Forest Monitoring Program Manager

Colorado State University, United States

Updated: over 1 year ago
Location: Fort Collins, COLORADO
Deadline: 13 Jun 2022

Posting Details
Posting Detail Information


Working Title Forest Monitoring Program Manager
Position Location Fort Collins, CO
Research Professional Position No
Posting Number 202200757AP
Position Type Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title Management I
Number of Vacancies
Work Hours/Week 40
Proposed Annual Salary Range $62,000 – $68,000 commensurate with experience
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University (CSU) is committed to providing employees with a strong and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Visit CSU’s Human Resources website for detailed benefit plan information for permanent full-time and part-time faculty and administrative professional employees in the following University benefit areas: https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/ & https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/ .
Desired Start Date
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 06/13/2022
Description of Work Unit
The Science and Data Division of the Colorado State Forest Service provides leadership, oversight, coordination, and administration of statewide science and data programs, policies, and procedures that contribute directly to the delivery of agency core services. Division staff advise field personnel, agency leadership, and management on current and emerging issues in Geospatial Data Management and Analysis, Forest Inventory Analysis and Monitoring, Forest Insect and Disease Monitoring, and Science Delivery program areas. Division staff work collaboratively with CSFS customers and partners to meet these program delivery needs. Division staff support Colorado State University Warner College of Natural Resources and College of Agriculture, and Front Range Community College academic programs and connect CSFS with research and resources from these programs.
Position Summary
Under the direct supervision of the Associate Director of Science and Data, this position is responsible for the development, oversight, and administration of a Forest Monitoring and Data Analytics program for the Colorado State Forest Service. This program will include ecological data production, data management, and data analysis. The position will coordinate field data collection and monitoring protocols, and train employees in these methods. In this role, they will also serve as the professional, science based point of contact and liaison for Federal, State, and local governments, non-governmental organizations, and other partners at Colorado State University.
The Forest Monitoring Program Manager will be responsible for administration of a budget ranging from $500,000 to $1 Million (spanning multiple years of funding) and managing contracts that support the Science and Data Division.
Program leadership responsibilities include making recommendations and providing expert advice on the development and application of monitoring processes, protocols and solutions to mission critical resource management issues. This includes climate adaptive management recommendations and support of the Colorado Forest Action Plan. This position will be responsible for developing new and integrating already existing reporting systems to meet agency enterprise needs and local/state/federal grant reporting requirements. They will manipulate and analyze data to support resource management decisions for multiple resource, jurisdictional, and ownership units spanning large geographical regions. They will collaborate with other Colorado State Forest Service Divisions, supporting projects and natural resource management decision making.
The Manager is a member of the CSFS Management Team. The Management Team coordinates work effort across all program areas for efficiency, effectiveness and cohesiveness of program delivery and outcomes. The Management Team’s role is to allocate and manage resources to ensure agency goals and objectives are achieved on time and within budget, address operational and program issues, and ensure that policies and practices are implemented consistently. The Management Team carries out agency priorities established by the Leadership Team.
The Manager is also responsible for the supervision of their assigned staff, including, but not limited to, regular performance evaluation, team building and team meetings, professional development, and conflict resolution. The Manager must be self-directed and innovative.
Required Job Qualifications
  • A Bachelor’s degree (or greater) in forest ecology, forestry, silviculture, fire ecology, statistics, data analytics, natural resource management, or related biological or physical sciences.
  • Four years of experience that includes application of monitoring and data analysis in the management of natural resources.
  • Experience in program and budget management that demonstrates successful project planning and accomplishment.
  • Experience with supervising temporary and/or permanent staff.
  • The successful candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States by the employment start date; Colorado State Forest Service will not sponsor a visa for this position.
Preferred Job Qualifications
  • Masters (or greater) in forest ecology, forestry, silviculture, data analysis, natural resources, or related biological or physical sciences.
  • Demonstrated experience and knowledge in forest health monitoring including field data collection, data analysis, sampling methods, creating monitoring plans, and writing monitoring reports that effectively communicate key results to diverse audiences.
  • Familiarity in forest carbon accounting
  • Experience with geospatial technology including ArcPro, ArcOnline, and global positioning systems
  • Experience working with remotely sensed data
  • Knowledge of University, State and/or Federal data and information management policies and processes
  • Knowledge of local, regional, and national interests, concerns, issues, and goals related to natural resources management and climate change.
  • Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally with diverse groups and individuals including professional experts, scientists, natural resource managers, and staff at all levels to advise on and promote program goals and objectives.
  • Experience with group facilitation and problem-solving techniques to plan and conduct workshops, meetings, and training for natural resource and technical professionals.
  • Experience with management principles and practices related to program and workforce planning, supervision and training of employees to promote a well-trained and qualified workforce.
  • Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively and effectively in teams, advancing outcomes with internal staff, external partners, and cooperators.
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently and at a high level of proficiency.
  • Evidence of a commitment to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion
Diversity Statement
Demonstrated knowledge of, and relevant ability with, culturally diverse communities among potential target and constituent populations.

Essential Duties


Job Duty Category Program Planning and Development
Duty/Responsibility
Applies professional expertise to planning and developing a monitoring and data analytics program at the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) including policies and procedures, and advises the CSFS Leadership Team on current and emerging issues in the following areas:
· Program and budget management: The position will be responsible for administration of a budget of $500,000 to $1 million (spanning multiple years of funding), grant reporting, and assisting the Associate Director of the Science and Data Division in grant funding applications to sustain and develop the program. The position will provide leadership in the development, management and use of data and information, and serves as principal expert advisor on monitoring and data analytics at CSFS. They will develop and implement program goals in conjunction with resource management objectives and organizational business requirements. They will advise, counsel and assist CSFS staff regarding project planning including, but not limited to timelines, data analysis capabilities, use of budget, and appropriate use and selection of contracts. The position will determine staff and resources necessary to support a forest monitoring and data analytics program at CSFS.
· Data Collection and Management: Oversees data life cycle management, evaluates emerging data management needs and strategizes the use of new technologies to facilitate the ease of data management and use within the CSFS. Manages databases and reporting systems. Will analyze current CSFS monitoring protocols to determine maintenance and enhancement needs, and will be asked to develop new and integrate already existing reporting systems to meet local/state/federal requirements. Ensure protocols are updated in line with current science and programmatic monitoring needs. Will oversee and coordinate input from CSFS managers and staff to determine type, amount and level of information required to develop and analyze ecosystem management alternatives. They will be asked to assess quality, compatibility, and limitations of various data used in a wide array of land management and planning efforts. The position is responsible for the organization and maintenance of resource information and data to facilitate analysis across multiple disciplines including but not limited to silviculture, water, wildlife, and wildland fire.
· Program Partnership Lead: Serves as professional, expert point of contact and maintains liaison with Federal, State, local governments and other partners. They are responsible for partnering with other agencies though sharing of forest monitoring data and will be a liaison for planning and program coordination with other government entities including federal and state partners.
Percentage Of Time 45%
Job Duty Category Program Administration
Duty/Responsibility
Formulates, coordinates, and implements broad policies for administration of the monitoring and data analytics program in the following areas: 
· Data Analysis: Provides expertise and makes recommendations on the development and application of analytic processes, protocols and solutions to mission critical resource management issues. Applies statistical tools and solutions to address new situations and resolves novel or obscure problems. Develops and interprets conceptual, mathematical and computer models for monitoring and data analysis applications. The position will manipulate and analyze data to support resource management decisions for multiple resource, jurisdictional, and ownership units or a large geographical region, performing multi-scale and/or multi-resource analysis in support of planning, analysis, and monitoring activities. This includes analysis of on-the-ground forest conditions in treatments to evaluate where prescription objectives were met and how treatments have impacted forest health indicators at the stand level that are difficult to measure using remote sensing or modeling (e.g., fuels, density of small trees, snags, understory vegetation). It also includes insect and disease survey data analysis, forest carbon accounting, and ongoing and emerging CSFS data analytics needs. This work requires significant engagement and outreach within CSFS as well as with external partners.
· Planning: Within priority landscapes, develop project level monitoring plans with staff and partners to collaboratively monitor implementation and effectiveness of landscape-scale forest resiliency projects, inform forest health treatment planning and climate adaptive management, and integrate into future landscape assessments. Plans include monitoring pre- and post-treatment conditions, and changes to those conditions during project implementation from effects such as wildfire.
· Training and Support: Provides advice on the implementation, management, analysis, and use of monitoring data and information. Create monitoring report templates and write monitoring reports. Ensure monitoring data are analyzed and communicated in a coherent and standardized manner. Work with partners to synthesize and communicate their monitoring results and findings through relevant communication channels (legislative reports, annual reports, press releases, videos, presentations, website, etc.) They conduct formal and informal training and provides professional, science based expert assistance to CSFS staff in the development, storage, retrieval, analysis, and security of data. The position will support Science and Data Division outreach and technical paper development.
Percentage Of Time 45%
Job Duty Category Supervision
Duty/Responsibility
·         Plans the work to be accomplished by staff, assigns work to employees, and establishes production or quality standards for the staff’s work. Other responsibilities include establishing and communicating guidelines and performance requirements to employees; conducting formal performance reviews; and identifying and providing for the developmental and training needs of employees.  The position performs administrative and human resources management functions for the staff; providing advice, counsel or instruction on both administrative and work matters. They also assure full compliance with safety and security policies.     
Percentage Of Time 10%

Application Details


Special Instructions to Applicants
To apply, please submit a cover letter addressing how you meet both the required and preferred qualifications, a résumé and (3) professional references. Unofficial transcripts will be requested of all candidates who are selected for finalist interviews.
This position is based in Fort Collins, Colorado with the potential for flexible work arrangements. Candidates interested in remote options must be able to travel to Fort Collins, the Denver area, or other locations throughout Colorado for site visits, meetings, trainings, etc.
A $3,000 moving allowance may be negotiated at the time of hire.
References will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates.
Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
Search Contact Amanda West Fordham, [email protected], 970-286-5021
EEO Statement
Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.
The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715, [email protected] .
The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education .
Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

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