budget
• Create and manage schedules, resources, and budgets from award to closeout
• Support job walks and field verification for proposals
• Track quality control and contract compliance for operations
• Implement QA processes throughout project lifecycle
• Serve as main contact with agency partners, clients, and subcontractors
• Attend public meetings representing BurnBot
• Maintain field presence to support crews and adapt plans
• Identify and manage costs; track expenditures
• Ensure OSHA compliance and safety standards
• Develop and coach Project Coordinator
• Strong bias for action and ability to execute with or without guidance
• Adapt to fast-changing environment and priorities
• Other duties as assigned

Skills

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Forestry/Natural Resources

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Google Suite

Zoom/Teams

Job description

• Location 14409 Tuolumne Road Sonora, Sonora, CA, 95370, United States
• Base Pay $90,000.00 - $115,000.00 / Year
• Employee Type Exempt (FT)

About BurnBot

BurnBot provides systematic fuels treatment services to prevent destructive wildfires. We're firefighters, scientists, engineers, prescribed fire practitioners, ecologists, and community members who are answering the call to scale fuel treatment capacity. Our modern fuel treatment system recognizes and supports conservation efforts with a clean, smoke-free process. We need technology to amplify our workforces with targeted use of synthetic fire to treat fuel loads 10x faster than previously possible.

The Role

BurnBot is seeking an experienced, highly organized Project Manager to lead a complex, place-based project in Tuolumne County and program portfolios within our rapidly growing Operations team. This position will include contract administration, liaising with local government organizations, extensive project planning, and outreach/coordination with landowners in the communities of Columbia/Yankee Hill and Cedar Ridge.

This role focuses on the planning, execution, and delivery of forestry, fuels reduction, and prescribed fire projects across diverse landscapes and is responsible for managing projects from award through closeout, ensuring work is completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with all regulatory, environmental, and fire management requirements.

The Project Manager serves as the primary point of coordination between field operations, agency partners, subcontractors, and internal leadership — and is the primary ground-level point of contact between BurnBot, subcontractors, and agency partners on assigned projects. This position requires a strong understanding of forestry operations, mechanical and hand fuels treatment, prescribed fire planning, and interagency coordination.

This is a hands-on, field-forward role. The Project Manager is expected to maintain regular site presence — typically 70-80% of the role is spent on project sites, at regional hubs, or traveling. The remaining 20-30% may be completed via remote or office-based project management, depending on project phase and operational conditions. Assignments may be place-based (dedicated to a specific project) or support regional growth including demos, small strategic projects, and out-of-region surge coverage as needed.

This position is an exempt role with an annual salary range of $90,000 - $115,000. Placement within the range depends on experience, certifications, and skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage BurnBot's CWDG Project in the communities of Columbia/Yankee Hill and Cedar Ridge, coordinating between multiple stakeholders, tight governance requirements (such as ANSI A300), and active change-control activity
• Review parcel prescriptions provided by the County of Tuolumne Project Management Contractor. Provide preliminary vetting of feasibility and contract compliance
• Develop detailed project plans and ensure all tasks are completed on time and within budget
• Create and manage project schedules, resources, and budgets from award through closeout
• Support job walks and field verification as part of proposal building and project scoping
• Track quality control and contract compliance for internal BurnBot operations and all subcontractor operations on assigned projects
• Implement, monitor and document quality assurance processes throughout the project lifecycle
• Serve as the day-to-day point of contact with agency partners, clients, and subcontractors at the site and project level
• Attend public meetings and represent BurnBot and/or the client as needed
• Maintain regular field presence to support crews, verify work quality, and adapt plans to changing conditions
• Identify and manage costs associated with project budgets; track expenditures against budget throughout project lifecycle
• Ensure all operations are conducted in compliance with OSHA regulations and BurnBot safety standards
• Develop and coach Project Coordinator, including providing feedback and guidance; direct their work as it pertains to assigned operations where a Project Coordinator exists in the organization
• Strong bias for action and the ability to execute assigned tasks with or without guidance
• Can adapt to a fast changing environment and work priorities
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience in project or field management in forestry, fuels reduction, wildland fire (suppression or prevention), or a related field
• Valid driver's license and ability to be insured under company policy (this role may require driving company vehicles to remote job sites)
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience, preferably in Forestry, Natural Resources, Ecological Restoration, or similar technical discipline
• Familiarity with the ANSI A300 requirements
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Google Suite, and virtual meeting platforms (Zoom/Teams)
• Physical ability to lift, push, and pull weights up to 50 lbs regularly; ability to bend, twist, lift, reach, grasp, and climb various surfaces and heights for 8+ hours per day
• Ability to work outdoors in conditions typical of forestry, fuels reduction, and prescribed fire operations including uneven terrain, variable weather, smoke, dust, noise, and heavy equipment environments
• Passion for BurnBot's mission to reduce catastrophic wildfire risk

It would be cool if you…

• Have a PMP Certification, are a Registered Professional Forester (RPF), Licensed Timber Operator (LTO) A or B, Incident Commander (NWCG), or Crewboss (NWCG)
• Have ArcGIS proficiency
• Have direct experience with government or agency contract structures, scope documentation, and compliance requirements
• Had experience with wildland firefighting, prescribed fire, forestry or construction

This position is based remotely but includes extensive travel to field sites in California. Essential functions include: operating a computer for extended periods; communicating effectively in person, in writing, and by radio or phone; traveling by vehicle and by air to remote work sites; walking and standing on uneven, sloped, or unimproved terrain; working outdoors in variable weather, including heat, cold, dust, and smoke; wearing required personal protective equipment, including fire-resistant clothing, hard hat, eye protection, and safety footwear; and occasionally lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds.

BurnBot provides reasonable accommodation to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role. To request an accommodation, contact [e-mail] or [phone] x 1010.

BurnBot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion or religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, registered domestic partner status, age (40 and over), physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information or characteristics, military or veteran status, status as a protected or honorably discharged veteran, reproductive health decisionmaking, primary language, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, request for family care or medical leave, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law, or any combination of these characteristics.

Employment is contingent on satisfactory completion of a background check and a pre-employment drug screen, conducted after a conditional offer of employment and in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local law, including fair chance laws under which qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records are considered for employment.

If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact us at [phone] x 1010 or [e-mail].

Additional Information

• Package Name Burnbot Criminal Background Check Package + Drug Test