Job Type: Full-time, on-site
Location: Durham, North Carolina
Salary: $85,000-$92,000/year
Job Description:
The NC Fire Program Manager supports and guides NC Business Unit (NCBU) for fire management activities related to prescribed fires, wildfires, fire training and fire qualifications. They ensure the scientifically defensible execution of controlled burning in forest restoration and management throughout NC. This position provides oversight and technical support to TNC fire operations in North Carolina, ensuring adherence to TNC Fire Management SOP for safety and mitigation of risk, while achieving ecological outcomes. The NC burn season is year-round with a peak burn season between January and May, and the program accomplishes an average of 175 burns per year on 40,000 acres. TNC led and assisted burns are focused in southeastern longleaf pine systems and the Southern Blue Ridge pine-oak forests. Most annual acres burned are completed on partner lands through various fire management agreements that this position develops, reviews, and renews as appropriate. TNC staff from across the state may lead or assist with burns in 3-5 locations on the same day, including in neighboring states, and often share crews with state partners. Permanent TNC fire staff are based in 5 locations across the state and an additional 50 seasonal fire staff are hired across 3 field offices in support of our programs throughout the year. The NC Fire Program Manager has oversight of fire qualifications and fire implementation but does not have direct supervisory responsibilities.
With prescribed burn qualifications including National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Prescribed Fire Manager (RXMG) and Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2), the position reviews and approves fire management plans, prescribed burn plans, and contractor qualifications. The NC Fire Program Manager mentors, supports, evaluates, certifies, and designates burn bosses. They provide Ignition Authorizations for Conservancy prescribed burns. They certify task books, including RxB2; conduct or assist with NWCG training at local and national levels; and ensure Conservancy fire management requirements and guidelines are met or exceeded. They keep current on internal and external developments and trends in the field of wildland fire management and keeps abreast of new burn techniques and equipment to enhance skills and maintain/grow fire credentials of TNC staff. This may include participation in wildland fire suppression activities with external partners. To maintain excellence in their program, they build strong partnerships with public and private partners to further the goals of TNC and keeps their supervisor and other TNC NC leadership staff informed of fire program activities, needs, risks and accomplishments.
The NC Fire Program Manager ensures that fire personnel qualification records are annually collected for and maintained in the IQCS database. They ensure timely notifications are made for all reportable fire incidents and annual reporting of the program's fire management activities. They review proposed contracts and agreements related to fire management activities and provide comments to TNC legal counsel. The Prescribed Fire Manager oversees internal reviews and designs and implements fire safety standards specific to the programs overseen, provided that those standards meet or exceed organizational standards, and may suspend fire management program operations if there is clear evidence of safety violations, serious risk of potential safety violations, or non-compliance with Conservancy SOPs, requirements, or guidelines.
The NC Fire Program Manager ensures that the best available science guides our fire management program with emphasis on building resilience in natural communities. They assist in developing and implementing relevant strategies as part of the chapter’s Conservation Steering Committee. They work with Program Directors to plan for and develop grant proposals and contracts to support the fire program. They work with philanthropy staff to engage with donors and support funding across the state. They are members of the Southern Blue Ridge and Longleaf Whole Systems teams and connect the work in NC to TNC’s North America Living with Fire strategy. They serve as the principle contact to government agencies, other conservation organizations, and the academic community and will build on a history of local collaboration as well as the support of national networks such as the Fire Learning Network. They help lead the Southern Blue Ridge Fire Learning Network and represents TNC on the NC Prescribed Fire Council, the NC Fire Environment Committee, and TNC’s Fire Management Advisory team.
Responsibilities:
Oversees the NC burn program with an average of 175 burns per year on TNC preserves and partner lands. Within NC there are 5 burn bosses (RXB2 or RXB3), 18 fire-trained regular staff with fire as a component of their job, and 50 seasonal fire staff hired annually by field staff.
Reviews and approves burn plans, completes Ignition Authorizations, supports day-to-day burn planning and operations, and provides fire personnel training and development.
Plays a prominent role in facilitating the Southern Blue Ridge Fire Learning Network for TNC, with 8 project areas in the mountains of NC, SC, GA and TN.
Advises TNC supervisors on performance management, training, and career development of fire staff. Ensures qualifications for fire trained staff are maintained in IQCS and maintains records for seasonal fire staff as part of TNC’s Fire Talent and Retention Guidance and Recommendations.
Represents TNC on the NC Prescribed Fire Council and the NC Fire Environment Committee; establishes relationships with external parties and negotiates and administers complex agreements to accomplish program goals. Manages cooperative fire agreements with state and federal partners.
Works in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
Works closely with program directors, burn bosses, stewardship managers, and scientists to develop strategies to meet conservation and fire management objectives.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree and at least 4 years’ experience in prescribed fire management or similar field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Must meet one of the following fire qualifications in order of preference: 1. NWCG RXB2 qualification that meets TNC fire management personnel standards Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2) and RxMG qualification or willingness and demonstrated ability to complete RxMG qualification within 1 year of hire. 2. Experienced state agency burn boss with demonstrated leadership in management of a regional fire program and willingness and demonstrated ability to complete RxMG qualifications within 1 year of hire.
Two years’ experience as burn boss (RXB2 complexity) and experience with incident reporting, review, and response.
Experience in reviewing prescribed burn plans and site fire management plans.
Understanding of Fire Danger Ratings and Outlooks and how to apply them to go/no-go decisions and exemption requests for burning.
Ability and willingness to communicate and work closely with burn bosses, land managers and scientists to develop strategies and meet conservation and fire management objectives.
Experience developing collaborative inter-agency, multi-partner agreements.
Experience supporting the professional development of fire practitioners, including development of training plans or maintain IQCS records.
Familiarity with fuel types, fire effects, and fire behavior in the coastal Longleaf ecosystem and the Southern Blue Ridge Mountain geography where North Carolina fire management actions most often occur.
Knowledge of current trends and practices in prescribed fire management, wildfire mitigation, and natural resource conservation.
Experience in partnership development with non-profits, community groups, government agencies, and Indigenous Tribes.
Experience leading through stressful situations and managing complex projects and incidents, including staff resources and workflows under deadlines.
Experience communicating effectively with internal colleagues, external partners, and or media via written, spoken, and graphical means in English.
Must be able to achieve physical fitness standards as set by the local Fire Manager and TNC Fire Management Manual TNC Physical Fitness Testing
NC Certified Burner or become certified as soon as possible, including certification as a basic smoke modeler, within a year of hiring.
Experience using applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Web Browsers.
Preferred Qualifications:
Minimum 1-2 years experience managing a regional fire program with compliance to state and agency laws and standard operating procedures.
Knowledge of Conservancy fire management Standard Operating Procedure, requirements, and guidelines.
Experience in wildfire suppression, incident command structure, and USFS Administrative Detail procedures.
Master’s degree in fire ecology, ecology, forestry, natural resources management, or related field.
Experience in smoke modelling platforms, including Vsmoke and/or Bluesky Playground.
Experience leading 200 and 300 level fire courses and/or completion of the M410 Facilitative Instructor course.
Experience burning in longleaf pine and evergreen shrub communities on organic soils, as well as in pine-oak systems in mountainous terrain.
Knowledge of current restoration and forest ecology literature and relevant datasets; familiarity with ArcGIS and spatial data.
Experience in training and curriculum design and planning and hosting meetings and workshops with 100 or more participants.
Training in A-100 Basic Aviation Safety or S-270 Basic Air Operations; Rx-510 Advanced Fire Effects.
Demonstrated experience influencing, developing, and implementing conservation policy and plans.
Demonstrated experience in preparing and managing grants.
Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience is valued.
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