Deputy Director of Fire Programs

Burnbot; Placerville (CA); On-site; USD 157,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Deputy Director of Fire Programs at BurnBot will lead the Fire Program from concept to full execution, overseeing both response and prescribed fire operations with national scaling ambitions. The role emphasizes field readiness, risk management, and coordination with federal, state, and local agencies while shaping deployment strategies.

This exempt, full-time position may base in Placerville, CA or other hubs, with roughly 25% administrative work and 75% field engagement, and a salary range

Qualifications

• 10+ years of wildland fire experience in federal, state, local, or private contexts.
• Demonstrated experience in wildfire suppression operations and prescribed fire planning and execution.
• Proven ability to build and scale operational programs from the ground up.
• Experience leading teams in complex, high-risk, time-sensitive environments.
• Ability to translate organizational strategy into field-level execution.
• Valid driver's license and ability to be insured under company policy (this role requires driving company vehicles and trailers to remote job sites).

Responsibilities

• Assist oversight of and provide leadership for BurnBot's integrated Fire Program encompassing both response and prescribed fire operations.
• Contribute to aligning fire operations with acreage, revenue, and organizational readiness targets.
• Develop Fire Program SOPs, operational playbooks, and go/no-go frameworks.
• Recruit, develop, and lead key program roles including Fire Operations Specialists, Fire Module Leaders/Crew, and Fire/UAS leadership.
• Assist planning towards achieving revenue targets, cost structures, and deployment economics for the Fire Program.
• Assist the operation of or be delegated oversight of a BurnBot-centric national dispatch and mobilization system spanning the full operational lifecycle: situational reporting, decision-making, deployment, and demobilization.
• Eliminate operational failures including miscommunication, incorrect equipment assignments, and logistics breakdowns.
• Assist the DFP to build and maintain regional readiness models encompassing personnel, equipment, and logistics infrastructure.
• Work to establish BurnBot as a credible, scalable prescribed fire operator with repeatable standards.
• Build and implement burn plan standards, technical review processes, and multi-region pilot programs leading to full-scale Rx operations.
• Work with the DFP to define and implement BurnBot's UAS program within fire operations.
• Integrate technology solutions across intelligence, ignition, and monitoring functions, ensuring all systems are operationally relevant and scalable.
• Work with the DFP and other Programs leadership positions to interface with federal, state, and local fire agencies.
• Ensure that BurnBot is aligned with existing state and national dispatch and contracting systems.
• Position BurnBot as a force multiplier that complements and extends existing workforce capacity.

Job description

4505 Greenstone Road, Placerville, CA, 95667, United States

$157,000.00 - $180,000.00 / Year

Exempt (FT)

About BurnBot

BurnBot provides systematic fuels treatment services to prevent destructive wildfires. We're firefighters, scientists, engineers, prescribed fire practitioners, ecologists, and community members who are answering the call to scale fuel treatment capacity. Our modern fuel treatment system recognizes and supports conservation efforts with a clean, smoke-free process. We need technology to amplify our workforces with targeted use of synthetic fire to treat fuel loads 10x faster than previously possible.

The Role

The Deputy Director of Fire Programs assists the Director of Fire Programs (DFP) in being responsible for building and leading BurnBot's Fire Program, encompassing both fire response and prescribed fire operations, from concept to full execution, and scaling strategy at a national level. The Deputy Director of Fire Programs will have direct oversight of select portions of the Fire Program vertical as delegated by the DFP. The main focus of the Deputy position will be on operational readiness and deployment of BurnBot fire program resources to achieve the mission of the company. The Deputy will serve with full authority for Fire Program decision making and oversight in the absence of the DFP.

The ideal candidate is a proven operational leader who can translate strategic vision into field-ready systems, lead high-performing teams in complex and high-risk environments, and establish BurnBot as a credible, trusted force multiplier within the broader wildland fire community.

The Deputy Director of Fire Programs is expected to split their time approximately 25/75 between administrative responsibilities and field engagement, however this may fluctuate based upon the need for field operations oversight. This position is an exempt role with an annual salary range of $157,000-$180,000. Placement within the range depends on experience, certifications, and skills.

This role, while in the field a majority of the time, may be based in Placerville, CA, Medford, OR, or our South San Francisco, CA Headquarters.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Fire Program Leadership

• Assist oversight of and provide leadership for BurnBot's integrated Fire Program encompassing both response and prescribed fire operations
• Contribute to aligning fire operations with acreage, revenue, and organizational readiness targets
• Develop Fire Program SOPs, operational playbooks, and go/no-go frameworks
• Recruit, develop, and lead key program roles including Fire Operations Specialists, Fire Module Leaders/Crew, and Fire/UAS leadership
• Assist planning towards achieving revenue targets, cost structures, and deployment economics for the Fire Program

Operational Execution & Readiness

• Assist the operation of or be delegated oversight of a BurnBot-centric national dispatch and mobilization system spanning the full operational lifecycle: situational reporting, decision-making, deployment, and demobilization
• Eliminate operational failures including miscommunication, incorrect equipment assignments, and logistics breakdowns
• Assist the DFP to build and maintain regional readiness models encompassing personnel, equipment, and logistics infrastructure

Prescribed Fire Program

• Work to establish BurnBot as a credible, scalable prescribed fire operator with repeatable standards
• Build and implement burn plan standards, technical review processes, and multi-region pilot programs leading to full-scale Rx operations

UAS & Technology Integration

• Work with the DFP to define and implement BurnBot's UAS program within fire operations
• Integrate technology solutions across intelligence, ignition, and monitoring functions, ensuring all systems are operationally relevant and scalable

External Coordination & Partnerships

• Work with the DFP and other Programs leadership positions to interface with federal, state, and local fire agencies
• Ensure that BurnBot is aligned with existing state and national dispatch and contracting systems
• Position BurnBot as a force multiplier that complements and extends existing workforce capacity

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of wildland fire experience in federal, state, local, or private contexts
• Demonstrated experience in wildfire suppression operations and prescribed fire planning and execution
• Proven ability to build and scale operational programs from the ground up
• Experience leading teams in complex, high-risk, time-sensitive environments
• Ability to translate organizational strategy into field-level execution
• Valid driver's license and ability to be insured under company policy (this role requires driving company vehicles and trailers to remote job sites)

NWCG Qualifications: Required

• Prescribed Fire: RXB2/1
• Wildfire Operations: TFLD or higher (DIVS, ICT3 preferred)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with overseeing complex fire programs within the state, federal, or local government environment
• State-level Prescribed Fire certifications (CARX, etc)
• Experience with operating or overseeing the use of heavy equipment including mobilization, operations, and maintenance
• Experience with UAS operations in fire or land management contexts, including possessing an FAA Part 107 certification (or have the ability to gain this)
• Experience operating in multi-region and/or national-level fire operations

Physical requirements and working conditions

This position is performed primarily outdoors at active fuels treatment and prescribed fire sites. Essential functions include: walking, standing, bending, kneeling, and climbing on uneven, steep, or unimproved terrain for extended periods; working full shifts in variable and adverse conditions, including heat, cold, wind, dust, and smoke; operating, carrying, and maintaining hand and power tools, including chainsaws; lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation, and occasionally more with assistance; wearing required personal protective equipment for the duration of the shift, including fire-resistant clothing, hard hat, hearing and eye protection, gloves, and safety footwear; maintaining situational awareness and communicating clearly by radio in high-noise environments; and traveling by vehicle and by air to remote sites, including overnight and multi-day assignments.

BurnBot provides reasonable accommodation to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role. To request an accommodation, contact [e-mail] or [phone] x 1010.

BurnBot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion or religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, registered domestic partner status, age (40 and over), physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information or characteristics, military or veteran status, status as a protected or honorably discharged veteran, reproductive health decisionmaking, primary language, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, request for family care or medical leave, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law, or any combination of these characteristics.

Employment is contingent on satisfactory completion of a background check and a pre-employment drug screen, conducted after a conditional offer of employment and in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local law, including fair chance laws under which qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records are considered for employment.

If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact us at [phone] x 1010 or [e-mail].