The Prescribed Fire Coordinator (PFC), located at the Niobrara Valley Preserve (NVP) in north central Nebraska, provides overall TNC fire management supervision and coordination for the geographic area for which they are designated in this capacity. The PFC will work with federal, state, and local governments, as well as environmental organizations and private landowners in developing and implementing prescribed fire on public and private lands in Nebraska.
The PFC will work with existing TNC staff, partners and private landowners on writing Prescribed Burn Unit Plans and implementing prescribed fire on those lands through enhancing and/or development of new prescribed fire burning partnerships. PFC serves as burn boss on TNC burns at the Niobrara Valley Preserve and may serve as burn boss on other TNC lands. PFC also assists in the coordination and implementation of the NVP Fire Training Exchange annual events. The PFC mentors and evaluates TNC staff on fire related tasks; certifies RxB2 task books, conducts or assists with training at local and national levels, and ensures that TNC’s fire guidelines and requirements are met or exceeded. The Prescribed Fire Coordinator has the authority to temporarily suspend fire management program operations because of safety concerns or non-compliance with Conservancy standards. The PFC provides technical and scientific support to Fire Planners and Burn Bosses, reviews proposed contracts for prescribed fire operations, provides comments to TNC legal counsel, and approves qualifications of contractors hired to conduct prescribed burns. The PFC keeps current on internal and external developments and trends in the field of wild land fire management in order to maintain excellence in their program, builds strong partnerships with public and private partners to further the goals of the Conservancy in their area of responsibility, and keeps senior leadership in their area informed of fire program activities, needs, risks and accomplishments.
As part of the incumbent’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 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).
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Assists professional staff with responsibility for training, and development, but may not necessarily serve as supervisor; provides feedback on job performance to supervisor.
- May lead or monitor work groups consisting of staff, interns and volunteers covering a wide geographic area.
- Ensures that fire personnel qualification records are maintained; collects annual updates of information for IQCS and submits to National training office.
- Must build relationships with external parties and negotiate complex agreements to accomplish program goals.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience and judgment.
- At least 4 years’ experience in fire management or natural resource management or similar field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Must meet NWCG qualifications for RxB2 (Burn Boss), 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.
- Experience in developing strategies.
- Experience in reviewing prescribed burn unit plans and site fire management plans.
- Experience in training and curriculum design.
- Supervisory experience.
- Experience leading effectively in stressful situations.
- Experience using applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Web Browsers.
- Experience communicating effectively with internal colleagues, partners, and or media.
- Must achieve physical fitness standards as set by local Fire Manager and TNC Fire Manual.
- Fire Manager Qualification must be approved and designated in writing by the Conservancy Fire Management Coordinator.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual skills and multicultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
- 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.
- Completing tasks independently and with respect to timeline(s).
- Excellent communication skills via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
- Experience in representing TNC in local stakeholder partnerships and building new partnerships relating to prescribed fire implementation.
The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, 401k or savings-plan matching for eligible employees, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond.