California Deer Assocation
Habitat Project Manager (Forester)
California Deer Assocation, Redding, California, United States, 96001
Job Title
Habitat Project Manager (Forester)
Location Redding, California
Salary $65,000 - $85,000
Organization The California Deer Association (CDA) is a 501(c)3 non‑profit organization that works to enhance native deer and other wildlife populations across the state of California through habitat restoration projects. Land‑use practices, climate change, and fire suppression over the last century have resulted in substantial degradation of critical forest and wetland habitats. CDA partners with private, local, state, and federal landowners to improve and restore conditions across several habitat types. Our restoration treatments address a variety of objectives, including restoring ecosystem structure and function, reducing hazardous fuel loads, removing encroaching conifer and invasive species, and mitigating post‑wildfire impacts. Projects generally entail either hand or mechanized treatment, including but not limited to canopy thinning, understory thinning, mastication, and prescribed burning.
Description The Habitat Project Manager (Forester) position will report to the Program Manager and will be responsible for working with contractors, landowners, and CDA staff to coordinate the successful preparation and implementation of habitat restoration projects that focus primarily on forest management via commercial thinning. Responsibilities will include performing and/or overseeing field crews as they perform a comprehensive suite of technical forestry tasks associated with timber harvest planning, including but not limited to stand inventory, harvest unit delineation, timber marking, timber cruising, and GPS data collection. These duties will include inspecting work for quality assurance, ensuring compliance with silvicultural prescriptions and resource protection measures, project site monitoring, and progress reporting. This job will be primarily field based with most of the work time spent at job sites performing duties listed below. The work will be performed in forested environments where terrain may be uneven, rocky, and covered with thick vegetation. Climatic conditions range from extremely hot and dry to extremely cold and wet. Rain, snow, wind, or dust may be encountered. The work involves regular and recurring risks or discomforts that require safety precautions or the use of personal protective equipment such as boots, gloves, goggles, and hard hats. The CDA headquarters office is based in Redding, California, however, this is a field‑based role and will require regular travel across California. There may be opportunities to perform office duties from a satellite office and/or from home.
Essential Job Duties
Management of contractors or CDA field crews performing stand inventory and timber harvest planning activities
Performance of forest mensuration, field reconnaissance, data collection, and project layout/design
Proficiency in GPS/GIS mapping and data management, preferably with the ESRI suite of GIS software
Performing quality assurance/quality control to ensure compliance with silvicultural prescriptions, resource protection measures, and project specifications
A high level of physical fitness to hike long distances in uneven terrain and varying weather conditions (ability to hike up to 5-10 miles with a 30–40-pound pack daily)
Driving long distances and navigating 4x4 drive roads
Regular overnight project travel. Possess skills suitable for working and camping in remote and rugged outdoor environments with variable weather, sometimes alone
Assistance with grant writing and applications, outreach, and other administrative tasks as required
Engage with CDA Development Staff, chapters members, and community members to support chapter development, volunteer engagement, youth events, etc.
Develop and produce outreach materials in partnership with CDA Marketing Team that communicate habitat program project work to promote awareness and participation
Willingness to work flexible hours to accommodate field days when necessary
Other job duties as assigned by the Habitat Program Manager, Habitat Program Director, or other management staff
Required Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in Forestry, Natural Resource Management, or a related field with 2-3 years or 6+ years of experience in a forestry related field
Knowledge of silviculture, forest ecology, and timber harvesting methods
Experience with forest mensuration stand inventory, timber cruising, timber marking, and sale layout
Ability to hike long distances across difficult terrain and in varying weather conditions
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
The ability to use a hand‑held GPS device and data recording devices such as a tablet
Must have a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record, and experience 4x4 driving
Organizational and record keeping skills for regular progress updates
Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing. Ability to listen to safety and operational instructions
Equal ability to work independently and cooperatively as a team
Working proficiency with GPS data collection systems, preferably ESRI Field Maps or Avenza Maps
Proficiency in GIS mapping and data management, preferably with the ESRI suite of GIS software
Preferred Experience
Previous experience in timber harvest planning or administration
Competency in timber cruise/inventory sampling design, silviculture planning
Proficiency with GPS, GIS, and forestry software
Experience working with public lands, private landowners, and/or forest products companies
Familiarity with the California Forest Practice Rules, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Passionate for environmental conservation and restoration
Knowledge of diverse California wildlife and ecology
Wildland Firefighter Type 2 Red Card
Benefits
Health Insurance, including vision and dental
Paid time off
Remote work flexibility
401(k) with company match after one year of employment
Application Instructions To apply for this job, please send a resume and a one‑page cover letter to
info@caldeer.org
by no later than February 28, 2026. Please include “Habitat Project Manager (Forester) Position Application” in the email subject.
Equal Opportunity Employer The California Deer Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Location Redding, California
Salary $65,000 - $85,000
Organization The California Deer Association (CDA) is a 501(c)3 non‑profit organization that works to enhance native deer and other wildlife populations across the state of California through habitat restoration projects. Land‑use practices, climate change, and fire suppression over the last century have resulted in substantial degradation of critical forest and wetland habitats. CDA partners with private, local, state, and federal landowners to improve and restore conditions across several habitat types. Our restoration treatments address a variety of objectives, including restoring ecosystem structure and function, reducing hazardous fuel loads, removing encroaching conifer and invasive species, and mitigating post‑wildfire impacts. Projects generally entail either hand or mechanized treatment, including but not limited to canopy thinning, understory thinning, mastication, and prescribed burning.
Description The Habitat Project Manager (Forester) position will report to the Program Manager and will be responsible for working with contractors, landowners, and CDA staff to coordinate the successful preparation and implementation of habitat restoration projects that focus primarily on forest management via commercial thinning. Responsibilities will include performing and/or overseeing field crews as they perform a comprehensive suite of technical forestry tasks associated with timber harvest planning, including but not limited to stand inventory, harvest unit delineation, timber marking, timber cruising, and GPS data collection. These duties will include inspecting work for quality assurance, ensuring compliance with silvicultural prescriptions and resource protection measures, project site monitoring, and progress reporting. This job will be primarily field based with most of the work time spent at job sites performing duties listed below. The work will be performed in forested environments where terrain may be uneven, rocky, and covered with thick vegetation. Climatic conditions range from extremely hot and dry to extremely cold and wet. Rain, snow, wind, or dust may be encountered. The work involves regular and recurring risks or discomforts that require safety precautions or the use of personal protective equipment such as boots, gloves, goggles, and hard hats. The CDA headquarters office is based in Redding, California, however, this is a field‑based role and will require regular travel across California. There may be opportunities to perform office duties from a satellite office and/or from home.
Essential Job Duties
Management of contractors or CDA field crews performing stand inventory and timber harvest planning activities
Performance of forest mensuration, field reconnaissance, data collection, and project layout/design
Proficiency in GPS/GIS mapping and data management, preferably with the ESRI suite of GIS software
Performing quality assurance/quality control to ensure compliance with silvicultural prescriptions, resource protection measures, and project specifications
A high level of physical fitness to hike long distances in uneven terrain and varying weather conditions (ability to hike up to 5-10 miles with a 30–40-pound pack daily)
Driving long distances and navigating 4x4 drive roads
Regular overnight project travel. Possess skills suitable for working and camping in remote and rugged outdoor environments with variable weather, sometimes alone
Assistance with grant writing and applications, outreach, and other administrative tasks as required
Engage with CDA Development Staff, chapters members, and community members to support chapter development, volunteer engagement, youth events, etc.
Develop and produce outreach materials in partnership with CDA Marketing Team that communicate habitat program project work to promote awareness and participation
Willingness to work flexible hours to accommodate field days when necessary
Other job duties as assigned by the Habitat Program Manager, Habitat Program Director, or other management staff
Required Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in Forestry, Natural Resource Management, or a related field with 2-3 years or 6+ years of experience in a forestry related field
Knowledge of silviculture, forest ecology, and timber harvesting methods
Experience with forest mensuration stand inventory, timber cruising, timber marking, and sale layout
Ability to hike long distances across difficult terrain and in varying weather conditions
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
The ability to use a hand‑held GPS device and data recording devices such as a tablet
Must have a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record, and experience 4x4 driving
Organizational and record keeping skills for regular progress updates
Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing. Ability to listen to safety and operational instructions
Equal ability to work independently and cooperatively as a team
Working proficiency with GPS data collection systems, preferably ESRI Field Maps or Avenza Maps
Proficiency in GIS mapping and data management, preferably with the ESRI suite of GIS software
Preferred Experience
Previous experience in timber harvest planning or administration
Competency in timber cruise/inventory sampling design, silviculture planning
Proficiency with GPS, GIS, and forestry software
Experience working with public lands, private landowners, and/or forest products companies
Familiarity with the California Forest Practice Rules, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Passionate for environmental conservation and restoration
Knowledge of diverse California wildlife and ecology
Wildland Firefighter Type 2 Red Card
Benefits
Health Insurance, including vision and dental
Paid time off
Remote work flexibility
401(k) with company match after one year of employment
Application Instructions To apply for this job, please send a resume and a one‑page cover letter to
info@caldeer.org
by no later than February 28, 2026. Please include “Habitat Project Manager (Forester) Position Application” in the email subject.
Equal Opportunity Employer The California Deer Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.
#J-18808-Ljbffr