Southwest Prescribed Fire Manager

USA The Nature Conservancy; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 78,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care benefits

401(k) plan with 8% employer match

Parental leave

Accrued paid time off

Job summary

USA The Nature Conservancy in Arizona is seeking a Fire Manager to provide fire management leadership and implement priority prescribed fire initiatives. The role emphasizes collaboration with Arizona and New Mexico forests for strategic fire planning and implementation focused on restoration objectives.

The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor’s degree, significant experience in fire management, and the ability to lead effectively in operational environments. A comprehensive benefits package is offered alongside a competitive salary range.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and at least four years of experience in fire management or natural resource management.
• Must meet NWCG qualifications for Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2.
• Experience reviewing prescribed burn unit plans and site fire management plans.

Responsibilities

• Balancing direct prescribed fire implementation and strategic coordination.
• Leading prescribed fire projects and supporting partner coordination.
• Ensuring compliance with organizational and interagency standards.

Skills

Fire management

Natural resource management

Strategic thinking

Technical guidance

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Overview

What We Can Achieve Together: The Southwest Prescribed Fire Manager provides fire management leadership in Arizona and New Mexico by directly implementing priority prescribed fire, coordinating and enabling Conservancy fire capacity across programs and Business Units, and focusing prescribed and beneficial fire where it can most effectively advance dry forest restoration objectives. While dry forest landscapes represent a primary area of emphasis, the role also supports prescribed fire in other fire adapted ecosystems where The Nature Conservancy has a defined role, responsibility, or partnership. This position is jointly supported by the Arizona and New Mexico Business Units and is designed to deliver high impact operational fire leadership while strengthening cooperative burning, workforce capacity, and cross‑boundary implementation in support of priority restoration needs. The position works closely with Arizona and New Mexico forest management, forest leadership, and Stewardship Programs, as well as North America Fire, to ensure prescribed fire planning, implementation, and staffing are coordinated, strategically aligned, and focused on priority outcomes.

Responsibilities

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE: Balances direct prescribed fire implementation, strategic coordination and partnership development, and training and program management responsibilities, adjusting emphasis seasonally to meet operational demands while maintaining steady progress toward priority restoration and risk‑reduction objectives.

Serves in operational fire leadership roles (including Burn Boss) on prescribed fire projects, as needed to support program implementation, workforce development, partner coordination, and maintenance of required fire qualifications.

Oversees and supports professional fire staff across Arizona and New Mexico, including responsibility for training, mentorship, qualification advancement, and workforce development planning. This role may not directly supervise all fire staff but provides performance feedback to supervisors and contributes to professional development and succession planning.

Directly supervises designated fire staff as prescribed fire programs and capacity expand in either state. Leads or monitors work groups consisting of staff, interns, volunteers, and partners operating across a wide and varied geographic area, including cross‑boundary and multi‑partner prescribed fire efforts.

Supports Stewardship Programs and other place‑based staff by coordinating and authorizing qualifying fire training participation where required for TNC‑supported activities, ensuring certification maintenance and readiness consistent with Conservancy and interagency standards.

Reviews and provides technical guidance or approval, as appropriate, on fuel management and prescribed fire plans associated with TNC‑managed, co‑managed, or partner‑implemented projects, including plans developed through contracted support.

Supports annual wildfire readiness coordination with Stewardship Programs and other internal teams as it relates to Conservancy priorities, lands, and partnerships, participating in readiness discussions, planning, and learning while operational readiness management remains with place‑based staff.

Ensures accurate tracking and reporting of fire program activities, including annual maintenance and submission of fire personnel qualification records in IQCS, required reporting to the National Training Office, and internal TNC, grant, and partner reporting, meeting all financial and narrative timelines.

Provides financial oversight for fire management activities, including budget coordination, contracting support, and alignment of expenditures with program priorities and organizational requirements.

Works closely with Arizona and New Mexico forest management and forest leadership teams to align prescribed fire implementation with land stewardship priorities, conservation planning, and landscape‑scale objectives.

Coordinates regularly with other Business Unit Fire Managers to support alignment, shared standards, knowledge exchange, problem‑solving, and professional peer support across TNC fire programs.

Applies conservation planning and landscape prioritization insights to prescribed fire programs by connecting ecological objectives, forest management goals, and sequencing decisions to fire planning and implementation.

Builds and sustains strong external partnerships and negotiates complex agreements with the U.S. Forest Service, other public land management agencies, Tribal governments, NGOs, and private landowners to advance cooperative burning, cross‑boundary implementation, and shared capacity for beneficial fire.

Participates in state prescribed fire councils or other policy‑relevant efforts that strengthen enabling conditions for beneficial fire, including certification programs, training pathways and liability provisions.

Serves as a primary point of contact for The Nature Conservancy on prescribed and wildland fire‑related matters in Arizona and New Mexico, as appropriate to TNC’s role and partnerships.

Represents The Nature Conservancy in interagency and partner coordination forums related to fire management, forest stewardship, and conservation implementation, as appropriate.

Makes independent decisions based on professional analysis, experience, and judgment, particularly in situations involving fire operations, safety considerations, partner coordination, and programmatic or risk‑management trade‑offs.

Works in physically demanding and operational environments, including variable weather, remote locations, difficult terrain, and hazardous conditions associated with prescribed fire preparation, implementation, training, and wildfire response support.

In all cases, the Fire Manager advances prescribed and beneficial fire as it relates to The Nature Conservancy’s role, authorities, and partnerships, without assuming responsibility beyond defined agreements or organizational scope.

Qualifications

What You’ll Bring: Bachelor’s degree and at least four years of experience in fire management, natural resource management, or a closely related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Must meet National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) qualifications for Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2), including required coursework and experience, or be able to achieve this qualification within the first 12 months of hire, consistent with the TNC Fire Management Manual.

Experience developing and applying strategic thinking to fire management, conservation priorities, or natural resource programs.

Experience reviewing prescribed burn unit plans and site fire management plans, including evaluation of readiness, risk, objectives, and compliance with organizational and interagency standards.

Experience supporting fire training, qualification pathways, and professional development, including curriculum development or instructional support.

Experience engaging in or supporting conservation planning and landscape prioritization, and applying those insights to fire program planning, implementation strategies, or partnership development.

Experience working collaboratively with partners, including public land management agencies, Tribes, private landowners, and NGOs, to advance shared land stewardship or conservation objectives.

Supervisory or leadership experience, including responsibility for training, mentoring, evaluation, or oversight of staff or work groups.

Demonstrated ability to lead effectively in high‑stress or operational environments, exercising sound judgment, situational awareness, and calm decision‑making.

Experience using standard business applications (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, and web‑based tools) to support planning, documentation, reporting, and communication.

Strong communication skills, including the ability to convey technical fire management information clearly and professionally to internal colleagues, partners, and external audiences.

Ability to meet and maintain required physical fitness standards, as defined by the TNC Fire Management Manual and appropriate to assigned fire qualifications and duties.

Fire Manager qualification must be approved and designated in writing by the Conservancy Fire Management Coordinator.

Desired Qualifications

Ability and willingness to achieve NWCG Prescribed Fire Manager (RX.MG) qualification, including ongoing professional development and advancement of fire management qualifications.

Familiarity with dry forest, woodland, and grass‑shrub rangeland ecosystems typical of Arizona and New Mexico, including understanding of local geography and the ability to evaluate people, programs, risks, and operational challenges associated with fire management.

Knowledge of ecological land management principles, including the role of fire in achieving conservation outcomes, forest resilience, and landscape‑scale stewardship objectives.

Familiarity with fire behavior and fire effects in local or comparable fuel types, and the ability to apply this knowledge to prescribed fire planning and implementation.

Ability and willingness to apply science to decision‑making, including integrating applied fire science, forest ecology, and conservation planning into fire management strategies and operational guidance.

Ability to work and communicate effectively with technical and operational partners, including Burn Bosses, land managers, foresters, and scientists, to develop strategies and achieve integrated conservation and fire management outcomes.

Experience or familiarity working with Tribal governments, Tribal natural resource or forestry programs, and/or Tribal fire management crews, including understanding Tribal sovereignty and supporting or participating in cultural burning and Indigenous fire stewardship practices through collaborative, culturally informed prescribed and beneficial fire efforts.

Knowledge of current trends and best practices in fire management, conservation, land management, and natural resource stewardship.

Familiarity with The Nature Conservancy’s fire management Standard Operating Procedures, requirements, and guidelines, or demonstrated ability to quickly learn and apply organizational standards.

Demonstrated ability to work independently, prioritize competing demands, and manage responsibilities effectively while meeting timelines in dynamic and demanding environments.

Multilingual skills or multicultural and cross‑cultural experience are valued, particularly experience working across varied communities, partners, and jurisdictions.

Requirements

This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program. Employees may not drive Conservancy‑owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered “high risk drivers.”

Salary

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $78,000 – $92,000. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate’s location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience.

Benefits

TNC offers a comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, and other wellness benefits.

Equal Opportunity

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to diversity and inclusion and actively create a work environment that embraces equity and respect for all employees.