The Prescribed Fire Specialist (PFS) will play a pivotal role in a new programmatic effort to scale up the prescribed fire workforce across California. Most of the prescribed fire projects the PFS will support will function as cooperative burns or Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges (TREX), which provide experiential training that builds robust local capacity for fire management and offers professional fire practitioners a more holistic perspective - while implementing treatments that support community and ecological objectives.
The PFS will direct prescribed fire operations for the California Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), which includes managing controlled burns on TNC preserves, supporting partner burns, developing Prescribed Burn Unit Plans and Site Fire Management Plans, and may involve coordinating fire suppression activities on rare occasions. The PFS will be responsible for safe and effective fire operations, administering physical fitness testing, training and organizing contractors/volunteers/crew members; conducting annual refresher training, and maintaining documentation files for contractor and/or crew member training and qualifications. The PFS will evaluate trainees and certify task books for positions up to RxB2. The PFS may perform other preserve management duties when conditions are not conducive to prescribed fire.
As part of the incumbent’s ongoing professional development, the PFS 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, with Indigenous peoples and tribes and in the local communities where the Conservancy works. This may include participation in wildland fire suppression activities in partnership with other non-profits, tribes, 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). May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances. This position is a grant-funded three-year term with opportunity to extend.
This position will be open until filled but applications are encouraged before Sunday, April 9.