Project Manager III - Ecological Restoration

At RES, we’re looking for purpose-driven individuals who are passionate about restoration and sustainability, and who want their work to make a lasting environmental impact. Our team members go above and beyond, bringing initiative, integrity, and a strong work ethic to every project. Collaboration is key—we thrive on teamwork, open communication, and diverse perspectives. In a field that constantly changes, we value those who are resilient, adaptable, and resourceful in the face of challenges. If you're intellectually curious, eager to learn, and ready to help restore ecosystems and protect natural resources, you’ll find your place here.

RES is seeking a Project Manager III with 10+ years of experience based out of our Sacramento, CA office (hybrid option available).

The Mission:

RES is currently is expanding our activities in the Western U.S., and this position will be taking over new large and complex environmental restoration projects. We are looking for a seasoned communicator who knows how to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams within RES, including Land, Legal, Regulatory, Design, Sales, Ecology, and Construction. You will also represent RES before the community and have the ability to work independently and drive a project from conception to successful completion with little guidance. This individual will be a role model and mentor for junior staff in the project management team and represent RES at conferences and industry trade groups.

Why You’ll Love This Job

• You’ll lead high-impact restoration projects from start to finish
• You’ll be given autonomy and trusted to make critical decisions
• You’ll mentor junior staff and help build a stronger, smarter PM team
• You’ll influence long-term environmental outcomes and see your impact on the ground
• You’ll join a company where science, teamwork, and restoration align

A Day in the Life

You will be developing project budgets, outlining a project schedule, and managing fast paced, large, and complex projects independently. Projects may include the development of mitigation banks, permittee responsible mitigation projects, and other mitigation solutions. Depending on where the project is located, oversight of the project team may involve in-house staff and/or subcontractors. RES works in a variety of habitats across the western United States, and projects may include anything from the restoration of desert ecosystems to the restoration of complex wetland habitats. This role will also involve supporting proposal efforts.

Familiarity with the regulatory requirements of the state of California as well as a strong knowledge of ecological/biological/botanical knowledge of California habitats and ecosystems is an essential plus. Familiarity with the regulatory requirements and knowledge of habitats/ecosystems of other western states is a bonus.

This role also includes estimating and evaluating bids from subcontractors, managing subcontractors, and providing QA/QC of contracts and technical reports. You will be interacting with our project accounting team, supporting the revenue recognition process and the delivery of the financial reports, so experience with business financials is essential and will be an important part of the project manager role.

Demonstrated experience in technical and/or regulatory and financial fundamentals relevant to project development with experience training others in the fundamentals, understanding of the revenue recognition process and business financials. Must have experience with using project management software.

Why RES: RES’ West Region is a tight-knit group of scientists, engineers, and other ecological restoration professionals. We have multiple large-scale projects that are exciting to work on and dozens of additional smaller-scale, but equally interesting projects. This is the place to spread your wings and really take flight! Come join our growing team!

We would love to talk to you if you have many of the following:

• A Bachelor’s degree in applied sciences, engineering, or construction (or equivalent experience)
• At least 10 years of experience in environmental, restoration, or construction-related fields
• 6+ years of direct project management experience
• Advanced knowledge of project management tools and documentation practices
• Strong background in regulatory processes and permit management
• Experience managing budgets, subcontractors, schedules, and multi-disciplinary teams
• Confidence leading projects with minimal oversight and high complexity
• Strong communication skills and ability to manage risk, scope, and client expectations
• Demonstrated success using PM Best Practices (Charters, Risk Registers, BMPs)
• Ability to mentor junior PMs or lead project teams across departments
• Familiarity with financial reporting, forecasting, and project margin tracking

What Will Make You Stand Out

• Experience leading multi-phase mitigation, conservation, or restoration projects
• Experience in environmental restoration design, natural resource evaluation and permitting, and mitigation plan development.
• Experience as team lead of applied earth sciences and a familiarity with the engineering and/or construction components of developing projects.
• Experience with complex project budget tracking and financial models.
• Advanced Degree or additional qualifications such as certifications.
• Familiarity with habitat mitigation and mitigation banking in the states of California, Washington, and Oregon.
• Experience with the ecological skillsets tailored to the state of California and other western states.

Please note that the “Day in the Life” section is not intended to be an exhaustive list of job duties, but rather a representative snapshot of typical responsibilities and work experiences at RES.

RES is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.