Landscape Associate

About: The Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council (SBCFSC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to promote wildfire safety in Santa Barbara County through education and action. Members of the Board include current and past firefighting professionals and volunteers, representatives of local government, and citizen representatives from various local communities. Every other meeting includes a presentation from an expert on local issues such as fire ecology, vegetation management, infrastructure improvement, and emergency planning. The goals of the meetings are to provide relevant information to the local citizens and offer a platform for community members to become part of the solutions to the challenges fire poses to our wildland urban areas. We also work to bring funding to our community through grants and donations. Recent grants have helped fund the ongoing Gaviota Coast CWPP, a local video on defensible space education, and the Buellton Walk into Wildfire exhibit. The SBCFSC is funded through donations and grants, using these funds to increase wildfire preparedness through education, planning and mitigation projects. Recent projects have included the Eastern Goleta Valley/San Marcos Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), the Gaviota Coast CWPP, community Firewise program coordination, educational videos and Wildfire Preparedness Expositions. Currently the SBCFSC has available funding through CalFire to support two Landscape programs, the SBCFSC Community Chipping Program and the South Coast Herbivory Program. Additional funding will be provided by the CalFire Firewise Support Grant. Current staff include an Executive Director, Community Resilience Domain Associate, Community Resilience Domain Lead, Community Chipping and Grazing Project Manager, Communications Coordinator, Defensible Space Assistance Project Coordinator and Wildfire Education Program Manager. Position Overview: The SBCFSC seeks a Full-time (40 hours per week) Landscape Associate to support the Chipping and Grazing Project Manager by assisting in completion of the project deliverables, coordinating and overseeing subcontractors, gathering data, and performing field work. Chipping Program field work including but not limited to: - Staging signage/banners in participating communities - Meeting with vendors to stage roll off dumpsters - Mapping piles to be chipped in participating communities - Meeting with contractors onsite to provide instruction for project implementation including but not limited to overseeing crews while working and providing boots on the ground instruction - Meeting with community members and engaging in education about the work being performed and our program offerings (while in the field) - Identify hazardous trees/areas of concern for emergency vehicle ingress/egress - Provide instruction and oversight for crews performing tag and trim work - Available for early morning/ occasional weekend work in preparation for crew arrival Chipping Program clerical work: Document and provide data to Project Manager including but not limited to: - Number of homes participating in Chipping program - Location and unit of measurement (i.e. miles/number of hazard trees trimmed) where tag and trim work is performed - Tons of chipped material broadcast onsite (if applicable) - Number of tag and trim vs chipping days per participating community Herbivory Program field work including but not limited to: - Staging signage and banners at treatment areas - Walk grazing paddocks to map treatment areas - Regularly visit project sites and obtain before and after photos of treatment areas Herbivory Program clerical work: - Provide Project Manager with field data i.e. treatment photos, acres completed, paddock maps - Provide shapefiles of treated areas Desired Skills and Experience: - Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a positive and respectful attitude - Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel - Ability to communicate factors influencing wildland fire behavior and how vegetation treatments impact fire behavior - Working knowledge of chainsaws and chippers - Fluent in both English and Spanish is desired but not required Qualifications: - Current driver license with functioning vehicle – selected candidate will be required to drive their own vehicle; fuel stipend will be provided for project related activities Location: The project location is southern Santa Barbara County, California. The selected candidate will need to be within reasonable commuting distance to the project area. Application Deadline: Applications will be continuously reviewed until a suitable candidate is identified. But for full consideration please apply by February 11. Terms of Employment: Full-time hourly position. Salary and Benefits: Salary range is $25-$35/hour dependent on experience. The employee will be eligible to participate in a company sponsored matching retirement plan. Applications: Applicants are invited to send a resume and two references. All correspondence should be emailed and addressed to the Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council, sbfiresafecouncil@gmail.com. Please include your name and “Landscape Associate” in the subject line. The Santa Barbara Fire Safe Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, or other status are encouraged to apply.