Director of Forestry, Fire and Public Safety

Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) District seeks a Director of Forestry, Fire and Public Safety to manage California’s growing need for firefighters, forestry professionals, and other first responders. This role supports LTCC in increasing student enrollment and completion of certificates and degrees in forestry, fire, and public safety training programs, ensuring graduates secure jobs in high-demand fields in the Tahoe Basin, California, and nationwide.

About the Role

Under the direction of the Dean of Workforce Development and Instruction, the Director coordinates all administrative aspects of Forestry Education, Fire Science, Emergency Medical Services, Criminal Justice, Wilderness Education/Search and Rescue, and other public safety-related programs. The Director has comprehensive responsibility for all public safety training programming offered by LTCC, including programming delivered at the Tahoe Basin Public Safety Training Complex, and coordinates the scheduling, support, and programmatic use of the Complex.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with External Partners and Oversight Agencies:
  • Engage with external stakeholders including industry experts, public and private employers, and community partners.
  • Work with external accrediting agencies (California State Fire Training, El Dorado County Emergency Medical Services, etc.) to ensure academic programs receive programmatic accreditation that ensures graduates meet employer needs and expectations.
  • Assist with the creation of materials (print and media) and work with outside agencies and stakeholders to support and promote programs.
• Provide Program Oversight and Management:
  • Collaborate with the Dean of Workforce Development and Instruction to identify and secure highly qualified program faculty.
  • Manage grant funds and complete related reporting for forestry, fire, and public safety grants, including from CAL FIRE, California Tahoe Conservancy, Tahoe Fund, and Tahoe-Truckee Community Foundation, among others.
  • Work collaboratively with the Senior Director of Government Relations and Grant Development on grant proposals and partner engagement.
  • Coordinate with program faculty to ensure access to facilities required for training programs, including the Tahoe Basin Public Safety Training Complex.
  • Oversee and act as the Program Director for the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program.
  • Provide information and assistance to faculty, administrators, staff, students, and others regarding program development progress and engagement.
  • Identify existing datasets to use to report metrics related to program successes and establish regular reporting systems and records.
  • Train, supervise, and evaluate the performance of assigned staff; interview and select employees and recommend transfers, reassignment, termination, and disciplinary actions.
  • Communicate with administrators, faculty, students, and staff to coordinate activities and programs; resolve issues and conflicts to achieve positive solutions and student outcomes.
  • Attend and conduct a variety of meetings and presentations as assigned; serve on committees and attend trainings and conferences related to assigned activities.
  • Coordinate with consultants and on-campus external affairs and communications staff to market the programs.
• Tahoe Basin Public Safety Training Complex:
  • Oversee and direct the programmatic operations of the Tahoe Basin Public Safety Training Complex, with comprehensive responsibility for all public safety training programming delivered at the Complex.
  • Develop and implement plans, policies, and procedures governing use of the Complex by LTCC programs, partner agencies, and outside tenants, and oversee day-to-day programmatic operations, including scheduling, staffing, and budgeting.
  • Work in coordination with maintenance staff on facility and equipment operations, maintenance, and infrastructure.
  • Maintain use agreements and partnerships with fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, and other public safety agencies utilizing the Complex for training, ensuring that all public safety training programming across LTCC and the Complex is coordinated, non-duplicative, and aligned with programmatic accreditation standards.
• Engage and Support Students:
  • Conduct student outreach activities for programs, respond to student inquiries, establish and conduct student orientations, and connect students to an array of support services including financial aid, counseling, basic needs, mental health, housing, and other services.
  • Be a point of contact for students interested in pursuing programs, courses, and degrees and the general public.
  • Coordinate with employer partners to provide students with opportunities for internships and job placement.
  • Coordinate with the LTCC Rising Scholars Program to support current and formerly incarcerated/detained students in transitioning into career education programs, and specifically with supporting current and former CDCR Fire Camp and juvenile students in obtaining education (including Credit for Prior Learning) and certifications necessary to work in fire and forestry-related fields.
  • Coordinate with Student Services to support student progress, including the recognition of credit for prior learning, course substitutions, and degree and certificate completion, while providing counselors with current information on program pathways and career opportunities.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Any combination equivalent to: Bachelor’s degree in a related field and two years of increasingly responsible experience or any satisfactory combination of experience and training, which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the above duties. Experience managing projects with multiple components and entities.

Skills

• Management, planning, budget preparation, and reporting.
• Planning, organization, and direction of the operations and activities of academic program development.
• Writing skills and editing, as well as social media formats.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy.
• Ability to:
  • Plan, organize, and administer services for the District in accordance with applicable policies, grant requirements, and statutes.
  • Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
  • Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
  • Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
  • Meet schedules and timelines and manage budgets.
  • Work independently with minimal direction.
  • Direct contractors and review deliverables, compile feedback and edits into written form, and finalize reports for circulation.
  • Organize all grant records and files related to assigned grant activities.
  • Prepare and deliver oral presentations.
  • Demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students.

Pay

LTCC offers a competitive compensation package with a starting placement salary of $90,778 to $100,202 annually, dependent on education and experience. There is potential to reach $116,135 annually through step advancement plus longevity when appropriate. This position also qualifies for extra bilingual (Spanish), master's, or doctorate pay.

Benefits

• Health and Welfare: Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and long-term disability. Several plan options maintain a zero monthly premium cost from the employee and include full coverage of a gold-level medical plan that, on average, covers 80% of healthcare expenses for a standard population.
• Retirement: LTCC matches 26.4% of an eligible employee’s salary and contributes it into a CalPERS pension account for qualifying employees.
• Leave: 17 paid holidays per year plus 18 days of vacation (with the potential to reach 24 days through years of service) and 12 days of sick leave per year.

Schedule

This is a full-time, 12-month position requiring 40 hours per week, including summer and winter hours. Hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, and may vary according to program needs. This position is exempt and ineligible for overtime compensation.