Demo

Lead Project Forester

Colorado State University
Durango, CO Full Time
POSTED ON 8/21/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 12/18/2026

Job Description

Position Summary:

This position is involved with all five Goals of the Strategic Plan and is critical to accomplishing the CSFS mission. It supports the strategic plan by filling the immediate demands for Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) response coordination and capacity for the Northeast Area, and by providing forestry leadership and expertise for proactive forest stewardship for landowners and cooperators in critical, priority landscapes.

Essential Job Duties:

  • Lead planning, prioritization, and delivery of forestry programs and projects (e.g., CWPP implementation, forest stewardship, Good Neighbor Authority projects, urban & community forestry, outreach) to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest resilience.
  • Supervise and mentor Foresters, Forestry Technicians, seasonal employees, and interns; set goals, assign work, coach performance, and ensure safety and quality standards.
  • Manage budgets, grants, and contracts; track deliverables, timelines, and compliance; maintain accountability for program performance and quality control.
  • Support field office and area operations by contributing to annual work plans, long‑range priorities, scopes of work, and interagency agreements; serve as acting Supervisory Forester when assigned.
  • Develop and sustain partnerships with landowners, local governments, and federal/state/tribal/NGO collaborators; represent CSFS in multi‑party initiatives and pursue funding opportunities (grants, agreements).
  • Provide technical assistance and approve/oversee silvicultural prescriptions and vegetation management activities consistent with CSU/CSFS policies and best available science.
  • Coordinate across field offices to align operational plans, share resources, and ensure consistent program delivery.

Conditions of Employment:

  • Pre-employment Criminal Background Check.
  • Valid Colorado driver’s license or ability to acquire one upon employment.
  • Ability to travel and work irregular work hours and periodic long days, evening and weekend service; occasional out of area, and periodic overnight travel.
  • Ability to drive 4x4 trucks on rough terrain, pulling a trailer and operating OHVs (to include side-by-sides, ATVs and snowmobiles).

Supervision:

This position will supervise 1 FTE Forester, seasonal employees, and student interns.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • A bachelor’s degree (or greater) in Forestry, Wildlife Biology/Management, Fire Ecology or other related natural resource field will be considered.
  • Three years of professional forestry experience, with specific experience in Wildfire Management/Fuels Mitigation, Wildlife Biology, Forest Management, Dendrology, Forest Ecology, Forest Measurements, Silviculture, or Vegetation Dynamics.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Two years of experience with a state forestry agency.
  • Experience developing work plans and project/program prioritization and resource allocation.
  • Experience in public presentations and outreach.
  • Professional experience with participation on teams, committees and other special assignments, as well as the ability to work independently.
  • Experience with contracts, agreements, and grant management.
  • Program and/or project management experience that included budget preparation and administration.
  • Excellent written communication skills.
  • Experience with the general Microsoft Suite Office and ArcGIS software .
  • Knowledge of western United States forest management techniques in the following areas: Silviculture (e.g., Colorado tree silvics; intermediate treatments; even-aged and uneven-aged structure), disturbance regimes, WUI fuels reduction, forest insect and diseases, timber harvesting systems, community forestry in WUI situations.
  • Experience with basic field forestry skills (cruising and timber marking) related forestry project boundaries, harvest plans, silvicultural prescriptions, natural and artificial regenerations methods, road layout, and contract inspections.

Salary Range

$60,000 to $65,000
Full consideration date 9/14/2026

Required Application Documents

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Cover Letter, Resume/CV

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.


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.

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Benefits:

Health Insurance, Sick Leave, Retirement Plan

Salary : $60,000 - $65,000

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Lead Project Forester?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Lead Project Forester career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$107,623 - $139,321
Income Estimation: 
$133,494 - $170,282
Income Estimation: 
$131,105 - $151,214
Income Estimation: 
$128,269 - $173,633
Income Estimation: 
$157,111 - $225,157
Income Estimation: 
$56,065 - $75,749
Income Estimation: 
$98,735 - $185,128
Income Estimation: 
$302,228 - $379,575
Income Estimation: 
$68,596 - $101,765
Income Estimation: 
$58,530 - $79,170
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at Colorado State University

  • Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO
  • Company Description Colorado State University, founded in 1870 as Colorado Agricultural College, is now one of the nation’s leading research universities, ... more
  • 3 Days Ago

  • Colorado State University Wahiawa, HI
  • Job DescriptionPosition Summary An Hourly LRAM Heavy Equipment Operator position is available at Schofield Barracks, HI with Colorado State University (CSU... more
  • 4 Days Ago

  • Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO
  • Job DescriptionPosition Summary: The Administrative Coordinator provides direct administrative support to the Accessibility Center staff including the Stud... more
  • 7 Days Ago

  • Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO
  • Large Animal Flex Assistant. This Large Animal Flex Assistant position will rotate through and support the staff and patients of all equine and livestock s... more
  • 13 Days Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Lead Project Forester jobs in the Durango, CO area that may be a better fit.

  • Trideum Corporation Colorado, CO
  • SMDC Project Lead (Space Operations) Full-time Colorado Springs, CO (Carson/Peterson) Salary Range: $165,000 - $210,000 commensurate with qualifications Po... more
  • 4 Days Ago

  • Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI) Colorado, CO
  • DCO-S Sustainment External Cyber Training Lead Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI) is searching for a Defensive Cyber Operations – Space (DCO-S) Susta... more
  • 10 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!