Senior Manager, California Operations & Administration

Department: Forest Restoration 

Reports To: Director, Program Operations & Administration 

Location: Remote 

FLSA Category: Exempt 

Post Date: March 21, 2025

Close Date: April 4, 2025

About American Forests: 

American Forests is a national non-profit organization committed to creating healthy and resilient forests from cities to large forest landscapes, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water, and wildlife. We advance our mission through forestry innovation, place-based partnerships to plant and restore forests, and movement building. We envision a world in which the significant environmental, societal, and economic benefits of forests are fully realized and equitably available to all people. Established in 1875, American Forests is the oldest national non-profit conservation organization in the U.S. working to restoring urban forests and forested landscapes for over 150 years.  

American Forests is proud to be a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplace. These are our shared values. We welcome individuals who bring a variety of backgrounds and experiences to be a part of our team to help make a difference individually and collectively as we work toward achieving our mission. We are committed to fostering an environment that is welcoming and respectful and provides opportunities for advancement and professional growth for every team member.  

Position Summary: 

The Senior Manager, California Operations & Administration will play a key role in streamlining operations within the California Region Office, ensuring the effective implementation of American Forests’ Resilient Forests strategy. Working closely with the California Director, this position will manage grant administration, financial planning, budgeting, invoicing, and contract management to enhance team efficiency and impact. 

Success in your first 1–2 years will be demonstrated by: 

• Improved Efficiency: Established clear workflows for grant and project administration, reducing delays and increasing team productivity.
• Financial Oversight: Developed budgeting and invoicing systems that improve financial tracking and forecasting.
• Team Empowerment: Provided training and mentorship, strengthening staff capabilities in project and fund management.
• Project Impact: Supported seamless execution of resilient reforestation projects, ensuring timely reporting and successful grant closeouts.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, process-driven, and proactive, ensuring the California office operates at peak effectiveness to restore fire-impacted landscapes for people, water, wildlife, and climate. 

Responsibilities: 

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to: 

Program Administration (65%) 

• Provide first-line direction and analysis to California office staff regarding grant/agreement and budget management. 
• Work closely with Resilient Forests’ Director, Program Operations & Administration, as well as the Senior Manager, Program Operations & Administration, and the California Director, to review and approve grant/agreement applications and modifications, budget reforecasts, contracts and subaward agreements, invoices, and other administrative items. 
• Coordinate with Finance Department on project budgeting, spenddown plans, budget modifications, contract and agreement approvals, and billing and invoicing.
• Elevate concerns and challenges to the California Director; make relevant recommendations and work to implement solutions. 
• Maintain a working knowledge of the requirements associated with the office’s projects including allowable expenditures; reporting requirements, timelines, and formats; and invoicing procedures.

Program Development & Improvement (25%) 

• Design and provide training to California office staff that aims to increase understanding and performance of core administrative processes. 
• Support establishment of new best practices, templates and other materials as needed (in alignment with program and admin staff) to enhance coordination opportunities. 
• Provide support to program staff in understanding and adopting organizational standard operating procedures. 

• Identify and vet grant opportunities, and coordinate with the California Director and program staff to plan and execute competitive funding applications. 
• Work closely with the California Director to identify areas of potential for office-wide programs and support strategic growth management efforts as appropriate.

Other Duties as Assigned (10%) 

• Participate in relevant recurring partnership meetings for adequate project context.
• Support outreach and presentations at relevant conferences and meetings.
• Occasional support of relevant department wide initiatives. 

Qualifications: 

While we do not expect any one candidate to possess all of these qualifications, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following: 

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, nonprofit management, or natural resources.
• At least 5 years of demonstrated experience and excellence in nonprofit management and natural resources, either firsthand or administrative work within a natural resource-focused organization.
• Experience with State of California agencies, regulations, and procedures strongly desired.
• Exceptional organizational, project management, and observation skills and an interest in system function. 
• Experience with California Climate Investments funding is a plus. Experience with common finance, budgeting, and HR software (e.g., UNANET, ADP, Intuit QuickBooks, etc.) 
• Experience with natural resource data collection, management, and/or analysis using tools such as digital data collection, GIS, statistical analysis software.

American Forests’ Core Competencies: 

• Attitude: Brings a positive outlook to work and helps inspire others to achieve excellence. 
• Communication: Produces strong written documents, edits documents effectively, engages in effective verbal communication—1-on-1 and small group—and conducts effective large group presentations. 
• Organization: Prioritizes tasks effectively, accomplishes tasks efficiently, follows through on all commitments, breaks down large projects to make them manageable, and effectively manages complex projects involving multiple actors. 
• Problem-Solving & Creativity: Identifies issues, effectively structures problems, analyzes data to produce insights, and generates wise, actionable recommendations. Understands the limited resources available and produces creative solutions. 
• Representing the Organization: Serves as an effective ambassador, builds connections, and maintains relationships with outside partners, vendors and donors. Brings credibility to the organization in how they present themselves. 

Working Conditions, Salary, and Benefits: 

• This is a fully remote position, with preference given to candidates within the state of California. Up to 15% of travel throughout California and/or to American Forests’ headquarters in Washington D.C. may be required.
• The budgeted salary range for this position is $60,000-$80,000. American Forests offers an outstanding benefits package, including generous PTO; 16 paid holidays; medical, dental, and vison insurance; 401(k) with a 6% match; Employee Assistance Program; and more!
• Work will be performed almost exclusively in indoor environments with occasional opportunities for site visits in remote or harsh outdoor conditions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to provide access to all individuals along the continuum of human ability and experience. 

American Forests is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. 
Reasonable accommodations may be made to provide access to all individuals along the continuum of human ability and experience. 

Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran/LGBTQ+ 

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In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information is also available in languages other than English.