Remote Forest Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Location: Remote 

Reports to: Director of Conservation Finance

Salary:\t $92k - $110k / year

Travel: Intermittent, up to 20% time

Employment Status: Full-time, Exempt

Preferred Start Date: 9/28/26

About Blue Forest

Blue Forest is a conservation finance non-profit founded in 2015 that is focused on advancing ecosystem restoration through scientific research, financial innovation, and collaborative partnerships. Since 2018, Blue Forest has managed investor capital through its flagship financial product, the Forest Resilience Bond (FRB), which deploys private capital to finance forest restoration projects to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. More recently, Blue Forest has also established Blue Forest Asset Management (BFAM), an investment management platform connecting investors to compelling, mission-aligned opportunities in a broader set of asset classes beyond FRB projects, such as private equity and private credit investments.

Blue Forest is made up of an interdisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, foresters, finance professionals, and communications professionals committed to the mission: “To accelerate ecological restoration through conservation finance, enabling climate resilience for ecosystems and communities.”

Employees at Blue Forest are:

• Committed to Continuous Learning

• Driven by Collaboration

• Thoughtful Innovators for Impact

• Grounded in Science

• Passionate about Restoring Earth’s Ecosystems

Position Summary

The Credit Manager is a key member of Blue Forest’s Finance team, responsible for underwriting conservation finance transactions, managing and monitoring debt investments, and supporting portfolio operations. This role requires a blend of lending expertise, analytical acumen, and cross-functional collaboration to support Blue Forest’s mission-driven investments, including Forest Resilience Bonds (FRBs) and other innovative conservation finance mechanisms.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in private lending, investment management, and transaction execution, with a passion for environmental impact and sustainability. They will work closely with borrowers, legal counsel, investors, and internal Blue Forest teams to structure and execute finance transactions, ensure sound portfolio management, and develop conservation investment strategies.

Responsibilities & Duties

Conservation Finance Transactions (60%)

• Lead the underwriting of conservation finance loans (such as Forest Resilience Bonds, or FRBs):

  • Build collaborative relationships with and conduct diligence on borrowers

  • Conduct credit and financial statement analysis as inputs to the investment process

  • Coordinate with Blue Forest Project Development team to set, manage, and execute against transaction timelines

  • Build and maintain Excel models and analytical tools

  • Coordinate with Portfolio Managers to incorporate transaction information into fund models, plans, and analysis

• Support the design, development, and closing of conservation finance funds, investment vehicles, and strategies:

  • Evaluate conservation finance opportunities through desktop research, internal and external networking, and stakeholder engagement

  • Contribute to business development and partnership efforts with Project Development team, Director of Conservation Finance, and other senior leaders

Ongoing Monitoring & Management (35%)

• Manage conservation finance investments:  

  • Monitor loan-level financial performance and compliance; maintain financial models 

  • Oversee flow of funds and information between Blue Forest and counterparties, including loan principal and interest payments; interface with Accounting team as needed

  • Maintain key counterparty relationships

  • Participate in ongoing dialogue with Blue Forest Project Development team and other stakeholders regarding investment strategy, risks, and future opportunities

• Help manage conservation finance portfolios and facilities:

  • Monitor portfolio-level financial performance, facility deployment, and adherence to governance processes; maintain financial models 

  • Coordinate risk management procedures and management of problem loans

  • Support investor reporting

Other (5%)

• Continuously improve and progressively assume ownership of Blue Forest finance practices, processes, systems, and documentation

• Support Blue Forest Communications, Fundraising, and other teams in developing written content about conservation finance

• Contribute to ad hoc and structured internal trainings on financial topics

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in finance, private lending, investment management, structured finance, impact investing, or conservation finance, including some or all of the following:

  • Experience performing private credit analysis, preferably on nonprofit, government, or other social sector borrowers

  • Strong background in financial modeling

  • Prior experience negotiating loan agreements and conducting financial due diligence

  • Preference for candidates familiar with portfolio management and risk management principles, and with facility/fund governance

• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with borrowers, portfolio management teams, investors, legal counsel, and cross-functional internal collaborators

• Excellent presentation, negotiation, and written and verbal communication skills

• Detail-oriented and analytical strength, with the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines

• Strategic thinking with a results-driven mindset and a passion for climate resilience and sustainability

Benefits

• All employees at Blue Forest who are .8 FTE or above qualify for the following benefits:

• 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision coverage; subsidized coverage for dependents

• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan with a 5% employer match

• 4 weeks paid vacation and 17 paid holidays; paid sick time and volunteer time

• 3 months of paid family leave

• Employer-paid life and long-term disability insurance

• Access to Dependent Care FSA and Health FSA

• Public Lands Exploration stipend (reimbursements for visits to National Forests, county parks, etc.)

• Monthly Home Office stipend or co-working space provided

• Dependent care costs are subsidized for business travel

• Additional stipends for health & wellness, home internet, and cell service

• Financial support for professional development
  

Additional Information

Blue Forest is a fully remote company with staff located across all four continental U.S. time zones. While we value flexibility in work schedules, all employees should expect to have some overlap with Pacific Standard Time working hours in order to collaborate with partners and team members. Blue Forest also hosts an in-person team retreat each year.

How to Apply 

To apply to this position, please submit a resume and cover letter for your application through Recruitee. People from historically underrepresented populations and candidates with non-traditional career paths are especially encouraged to apply.

If participating in the interview process would require you to incur additional expenses to participate, such as childcare, please let us know, and we are happy to reimburse for reasonable expenses incurred up to $30/hour for twice the length of each interview in which you participate. There will be space to request this reimbursement upon offer of an interview.