Description

Lead critical forestry work with lasting regional impact across northwest Colorado.

We are seeking a Northwest Area Manager to lead a talented team delivering critical forestry work across northwest Colorado. This is an opportunity for an experienced forestry or natural-resource leader to make a meaningful regional difference through wildfire mitigation, watershed resilience, active forest management, and implementation at a scale that will benefit Colorado communities for generations.

The Colorado State Forest Service's mission is to achieve stewardship of Colorado's diverse forest environments for the benefit of present and future generations. As part of Colorado State University, CSFS works with landowners, communities, forest-products businesses, and local, state, and federal partners to put sound forestry into practice. Apply now! 

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Associate Director of Forestry Services, the Northwest Area Manager leads operations and program delivery across five field offices: Granby, Steamboat Springs, State Forest in Gould, Rifle, and Grand Junction. The Area Manager serves on the CSFS Management Team and helps shape agency-wide priorities, resource allocation, policies, and operational decisions.

This senior leadership role oversees a complex, multi-year and multi-source portfolio. Responsibilities include staff leadership and development, program implementation, budgets and agreements, partnerships, facilities, fleet, equipment, technology, and safety.

Location: Could be based out of Grand Junction, Granby, Steamboat Springs, or Gould (State Forest)

Salary Range: $80,000 – $85,000 (based on experience)

Where You’ll Make a Difference

• Wildfire mitigation and community resilience: Lead strategic work that reduces wildfire risk, protects communities, and supports recovery after wildfire.
• Watershed protection and resilience: Advance partnership-based forest management that sustains healthy watersheds and the communities that depend on them.
• Implementation at a meaningful scale: Connect forest-management priorities with forest-products businesses, timber sales, service contracts, grants, and partnerships that move projects from planning to durable on-the-ground results.

What You’ll Do

• Set Area priorities, goals, annual targets, and long-range work plans aligned with CSFS strategy, and ensure consistent delivery across field offices.
• Build trust, develop people, establish clear expectations, mentor supervisors and staff, conduct performance reviews, and support a safe and professional workplace.
• Manage Area budgets and fiscal practices; oversee grants, contracts, service agreements, accomplishment reporting, compliance, certification, and reimbursement.
• Represent CSFS and cultivate productive relationships with communities, non-profits, forest-products businesses, local governments, and state and federal partners.
• Guide applied, science-based forestry services related to forest management, wildfire mitigation, hazardous fuels, watershed protection, community forestry, outreach, and education.
• Oversee facilities, vehicles, equipment, and IT/GIS tools to maintain safe, reliable, and compliant operations.
• Contribute to agency-wide problem-solving, budgeting, operating procedures, and resource allocation as a member of the CSFS Management Team.

Why Choose Colorado State Forest Service?

We not only value our forests; we also value our employees. Joining our team comes with incredible benefits: 

• Identity Wear Stipend: Elevate your professional image with a stipend for personalized executive wear.
• Work-Life Harmony: Achieve optimal work-life integration through tailored and flexible scheduling options.
• Connectivity Privilege: Stay seamlessly connected with either a cell phone allowance or a provided work cell.
• Premium Healthcare Benefits: Prioritize your well-being with access to exclusive and comprehensive healthcare benefits.
• Time-Off: Recharge with 15 days of sick leave and 24 days of annual leave.
• Retirement Plan: Secure your financial future with a remarkable 12% employer contribution to your retirement plan.
• Assistance Program: Access premium well-being resources through our Employee Assistance Program.
• Professional Development: Enhance your skills through personalized professional training opportunities facilitated by CSU.
• Educational Empowerment: Receive 9 hours of education credits annually through CSU. 
• Tuition Privileges for Family: Secure your family's future with 50% off tuition for children, partner, and spouse.
• Community Leadership Initiative: Give back to your community with paid administrative leave dedicated to volunteering.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree in forestry, natural resource management, or a closely related field, as specified in the official posting.
• Eight or more years of professional forestry experience, such as forest ecology, silviculture, forest management or planning, watershed protection, wildfire mitigation, or fuels reduction.
• Four or more years of progressively responsible administrative, program, or project management experience in a natural-resources environment.
• Supervisory experience leading teams, including across geographically dispersed locations and through organizational change.
• Demonstrated program and portfolio management skills, including budgeting, grants or contracts, reporting, and compliance oversight.
• A valid driver's license, or the ability to obtain one in Colorado, and willingness to travel and occasionally work irregular hours as needed.