Fire Adapted Communities (FAC) Program Coordinator

Company Description

Since 1995, the Forest Stewards Guild’s national network of members, staff, and partners have advanced the culture of forest stewardship based on ethical principles, best-available science, and diverse experience. As an organization, we are dedicated to practicing and promoting responsible forestry as a means of sustaining the integrity of forest ecosystems and the people dependent upon them. To do this, we explore and demonstrate what works in the woods and showcase effective forest management practices through outreach, training, and policy development. We combine strategy and action to position ourselves as the heart of the forest stewardship movement, driving its growth and impact nationwide. The Guild has members across the country and staff in Maine, New Mexico, Vermont, New York, Minnesota, North Carolina, Virginia, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The Guild is dedicated to providing an open, transparent, and just organization and workplace. We strive for clear, open, and kind communication and are committed to recruiting, hiring, mentoring, and supporting staff from underrepresented communities. We are dedicated to building a work culture that recognizes the inherent value of our employees, supports a healthy work-life balance, and provides an environment that supports personal and job growth.  

We believe that a diverse workforce reflects the strengths of all members of our community. The Forest Stewards Guild strives to create a collaborative, supportive, and respectful setting for all employees and partners. To meet this goal, we recognize and celebrate the wide range of differences that characterize our members, employees, partners, and collaborators. Indeed, those differences enhance our organization and help us to meet our mission and vision. The Guild values diverse forests because they are more productive, more resilient, more adaptable, and better able to recover from disturbances. Similarly, our community is healthier when we are inclusive of a diversity of people and perspectives.   

Learn more at www.ForestStewardsGuild.org   

Job Description

Overview

The Forest Stewards Guild seeks a full-time Fire Adapted Communities (FAC) Program Coordinator based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, dedicated to coordinating the Fire Adapted Communities New Mexico learning network (FACNM) and other duties as assigned. In this position, the successful applicant will support peer-learning and professional relationship building for members of the statewide network through outreach, education, network resources, professional relationship building, and engagement. Network members include community leaders (HOA, Firewise, etc.), fire service personnel, local government officials (municipal, county, Tribal), emergency managers, insurance industry representatives, land management agency officials, and more. The goal of FACNM programming is to create, share, and support local uptake of best practices for various aspects of community wildfire adaptation. To accomplish this goal, FACNM provides: networking opportunities; education and outreach through blog posts, webinars, and website upkeep and creation; support for financial assistance needs through upkeep of a statewide funding database and small monetary awards for community fire risk mitigation and education activities; in-person learning exchanges, workshops, and public events; and planning for the annual New Mexico Wildland Urban Fire Summit (WUFS). FACNM is constantly evolving to meet the needs of the moment and additional Network opportunities, such as development of post-fire community resources, will arise. The work of FACNM is supported through a variety of grant funding; as such, funding opportunity identification and proposal preparation may be a component of the position.  

Ideal candidates will possess a proven track record in coordinating educational programming and events, coupled with exceptional organizational and facilitation skills. They should possess knowledge and experience in forestry, wildfire mitigation, or fostering fire-adapted communities and demonstrate effective communication abilities. A personable and outgoing professional disposition, combined with strategic thinking capabilities and independent motivation, is essential for success in this role. As project needs emerge, the Program Coordinator will collaborate with staff and partners to apply known solutions (including information from the National Fire Adapted Learning Network and National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy) and devise innovative solutions that drive project outcomes forward. 

Detailed description

The FAC Program Coordinator will organize, support, and direct the Fire Adapted Communities New Mexico learning network (FACNM) to accelerate fire hazard mitigation and increase other aspects of community fire adaptation in New Mexico and across the Southwest by researching, establishing, and sharing best practices.  

The FAC Program Coordinator will play a pivotal role in supporting and contributing to the ongoing development of the statewide FACNM network. Responsibilities include convening FACNM members and leaders for bi-monthly connection calls, webinars, in-person events, and through the MightyNetworks connection space; conducting extensive public education and outreach through newsletters, website resources, direct communications, and educational events; actively supporting FACNM members in their community fire adaptation efforts; and assisting with tracking and completion of administrative duties for FACNM. This position will be based at the Santa Fe, NM office.  

Among other duties as assigned, the successful individual will conduct the following tasks with support and leadership from Program Managers:  

Coordinate the Fire Adapted New Mexico learning network (FACNM)

• Work to build and sustain the strength of FACNM through member and leader recruitment and onboarding and offboarding.  

• Convene, prepare for, facilitate, and follow-up on topics that arise during bi-monthly connection calls for FACNM members and leaders. 

• Establish and maintain relationships with a diversity of project partners and funders in the region. 

• Lead and facilitate education and outreach activities for private landowners, community organizations, natural resource professionals, and the public. 

• Assist with preparation of speaking points, articles, and other preparatory materials for FACNM appearances in news outlets and interface with the media. 

• Maintain and grow the peer-to-peer communication platform for FACNM members on Mighty Networks.  

• Regularly connect and coordinate with funding agency partners to ensure cohesion between Network deliverables and funding award objectives.  

Expand wildfire mitigation 

• Complete site visits to FACNM member and leader project areas.  

• Share best practices with members and leaders to support their wildfire mitigation treatments on the ground.  

• Outreach to landowners across New Mexico about available mitigation opportunities. 

• Implement the FACNM microgrant program to support members and leaders in mitigation work and wildfire awareness events. 

• Connect FACNM members and affiliates with additional funding and implementation opportunities through the Carbon Stewardship Program, Forest Health Initiative, Community Wildfire Defense Grant program, or other resources. 

Support Forest Stewards Guild work  

• Maintain and grow partnerships for FACNM and affiliated programs. 

• As needed and desired, support Guild prescribed fire operations.  

• Assist with supporting the goals and objectives of the Greater Santa Fe Fireshed Coalition. 

• Represent the Guild at professional conferences or events and perform public speaking, such as PowerPoint presentations or panel discussions, to share project goals, deliverables, or monitoring metrics.  

• Collaborate as a team using software such as Asana, SharePoint, Box, and Microsoft Teams.  

• Track budgets, in-kind match, metrics, and deliverables for projects.  

• Assist with grant writing and reporting to a variety of different funders, including private foundations and government grants.   

• Other duties as assigned to support the Forest Steward’s Guild mission in the Southwest.  

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science communication, forestry, environmental science, natural resource management or other applicable field, or five years equivalent experience of professional work.  

• Demonstrable experience in partnership building and collaborating with multiple diverse partners, stakeholders, and funders.  

• Experience with program coordination. 

• Clear verbal and written communication skills.  

• Ability to work both independently and with a team.  

• Self-direction and motivation. 

• Strong organizational skills.   

• Effective knowledge of common software applications.  

• Education, experience, or knowledge related to wildfire preparedness or mitigation.  

• Valid driver’s license.  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience disseminating scientific and complex project information to the public.   

• Experience working for or with nonprofit organizations. 

• Experience with program development and management. 

• Experience writing grant proposals and grant administration, up to and including experience managing, tracking, and leveraging multiple budgets. 

• Forestry and/or ecological knowledge or experience in southwest ecosystems.  

• Knowledge of or experience with home hazard and urban fire conflagration mitigation. 

• Experience implementing or contracting forestry or wildfire mitigation treatments.   

• Experience developing Fire Adapted Communities in accordance with guidance from the national FAC Network (www.fireadaptednetwork.org). 

Additional Information

All information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Compensation and Benefits Package  

• $29.01 – $34.35/hour depending on experience 

• Paid leave is accrued monthly from the first day of employment 

• 12 paid holidays per year   

• Employer-sponsored comprehensive health and dental care coverage is available after 30 days of continuous employment with the employee contribution at 20%    

• Short and long-term disability policies paid by the Guild after 60 days of employment   

• Accidental death/dismemberment and life insurance policies paid by The Guild after 60 days    

• Flexible compensation plan available after 60 days    

• Participation in a retirement plan with an employer match is available after 90 days 

• Family Leave after 12 months, including six weeks paid leave and six weeks unpaid leave 

• Paid sick leave   

Location  

This position is located at the Forest Stewards Guild’s office in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This position may require travel throughout the state, including occasional overnight stays. All travel costs from the Guild office in Santa Fe for official business are paid by the organization, including the use of a Guild vehicle. Hybrid or work-from-home will be considered on a case-by-case basis.  

How to apply  

This position is open until filled, applications will be reviewed beginning October 30th, 2026. To be considered, interested applicants must email a cover letter, resume, three professional references, a writing sample, and earliest available start date to rachel at forestguild dot org. Please put "FACNM Program Coordinator application 2026" in the subject line. All documents should be in PDF format and include the applicant's last name in the file name. One combined PDF document is preferred. Applicants are encouraged to apply early for the best chance of review and selection. 

Contact us 

Questions about this position can be directed to Rachel Bean, Program Manager with the Forest Stewards Guild: rachel at forestguild dot org