The Allegheny Highlands Burn Crew serve as representatives of the Central Appalachians Fire Learning Network and strive to build and maintain trust of partners by successfully completing on the ground forest restoration projects. The Burn Crew Manager oversees a squad (4-8 Burn Crew Members) in wild land fire activities, as directed by a Burn Boss, or other command position.
The Allegheny Highlands Burn Crew Manager oversees 4 crew members. They supervise the seasonal burn crew daily. The primary responsibilities of the crew are to prepare and implement prescribed burns in the Central Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia with key partners such as the USDA Forest Service (George Washington & Jefferson National Forest), VA Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, VA Department of Conservation & Recreation and the VA Department of Forestry. The Burn Crew Manager (BCM) participates in preparing fire lines, maintaining equipment, post-burn monitoring and other tasks. They may also perform other preserve management duties when conditions are not conducive to prescribed fire including, but not limited to trail maintenance, forest thinning and fire cache organization.
As part of the BCM’s ongoing professional development, they will be responsible for keeping abreast of new burn techniques and equipment to enhance skills and maintain/grow professional fire certification credentials. In addition, they 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 wild land fire suppression activities in partnership with state and federal agencies, either as a TNC employee, or short-term employee of the partner entity (such as an Administratively Determined, short term federal employee).
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Function as both leader and member of a work team, in a high stress team environment.
- Convey work instructions to Burn Crew members.
- Monitor the progress of Burn Crew Members toward achieving fire management goals.
- Makes decisions on the fire line based upon evaluation of fire behavior, available resources and judgment.
- Perform other preserve management duties when conditions are not conducive to prescribed fire.
- Ability to perform heavy physical work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Must have valid driver’s license and good driving record.
- Qualified Fire Fighter Type 1 (Squad Boss) and successful completion of FFT1 task book. Requirements for FFT1 can be found in the Conservancy Fire Management Manual at: http://www.tncfiremanual.org/SquadBoss.htm.
- Must achieve physical fitness standards as set by local Fire Manager and the TNC Fire Manual; Must be able to complete arduous Work Capacity Test, 3 miles in 45 minutes carrying 45 lbs.
- Faller 3-Basic Faller is required
- Experience operating, maintaining and troubleshooting various types of equipment. (Two-way radio, chainsaw, back pack blower, brush cutter, UTV, portable pumps and drip torches)
- Experience supervising staff or volunteers is required
- May be required to obtain related licenses and certifications such as CPR and herbicide application.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Single Resource Boss (ENGB, FIRB and/or CRWB) qualified.
- Faller 2-Intermediate Sawyer preferred.
- 2 or more years training in fire operations or other science-related field or related experience in land management or similar field.
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
- Ability and willingness to work in a team environment.
- Ability to evaluate inputs in a rapidly changing work environment and make decisions that affect the safety and work of firefighters within squad.
- Willingness to coach and mentor burn crew members in fire management and forest restoration activities.
- PC familiarity, including database knowledge, to maintain preserve records.
- Willingness to travel from home base for several days, potentially weeks at a time.
- Experience navigating to remote sites with maps, written directions and GPS.
- Experience hauling a trailer.
Hourly Rate: $21.37/hour.