Prescribed Fire Manager

USA The Nature Conservancy; Sparta (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Nature Conservancy is seeking a Prescribed Fire Manager to lead fire management activities in the Tennessee Business Unit, overseeing all aspects of the prescribed fire program and building capacity across the Cumberland Plateau region. The role includes developing strategic direction, coordinating with agencies, and ensuring compliance with SOPs.

Located at Bridgestone Nature Reserve at Chestnut Mountain, the manager will supervise operations, support restoration projects, maintain preserve

Qualifications

• Must hold NWCG Prescribed Fire Manager (RXMG) qualification.
• Must hold Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2).
• Experience writing MOUs, contracts and agreements related to fire management.
• Maintain fire personnel qualification records in IQCS database.

Responsibilities

• Lead prescribed fire operations and program implementation.
• Maintain preserve infrastructure and access and support restoration projects.
• Develop partnerships and maintain MOUs with agencies.
• Mentor and evaluate burn bosses and staff; oversee fire safety standards.

Skills

Fire leadership

Training & mentoring

Stakeholder collaboration

Strategic planning

Tools

IQCS database

Job description

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Prescribed Fire Manager provides fire management leadership for the Tennessee Business Unit (TNBU) by overseeing all aspects of the program and establishing TNC as a lead partner with prescribed fire in TN's Appalachian Mountain region by creating and maintaining partnerships, increasing prescribed fire capacity, leading teams, writing agreements, writing and managing grants, maintaining fire supplies and equipment, ensuring TNC's compliance with standard operating procedures, and developing strategic direction and sustainability for the prescribed fire program.

Located at The Nature Conservancy's Bridgestone Nature Reserve at Chestnut Mountain, the Prescribed Fire Manager will play a key role in advancing landscape-scale forest restoration and stewardship on the Cumberland Plateau. Responsibilities include leading prescribed fire operations, supporting restoration projects, maintaining preserve infrastructure and access, and other activities that advance the goals of the Chestnut Mountain Strategic Plan. During the first 5-years, the Prescribed Fire Manager will spend approximately 30% of time assisting the North Zone of Cherokee National Forest to plan and implement hazardous fuels reduction projects

We're Looking for You:

The Prescribed Fire Manager provides support to the Tennessee Business Unit for fire management activities related to prescribed fires, wildfires, fire training, fire qualifications, fire planning, and capacity building. With prescribed burn qualifications including National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG), Prescribed Fire Manager (RXMG) and Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2), the position, creates, reviews, and approves fire management plans, prescribed burn plans, and contractor qualifications. The Prescribed Fire Manager mentors, supports, evaluates, certifies, and designates burn bosses. They provide Ignition Authorizations for Conservancy prescribed burns. They ensure Conservancy fire management requirements and guidelines are met or exceeded and keep senior leadership in their area informed of fire program activities, needs, risks and accomplishments. The Prescribed Fire Manager modifies or exempts specific fire management guidelines as defined in the Fire Management Manual, with written justification.

The Prescribed Fire Manager ensures that fire personnel qualification records are annually collected for and maintained in the IQCS database. They ensure timely notifications are made for all reportable fire incidents and annual reporting of the program's fire management activities. They write and/or review MOUs, contracts, and agreements related to fire management activities and provide comments to TNC legal counsel. The Prescribed Fire Manager oversees internal reviews and designs and implements fire safety standards specific to Tennessee and ensures the fire program meets or exceeds organizational standards. They may suspend fire management program operations if there is clear evidence of safety violations, serious risk of potential safety violations, or non-compliance with Conservancy SOPs, requirements, or guidelines.

The Prescribed Fire Manager coordinates and implements stewardship and restoration projects on TNC's preserves or on partner lands, and ensures the conditions of trails, roads, firebreaks, and preserve infrastructure is properly maintained.

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RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Serves in operational fire leadership roles (including Burn Boss) on prescribed fire projects, as needed to support program implementation and maintenance of fire qualifications.
• Oversees stewardship operations at the Bridgestone Nature Reserve at Chestnut Mountain, including the maintenance of preserve infrastructure and equipment, management of access, upkeep of firebreaks, roads, and trails, and implementation of projects that support safe, effective, and sustainable land management.
• Oversees professional staff with responsibility for training and development but may not necessarily serve as supervisor; provides feedback on staff job performance to supervisors.
• Identifies fire personnel and equipment capacity needs annually and develops strategies for meeting annual and long-term prescribed fire and restoration goals.
• Oversees the hiring of seasonal workforce and contractors and establishes / maintains formal partnerships with agencies through development of MOUs and