Rincon Consultants is seeking an as-needed Registered Professional Forester to advise and lead complex projects across California. You'll provide strategic guidance to clients on the California Forest Practice Rules, Board of Forestry regulations, wildfire, timber harvest, and mitigation planning-while mentoring staff and ensuring the technical excellence of Rincon's forestry services .
This position may include a mix of office work and fieldwork and may involve periodic travel to project sites. The ideal candidate is confident managing complex forestry tasks, writing and reviewing high-quality reports, and mentoring staff.
While this role may offer flexible work arrangements that can include a mix of in-office and remote work, our changing business needs will ultimately determine our level of remote-work flexibility. Additionally, to promote in-person collaboration and client teaming, we prioritize hiring those who reside within 50 miles of a Rincon office which currently includes: Carlsbad, Fresno, Los Angeles, Monterey, Oakland, Palm Springs, Riverside, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.
Overview of Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Technical Work and Project Management
Provide senior-level technical leadership on forestry projects across California, including timber harvest planning, forest management, vegetation management, and mitigation programs.
Advise clients on California Forest Practice Rules, Board of Forestry regulations, and related state and local permitting requirements.
Lead and review preparation of Timber Harvest Plans (THPs), exemptions, forest management plans, and associated environmental documentation, including CEQA compliance.
Support wildfire risk reduction and resilience planning, including defensible space, fuel reduction strategies, and vegetation management tied to regulatory compliance.
Conduct and oversee forest stand exams, resource assessments, and impact analyses, including mitigation strategy development and monitoring.
Provide technical oversight and peer review of forestry-related deliverables prepared by Rincon staff, ensuring regulatory accuracy, defensibility, and high technical quality.
Coordinate with state and local agencies (e.g., CAL FIRE, Board of Forestry, CDFW), landowners, contractors, and clients to support project approvals and implementation.
Mentor and support staff by providing guidance on forestry methods, regulations, reporting standards, and professional development.
Business Development and Leadership
Support growth of Rincon's forestry services through proposal development, including scoping, technical input, and cost estimates.
Serve as a senior advisor to clients, helping shape forestry and wildfire-related programs and long-term strategies.
Identify opportunities to integrate forestry services into broader land management, resilience, and sustainability initiatives.
Mentor staff by providing strategic guidance and professional development support, strengthening Rincon's internal forestry capacity.
Contribute to practice leadership by aligning services with evolving regulations, client needs, and market trends.
This Job Might Be for You If You Have the Following:
A Bachelor's degree in Forestry, Natural Resources, Environmental Science, or a closely related field.
Current RPF license in good standing.
15+ years of professional experience in forestry consulting, forest management, or related natural resource work.
Demonstrated experience leading or advising on California forestry projects, including regulatory compliance and environmental documentation.
Strong understanding of California Forest Practice Rules, Board of Forestry regulations, wildfire-related requirements, and CEQA.
Proven ability to write, review, and QA/QC high-quality technical reports and permitting documents.
Experience mentoring staff and leading multidisciplinary teams across multiple projects.
Ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining technical rigor and client service.
Rincon Consultants is an award-winning leader in providing quality environmental consulting services throughout California and is recognized as a 'Best Environmental Services Firm to Work For' by the Zweig Group.?We partner with clients in sectors such as transportation, energy and infrastructure, sustainability, climate change, oil and gas, water, commercial, private development, and government. Our 500+ associates in 13 offices located in Northern, Central, and Southern California are dedicated professionals who combine their passion with our purpose.
The hourly pay range for this full-time position is $80hr-$150/hr depending on experience, qualifications, and responsibilities. At Rincon, our salary ranges are based on market median of similar jobs, according to third party salary benchmark surveys. The base pay that is actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
Individuals offered employment must successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening as a condition of employment. Additionally, those hired who may be assigned to federal projects will be subject to further drug testing, including screening for cannabinoids (THC/marijuana), in compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and other applicable federal regulations, which take precedence over California state and local laws.
Rincon Consultants, Inc. is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer that considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religious belief, color, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identification, gender expression, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, family care, marital status, military and veteran or qualified disabled veteran status, or any other classification protected by law. Rincon Consultants, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify Program to ensure that all employees hired are legally able to work in the United States.
