Job Type: Full-time, on-site
Location: Meewasin - Canadian Prairies Prescribed Fire Exchange - Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Application Deadline: June 2, 2026
Meewasin is a purpose-driven team dedicated to conserving the natural and cultural resources of the South Saskatchewan River Valley for the benefit of present and future generations. We are committed to delivering strategic priorities for maintaining a healthy & vibrant river valley, growing a sense of community, and protecting the legacy of the region that follows an amazing 100-year plan. All Meewasin’s successes could not be achieved without our hardworking, adaptable, and dedicated team. Meewasin is the steward of the beautiful Meewasin Valley which is on Treaty Six Territory and the traditional homeland of the Métis people. We acknowledge this as part of our organization’s efforts towards reconciliation and honor the vast knowledge held by traditional Indigenous caretakers of the land as we work alongside them today.
Meewasin is a founding member and host of the Canadian Prairies Prescribed Fire Exchange (CPPFE), an interagency capacity-building initiative established in 2021 to advance the safe, professional, and ecologically appropriate use of prescribed fire across prairie and parkland ecosystems. Building on the success, partnerships, and practitioner networks developed during its first five years, the CPPFE is now entering its next phase of growth and program development. The Exchange does not conduct prescribed burns; rather, it serves as a coordination and knowledge hub that strengthens prescribed fire capacity through training, knowledge sharing, resource and equipment exchange, and the mobilization of current fire science and practitioner expertise. The CPPFE supports a diverse and expanding community of practitioners, including landowners, agencies, Indigenous communities, conservation organizations, and experienced fire personnel. The CPPFE supports the restoration and stewardship of prairie and parkland ecosystems through the safe application of prescribed fire as a tool for ecological resilience, wildfire risk reduction, biodiversity conservation, and cultural land stewardship. The Program Manager plays a central leadership role in guiding this next phase of development and delivery.
Reporting to the Director of Conservation, the Program Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, coordination, and implementation of the Canadian Prairies Prescribed Fire Exchange. The position provides strategic, operational, and administrative leadership for the program while ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, partner expectations, and funding commitments.
The Program Manager oversees program planning, partnership coordination, operational systems, communications alignment, performance monitoring, and team leadership. The Program Manager provides leadership and direct supervision to all personnel and positions associated with the CPPFE. The incumbent works closely with practitioners, agencies, Indigenous communities, conservation Program Manager, Canadian Prairies Prescribed Fire Exchange 3 organizations, academic institutions, and partner networks across Western Canada to coordinate and advance prescribed fire capacity-building initiatives. The position provides leadership in program development, partnership coordination, training initiatives, governance support, communications alignment, and strategic growth of the Canadian Prairies Prescribed Fire Exchange while working collaboratively with internal Meewasin teams and external partners. This is a unique opportunity to help shape one of Canada’s leading prescribed fire capacity-building initiatives during a period of significant growth and regional expansion.
Duties:
1. Partnership Development and Stakeholder Relations
Coordinate and strengthen relationships with practitioners, agencies, Indigenous communities, academic institutions, and partners
Support collaborative initiatives, interagency engagement, and capacity-building efforts
Represent the program in professional, technical, and strategic forums
Foster credible, productive, and trust-based partnerships
Support coordination of committees, working groups, and governance structures
2. Team Leadership and Program Coordination
Provide leadership, direction, and supervision to all CPPFE personnel
Coordinate roles, responsibilities, and work planning across the program team
Support staff performance, development, and collaboration
Maintain a positive, accountable, and adaptive team culture
Oversee program scheduling, workflows, and operational coordination
Support planning and delivery of training events, workshops, and exchanges
3. Program Operations, Funding, and Performance Monitoring
Oversee administrative, documentation, and reporting systems supporting program delivery
Support budget planning, expenditure monitoring, and financial accountability
Assist with funding strategies, proposals, and reporting obligations
Ensure alignment between program activities and funding commitments
Monitor program progress, milestones, and performance indicators
Identify improvement opportunities and support adaptive program management • Provide strategic direction for program communications and visibility initiatives
Requirements:
Degree or diploma in natural resource management, environmental science, program management, or related discipline
Minimum of 7 years of demonstrated experience in program coordination, project management, partnership development, leadership roles
Experience within environmental, conservation, emergency management, wildfire management, prescribed fire operations, incident management systems, or interagency contexts, including landscape-scale conservation initiatives, is considered an asset.
Experience working with multi-partner initiatives, distributed networks, and complex program environments (highly desirable)
Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills
Ability to manage competing priorities, guide program development, and support and advance collaborative initiatives
Proven ability to lead interdisciplinary teams and coordinate partnerships
Familiarity with Prescribed fire and wildfire management, land management practices, and Prairie ecosystems
Experience in conservation, agriculture, or natural resource management contexts
Knowledge of practitioner networks, capacity-building programs, experience with funding programs and budget management, reporting processes, governance structures, managing complex initiatives
Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, early mornings, and weekends.
Successful completion of a Criminal Record Check, including a vulnerable sector check, prior to appointment
Valid driver’s license with ability to travel regularly within the region and out of province
Availability for additional travel across Western Canada and the United States
The position includes a field-based component involving participation in prescribed fire training, workshops, field tours, demonstrations, and related operational activities across Western Canada and into the United States
To Apply:
To apply, please email your resume in Word or PDF format, to jobs@meewasin.com, using the position title as the subject of the email. Only those applications who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. Application closes on June 2, 2026.
