Range and Forestry Monitoring Specialist

***APPLY BY 8/15/2026***

Are you a senior scientist who's spent your career at the intersection of range science, forest ecology, and land management, and ready to bring that specialty to a role where the monitoring work, you'd lead directly informs how California manages its rangelands, forests, and fire-shaped landscapes?

As Range and Forestry Monitoring Specialist with CAL FIRE, you'll step into a senior individual contributor role at CAL FIRE Headquarters, responsible for the range and forestry monitoring work that supports the agency's land management, forest health, and vegetation management programs statewide. This position is built for an experienced environmental scientist who understands rangeland monitoring, forest health assessment, and post-fire vegetation recovery at a senior technical level, and who's ready to bring that depth to work with statewide reach.

This role is ideal for a specialist scientist who thrives on technical depth and landscape-scale work. You'll design and implement range and forestry monitoring protocols, conduct field assessments across the state, analyze vegetation condition data, support forest health surveillance and pest and disease monitoring, evaluate the effectiveness of vegetation management and fuel treatment projects, contribute to post-fire monitoring and restoration outcomes work, and provide the scientific ground truth that informs land management decisions across CAL FIRE. Strong field skills, clean data instincts, and the ability to translate ecological findings into actionable information for program partners are central to the work.

This position is located in Sacramento, California, and is a 12-month limited-term senior scientific role with hybrid telework. Hybrid is uncommon for state science positions at this level and is genuinely valued by senior scientists who want field access, office time for analysis, and remote work flexibility for reporting and coordination. The limited-term structure offers the chance to take on specialized monitoring work at a state agency actively expanding its landscape monitoring capacity, and specialized senior science roles at this level frequently convert, extend, or lead to further opportunities across California's natural resource agencies.

This isn't just a monitoring job. It's a chance to bring your range and forestry science expertise into work that directly shapes how California manages its rangelands, forests, and fire-shaped landscapes at the state level.

Why CAL FIRE?

• 4 days in office, 1 day remote
• State benefits including health, dental, vision, and retirement
• 12-month limited-term senior specialist role with strong pathways into further state science work
• Senior individual contributor track with real technical depth, not people management
• Rare specialty role at the intersection of range science, forest ecology, and land management
• Statewide scope across California's rangelands, forests, and post-fire landscapes
• Mission driven team culture focused on service, readiness, and stewardship of California's natural resources

About Sacramento County

Sacramento County offers a strong mix of urban convenience, government employment density, and proximity to some of California's best outdoor escapes. As the state capital, Sacramento is the operational hub for much of California's public sector work, including CAL FIRE's headquarters and statewide land management program operations.

With a lower cost of living than the Bay Area or Southern California, easy access to Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Nevada, the Northern California coast, and the wine regions of Napa and Sonoma, Sacramento County is a strong fit for senior scientists who want substantive work and a quality of life that isn't dominated by commute time.

Popular cities and communities include:

• Sacramento
• Folsom
• Elk Grove
• Roseville (Placer County, adjacent)
• Davis (Yolo County, adjacent)