Job Type: Full-time, on-site
Location: San Jose, California
Salary: $58.60-$71.22/hour
Application Due Date: September 22, 2025
Description:
The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority seeks a Habitat Program Manager to oversee the Authority’s Habitat Stewardship Program in partnership with Field Operations to deliver fuels management, conservation grazing, ecosystem function and other annual stewardship work.
Our mission is to conserve the natural environment, support agriculture, and connect people to nature by protecting open spaces, natural areas, and working farms and ranches for future generations. Since 1993 the Open Space Authority has protected almost 30,000 acres of natural and working lands across the Santa Clara Valley. Our agency manages and conserves a network of open space lands and natural resources, while providing compatible opportunities for hiking, biking, and equestrian uses, with a focus on increasing equity of access to the outdoors for all our constituents.
Ideal Candidate:
As a member of the Natural Resources Department, the Habitat Program manager will oversee and implement many of the annual stewardship and land management projects for the agency in partnership with the Field Operations team and one direct report.
The ideal candidate will have experience implementing wildfire resiliency projects, habitat restoration and understand ecology and wildlife habitat relationships. You will excel in collaboration, project management and working across teams and organizations. Knowledge of botanical resources, conservation grazing, fuels, fire and other ways of understanding habitats will be critical to this position’s success.
You are interested in a work environment with a dynamic combination of field work and office work, of directly implementing work and planning the work. You will enjoy learning, challenging yourself and helping the department or organization deliver important projects. You have strong relationship building skills and thrive in collaboration with internal and external partners and stakeholders. You have an interest in growing your own leadership skills and helping to guide the department’s vision and work. As a leader you are excited to provide mentorship and support growth opportunities for other Natural Resources department staff.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will possess any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in natural resource management, botany, environmental resources, biological sciences, environmental studies or related field; and
Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience implementing natural resource management programs and projects.
Master’s degree preferred but not required.
Ability to conduct effective research and make recommendations.
Experience with effective project management methods.
Strong scientific and technical writing with excellent vocabulary and grammar.
Applied knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Suite, and ArcGIS software.
Note: This position is required to take and pass a pre-employment background check.
If you are excited by the opportunities and challenges offered in this position, we encourage you to apply, even if your experience is non-typical or if you are not sure you meet every one of the qualifications described.
