Regional Lead, Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program

University of British Columbia - Staff; Remote; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution based in Canada is seeking a Regional Lead for the Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program. The role involves overseeing the development and delivery of training programs, managing stakeholder relationships, and ensuring effective curriculum development to foster safe prescribed fire practices. Candidates should have a relevant undergraduate degree, extensive experience in fire science, and strong project management skills. The position offers competitive compensation and opportunities for remote work.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Opportunity for remote work

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum four years of related experience in fire science or landscape fire management.
• Experience in project management and facilitating training programs.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Oversee training programs and stakeholder engagement in prescribed fire.
• Develop and implement curriculum for training.
• Manage a team of Training and Outreach Facilitators.

Skills

Fire science

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Curriculum development

Education

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline

Graduate degree in fire ecology or related field

Tools

Excel

Programming skills in R or Python

Job description

Staff - Non Union Job Category M&P - AAPS Job Profile AAPS Salaried - Educational Programming, Level B Job Title Regional Lead, Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program Department UBCO | Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program | Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences | Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science Compensation Range $6,251.00 - $8,986.00 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

December 31, 2025

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

June 30, 2028

We are seeking five individuals to serve as Regional Leads, and the available positions are:

• Western: British Columbia and Alberta
• Central: Saskatchewan and Manitoba
• Eastern: Ontario and Quebec
• Atlantic: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador
• Northern: Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut

*Candidates should currently reside in or be willing to relocate to these areas and will be expected to work remotely.

Application Instructions

Please specify in your cover letter:

1. Which Regional Lead position your are applying for;
2. Your order of preference, if you are interested in more than one region.

*Fluency in French is an asset.

**Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

Housed at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus (UBCO), the Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Programwill be the first of its kind in Canada and will develop the foundational framework required for a nationally recognized program to facilitate the safe and effective application of prescribed fire contributing to measurable improvements in biodiversity, ecological resilience, and community safety. The Program will involve the development of curriculum and regional hubs across Canada which will provide region-specific and hands-on prescribed fire training.

The Regional Lead will oversee training and outreach programming in prescribed fire, stakeholder engagement, and partnership development for their assigned region. They will contribute to the development of the hybrid online and in-person curriculum and will train learners for key roles on prescribed fires. This position will work alongside other Regional Leads and lead the teams in their region, to develop and implement training and program activities including planning and oversight of in-person field training, engaging with regional groups, assisting in reporting and protocol development, developing partnerships, and advising the Prescribed Fire Manager on integration of regional fire regime effects into field training. This position will ensure that research, including prescribed fire and fire effects monitoring, is effectively translated into best practices and practical application for prescribed fire, ecological restoration, and biodiversity conservation which reflects local fire regimes.

Organizational Status

This position reports to the Fire Program Manager and works for the Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program in the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences for UBC’s Okanagan campus. This position is expected to work closely with the Program employees and build relationships with a wide range of external stakeholders including partners, federal, provincial and regional agencies, contractors, NGOs, foundations, Indigenous groups, the public, and other groups from across Canada.

Work Performed

• Contributes to the planning, development,implementation,andcontinuous improvementof theonline and in-personprescribed fire curriculum for theProgram. Willassistwith ensuringquality learner materials and educational instruction are appropriately scaffolded based on learningobjectivesand learner needs.
• Supports the development ofprescribed fire monitoring protocols and systems for the training components of the Program.
• Plans and delivers training to learnersfor key prescribed fire rolesand conducts reviews to ensure learner engagement and comprehensivegoals are in line with the Programobjectives.
• Consults with internal and externalstakeholders, consultants and contractors for course development,maintenanceand reviews.
• Supports the developmentand implementation ofprocedures,systemsand best practices to support thesafedelivery ofcourses.Ensures quality assurance ismaintainedto the highest standard.
• Supports the development and implementation of anationalpartnership and engagement plan toidentifyand formalize partnerships and networks across Canada. Thisincludes engaging with a network of trained instructors, establishingregional hubs to deliver prescribed fire training, andcreating a national research and extension network to sharebest practices inprescribed fire.
• May advise onregionalregulatory requirements in the development of prescribed fire monitoring protocols.
• Builds and implementsprotocols,proposals,workplans, timelines, and evaluation tasks for key Programobjectivesand deliverables.
• Manages, develops, and identifies new relationships to support the Program objectives, and tracks engagement activities to ensure timely and consistent communications.
• Maintains communication and engagement with regional program collaborators including internal UBC teams, and external partners including municipal, provincial and national government bodies, NGOs, First Nations, community-based organizations, and others.
• Collaborates with the Communications and Engagement Strategist to provide feedback into regional communications plans and recommends communications activities including approaches to community engagement and partnerships to ensure wide reach.
• Overseeslearner registration, and support learners throughout the Program, including tracking learner competencies nationally, and providing administrative support as needed.
• Participatesin budget forecasting and preparationof financialreports andmay supporttheProgram Director inidentifyingand applying for regional funding opportunities, such as grant proposal development,to support Program activities.
• Supervisesand trainsstaff andmay haveinput on hiring and performance.
• May require travel around Canada and will need to occasionally work evenings and weekends to support the Program.
• Perform other duties asrequired.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Errors or incorrect decisions of the Regional Lead could seriously compromise the timing and quality of training and knowledge extension projects of the Program. In addition, inaccurate reporting, lack of grant facilitation, and failure in communications could result in lost funding and jeopardized relationships with collaborators and communities.

Poor judgement or poor relationship management may harm the reputation of UBCO and may result in lost research partnership opportunities. Inaccurate or incomplete information regarding partnership opportunities or sponsor regulations could result in a loss of funding or may committhe University to unacceptable award conditions. Mismanagement of partnerships could result in the return of funds, loss of futurefundsand/or inability to collect funds owed to the University Incorrect interpretation of Sponsoring Agency and University policy could result in non-compliance with sponsoring agency terms.

Supervision Received

This position will work with considerable latitude. Work is reviewed against the achievement of Program objectives. Facilitation activities are reviewed for conformity to established objectives and standards. Direct supervision is provided by the Prescribed Fire Manager, and when absent, the Operations Manager.

Supervision Given

Manages a team of Training and Outreach Facilitators.

Minimum Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree ina relevantdiscipline.Minimum offouryears of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Recent and significant experience (more than 4 years) and training in fire science and/or landscape fire management in a leadership position.
• Experience in prescribed fire planning andimplementationisconsideredan asset.
• Experience working ina training environmentand/or in curriculum development;
• Experience in project management,organization,coordination, and facilitation- especially those involving multiple phases and/or teams;
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills including public speaking, presentations, and facilitation;
• Experienceleading,mentoring,and managingdiverse teams in remote and/or hybrid work environments;
• Ability to work with minimal direction and exercise sound judgement and decision-making;
• Effective written communication skills includinggrant writing, reporting, project briefs,etc.;
• Occupational First Aid Level 1, or CPR Level A;
• S-490: Advanced Wildland Fire Behaviour course is an asset;
• Computer and data analysis skills (eg.Word processing, Excel, citation/reference management software, programming skills in R or Python are considered an asset);
• A graduate degree infire ecology, forestry, environmental sciences, conservation sciences, or a related field is an asset;