Project Manager - Community Wildfire Defense Grant

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Location 14409 Tuolumne Road Sonora, Sonora, CA, 95370, United States

Base Pay $90,000.00 - $115,000.00 / Year

Employee Type Exempt (FT)

Description

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 ag