Employer: The Nature Conservancy
Job Type: Full-time
Location: Central Washington State (Cle Elum, Ellensburg, Wenatchee, Yakima)
Salary: $71,000 - $81,500 annually
The Prescribed Fire Manager is a three-year term position and lead staff member within the Washington Chapter’s Ecological Fire Program, designed to build wildfire resilience in frontline communities of Central and Eastern Washington. This program is aimed at addressing the wildfire crisis by accelerating the use of ecological fire through development and implementation of community-based cooperative burning programs with indigenous partners and with communities at the highest risk of wildfire impacts. This position will work to increase political social license, funding, workforce capacity and on the ground implementation of beneficial fire to improve community resilience and engage frontline communities in creating local and equitable solutions to wildfire issues. They provide support to the Washington business unit(s) for fire management activities related to prescribed fires, wildfires, fire training and fire qualifications (See TNC’s Fire Management Manual). 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 Prescribed Fire Manager mentors, supports, evaluates, certifies, and designates burn bosses. They provide Ignition Authorizations for Conservancy prescribed burns. They ensure Conservancy fire management requirements and guidelines are met or exceeded and keep senior leadership in their area informed of fire program activities, needs, risks and accomplishments. The Prescribed Fire Manager modifies or exempts specific fire management guidelines as defined in the Fire Management Manual, with written justification.
The Prescribed Fire Manager supports prescribed fire workforce development and implements prescribed burns to increase community wildfire resilience. They ensure that fire personnel qualification records are annually collected 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.
As part of the incumbent’s ongoing professional development, they will keep abreast of internal and external developments in the field of wildland fire management to maintain excellence in their program. Additionally, they shall build strong partnerships with public and private partners to further the goals of the Conservancy in their area of responsibility, including delivery of or assisting with fire management training at local, regional, and national levels.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Ability to act in accordance with the Washington equity statement and Washington statement of commitment to Indigenous Peoples; be respectful of differences of identity and/or beliefs, and successfully work across those differences to meet work objectives.
Ability and willingness to achieve NWCG Prescribed Fire Manager (RXMG) qualification.
Familiar with the fuel types and geography for which fire management activities occur and must have a demonstrated ability to evaluate people, programs, and potential problems, and to build partnerships.
Ability and willingness to apply science to decision-making and guide activities.
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.
Knowledge of ecological land management principles.
Familiarity with fire effects and fire behavior in local fuel types.
Knowledge of current trends and practices in fire management, conservation, land management and natural resource preservation.
Knowledge of Conservancy fire management Standard Operating Procedure, requirements, and guidelines.
Experience writing and securing grants.
Completing tasks independently and with respect to timeline(s).
Excellent communication skills via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
