The Burn Boss directs prescribed fire operations and oversees training and qualifications of crew members at the local level.
The Chattahoochee Fall Line Burn Boss will be responsible for keeping abreast of new burn techniques and equipment to enhance skills and maintain/grow professional fire certification credentials. In addition, he/she shall work to build and maintain relationships in the professional fire community and in the local community where the Conservancy works. This may include participation in wildland fire suppression activities in partnership with other non-profits, local fire departments, and local, state and federal agencies, either as a TNC employee, or as a volunteer or short term employee of the partner entity (such as an Administratively Determined, short term federal employee).
The CFL Burn Boss works closely with and oversees 1 Burn Crew Manager who in turn oversees 3 Burn Crew Members in wildland fire activities and other day to day duties. Individual assists in the supervision and management of a fire management program and seasonal prescribed burn crew that will be focused primarily on conducting prescribed burns in western Georgia near Columbus. The crew will also work in other areas of Georgia and potentially in Alabama. The primary responsibility of the CFL Burn Boss and associated crew will be to conduct prescribed burns on key TNC preserves and assist TNC partners such as private land owners, state, and federal agencies. The CFL Burn Boss will be expected to operate as a RXB2 or line boss for holding and ignition operations and provide leadership and experiential training opportunities to subordinates at all times, particularly during prescribed fire operations. CFL Burn Boss will be expected to concentrate appreciable amount of time in surveying and writing prescriptions for individual burn units as well as update Site Fire Management Plans. The CFL Burn Boss may participate in preparing fire lines, maintaining equipment, post-burn monitoring and other tasks alongside the Burn Crew Manager and Burn Crew Members. The crew will assist with project work and other preserve management duties when conditions are not conducive to prescribed fire, including but not limited to, non-native invasive species removal/control. The CFL Burn Boss will also provide leadership, particularly to the Burn Crew Manager, for non-fire related duties. The crew will be based on TNC-owned and/or TNC-leased property in the Marion County, Georgia area. To maximize the effectiveness of the crew and to provide a general security presence for TNC’s equipment, the CFL Burn Boss must live on site with the Burn Crew Manager and Burn Crew Members
- Makes decisions in rapidly changing and potentially hazardous conditions that may affect the safety of staff and resources.
- Oversees staff and volunteers who serve as Burn Crew Members.
- Ensures Crew Members are well-trained and maintains records of training. Reports experience and training for crew to Conservancy Fire Manager annually for recording to Incident Qualification and Certification System.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Under minimal supervision makes independent decision based on analysis, experience and judgment.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Must meet NWCG qualifications for RxB2, including coursework and experience requirements. See the Conservancy’s Fire Management Manual for a full explanation of qualification requirements: http://www.tncfiremanual.org/BurnBoss.htm.
- Must achieve arduous physical fitness standards as set by local Fire Manager.
- Experience directing prescribed fire operations.
- Experience training and supervising staff and burn crew members
- Experience leading effectively in stressful situations.
- Relationship building and negotiation skills.
- Experience using applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Web Browsers).
PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
- 3 to 5 years related experience in fire operations or ecological land management or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience working with or knowledge of natural systems.
- Ability to recognize plant and animal species for executing an ecologically appropriate fire regime.
- Knowledge of ecological land management principles.
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, land management, and natural resource preservation.
- Managing time and diverse activities under deadlines while delivering quality results.
- Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
- Using maintenance tools, including lawn mowers, power and construction tools.
- The position will run for no more than 6 months between January, 2018 and August, 2018. Begin and end dates are flexible within timeframe and maximum 6 month allotment, preference will be given for full 6 month commitment later in the year.
- Housing with basic utilities will be provided at no cost to the employee upon signing and agreeing to lease terms, and the employee must live in provided housing, potentially with the other Burn Crew Members, the Burn Crew Manager, and the CFL Burn Boss (or other command position) to maximize the effectiveness of the crew and to provide a general security presence for TNC’s equipment.