Senior Fire Planner - California and Pacific Northwest

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a highly experienced, collaborative, and self-motivated Senior Fire Planner for a dynamic and high-in-demand field. This individual will successfully support or lead higher level projects while also providing technical and subject matter expertise in fire management planning and fire behavior.  This position is available for remote work but will be associated with our Bay Area office. Opportunities will be available to work with other offices in the region and across the country.

The Senior Fire Planner position will have technical expertise in wildfire management planning; fire behavior modeling, analysis, and interpretation; fuels/vegetation management; wildfire management policies, standards, and methods; and current wildfire and fire ecology research and applications. Experience working in California and Pacific Northwest ecosystems is desired, and experience working with state and federal land management agencies is highly valued. Additional skills include the ability to manage complex projects within schedule and budget expectations, the ability to provide quality assurance/quality control oversight, and strong interpersonal and writing skills.  The position will support or manage a variety of project types, including relevant and newly emerging areas in fire sciences and technology.  Project types include CEQA wildfire compliance for developments; vegetation management plans for state and local governments; NEPA documents for post-wildfire restoration and land management activities; wildfire mitigation plans for utility companies; biofuels development projects; and community wildfire protection plans. This is a regular, full-time, salaried position. Pay rate will be based on individual qualifications and experience. SWCA offers a team-oriented work environment, competitive salaries, and a competitive benefits package, including an employee stock ownership retirement plan (ESOP).

Our Vision (the North Star), Core Values, and Purpose:  Help drive SWCA to be the best workplace and industry leader in sustainability, bringing sound science and creative solutions to global environmental challenges while maintaining a dedication to employee-ownership.We are #OneSWCA and collaborate across all our offices, programs, and disciplines. We are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle and we #GiveBack. We are 100% employee-owned, and we build our success together. SWCA is a team of scientists, planners, technical experts, and corporate services professionals that are committed to our culture.

What you will accomplish

• Serve as a technical expert in wildfire sciences.
• Serve as assistant/project manager or subject matter expert on a variety of complex projects such as CEQA wildfire compliance for developments; vegetation management plans for state and local governments; NEPA documents for post-wildfire restoration and land management activities; wildfire mitigation plans for utility companies; biofuels development projects; and community wildfire protection plans.
• Stay abreast of current and relevant wildfire research and applications in the face of climate change and increased impacts.
• Work closely with a project team and the client.
• Take initiative and resolve issues to assure client needs are met effectively.
• Lead and advise on the development of specific planning strategies and technical approaches. Problem solve in a dynamic environment.
• Provide QA/QC of deliverables.
• Supervise, mentor, and provide technical support to junior staff and other projects.
• Manage small and large projects, including maintaining budgets, schedules, and quality of service.
• Work with Corporate accounting department to review invoices, expenditures and project audits for projects/tasks.
• Work closely with SWCA’s resource scientists and environmental planners, managers and directors in both natural and cultural resources throughout the company to promote SWCA’s business interests in adherence to its mission, vision, and values.
• Implement and administer SWCA’s safety procedures and standards of scientific and professional ethics.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in ecology, forestry, environmental science, or other related field preferred.
• A minimum of ten (10) years combined experience in wildfire operations or planning, project management, or environmental consulting for wildfire/fuels required; with some experience specific to project management.
• Candidate should have a working knowledge of federal and state laws (e.g., NEPA, CEQA) as it relates to wildfire and land management and major western ecosystems.
• Demonstrated experience with federal agencies such as Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and US Forest Service (USFS) and state agencies such as California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and other state natural resources departments.
• Experience with staff and project team supervision.
• Experience and ability to manage multiple projects with changing requirements.
• Experience working in a fast-paced work environment and desire to work in a highly collaborative team atmosphere.

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full spectrum of environmental services. With offices across the United States, SWCA is one of the largest environmental compliance firms and ranks among Engineering News-Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms.

If you would like to contact SWCA regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the online application process due to a disability, please email accommodations@swca.com or call 480-581-5378. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only. All other inquiries will not receive a response.

SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees.  In alignment with this commitment, SWCA posts good faith pay ranges in all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency.

An employee in this Half Moon Bay, CA based position can expect a salary of $108,576–$141,024/year. Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law.  Regular-status employees are also eligible for performance bonuses. Candidates are also encouraged to consider SWCA’s Total Rewards package, which includes a competitive Benefits package, forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.

EOE - women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.

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Seniority Level

Mid-Senior level

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