Current Announcements and Jobs

It's time to apply! The interagency Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) is soliciting proposals from both government and non-government entities through several formal Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announcements beginning July 13th and remaining open through September 28th at 5 pm MT.

Topics and funding opportunities are as follows:

Primary NOFO:

Task Statement I - Accelerating science to action in fire-prone ecosystems: Spurring innovation in adaptation through knowledge exchange and place-based partnerships: The objective of this task statement is to strengthen partnerships among scientists, practitioners, managers, and other interested parties to accelerate the identification and adoption of science-based management strategies that facilitate adaptation to changing fire regimes.

Task Statement II - Effective fire communication and outreach: The objective of this task statement is to better understand public perception of wildfire management and effectiveness of fire-related communication strategies to inform effective public fire communication and outreach programs.

Task Statement III - Prescribed fire effects on water quality and quantity: The objective of this task statement is to inform the use of fire in highly valued watersheds by evaluating the effects of prescribed fire on water quality and quantity.

Task Statement IV - Managing carbon emissions in ecosystems with deep organic soils: The objective of this task statement is to inform effective strategies for managing carbon stores in deep organic soils that are increasingly impacted by wildfire.

Task Statement V - Social equity and wildland fire impacts, mitigation, response, and recovery: The objective of this task statement is to gain better understanding of a broad range of direct and indirect wildfire impacts borne by different sectors of society, the time horizons over which these impacts occur, and factors that influence the ability of individuals and communities to prepare for, respond to, and recovery from wildfire.

Task Statement VI - Characterizing wildfire risk in wildland-urban interface and urban settings: The objective of this task statement is to evaluate and improve existing methods to characterize wildfire risk to wildland urban interface (WUI) and urban settings.

GRIN - Graduate Research Innovation (GRIN) Award:
The JFSP will continue awarding the Graduate Research Innovation (GRIN) program for current master and doctoral students in the field of wildland fire and related physical, biological, and social sciences. Proposals must be directly related to the mission and goals of JFSP to be considered, and they must address management- or policy-related questions related to one or more of the following general topic areas: fuels management and fire behavior, changing fire behavior, emissions and air quality, fire effects and post-fire recovery, relative impacts of prescribed fire versus wildfire, or human dimensions of fire.

Regional Fire Science Exchange NOFO:
The objective of this task statement is to solicit proposals to lead and execute a particular regional fire science exchange for a period of two years. The JFSP funds and provides oversight to a national collaborative of 15 regional wildland fire science exchanges: the Fire Science Exchange Network (FSEN). The FSEN provides the most relevant, current wildland fire science information to federal, state, local, tribal, and private stakeholders within ecologically similar regions. This solicitation is seeking individual proposals (i.e., each proposal must be specific to one region) for the following nine regions of the FSEN:  Appalachians, California, Great Plains, Lake States, North Atlantic, Southern, Southern Rockies, Southwest, and Tallgrass Prairie.

Position title: Assistant to Associate Specialist

Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the following table(s) for the current salary scale(s) for this position:https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2023-24/july-202.... The current base salary range for this position is $59,200 - $82,100. "Off-scale" salaries, which yield compensation that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: October 2023

Position duration: One year with the possibility of extension based on performance and availability of funding.

Qualifications: 

Open date: July 18, 2023

Most recent review date: Tuesday, Sep 19, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.

Final date: Saturday, Sep 30, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position Description: 

• The Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management with the Rausser College of Natural Resources, at the University of California, Berkeley, seeks applications for appointees in the Specialist series in the Stephens Lab, with a focus in the area of Fire Ecology/Fire Science.
• The mission of the Fire Science Laboratory at the University of California Berkeley is to conduct scientific research and provide academic training in the fields of wildland fire science, ecology, and resource management.
• Specifically, our lab strives to:
• Secure funding for and perform original, quality research in wildland fire science, ecology, and management.
• Participate in and encourage interdisciplinary research efforts when possible, and disseminate findings by publishing research in peer reviewed academic journals.

Responsibilities:

• Work in support of multiple ongoing fire research projects in forests, woodlands, and shrublands including analyzing historical datasets, measuring the effects of prescribed fire and managed wildfires, and developing remotely sensed fire severity metrics in areas outside of conifer forests.
• Work includes complex statistical analysis of large datasets, writing sections of or leading writing of manuscripts, assisting in proposal writing, and developing new research ideas.

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent international degree
• Preferred qualifications
• Master’s Degree or equivalent international degree
• Demonstrated experience with scientific writing as indicated by contributions to publications
• Demonstrated experience with R programing and GIS skills
• Degree in or related to filed of; fire ecology, forestry, geography, plant sciences

The Community Wildfire Defense Program, or CWDG, is intended to help at-risk local communities and Tribes; plan for and reduce the risk of wildfire.  

This program, which was authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, prioritizes at-risk communities in an area identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential, are low-income, or have been impacted by a severe disaster that affects the risk of wildfire. More details on these three priorities can be found in the Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) below.  

The program provides funding to communities for two primary purposes:

1. Develop and revise Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP).
2. Implement projects described in a Community Wildfire Protection Plan that is less than ten years old.

The Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program also helps communities in the wildland urban interface (WUI) implement the three goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy.

1. Restore and Maintain Landscapes: Landscapes across all jurisdictions are resilient to fire-related disturbances, in accordance with management objectives.
2. Create Fire Adapted Communities: Human populations and infrastructure can better withstand a wildfire without loss of life and property. 
3. Improve Wildfire Response: All jurisdictions participate in making and implementing safe, effective, efficient risk-based wildfire management decisions.

How to Apply for the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program

The second round of the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program is now accepting applications!

To apply, follow the instructions in the Notices of Funding Opportunity or search for the grant opportunity number specific for your notice (USDA-FS-2023-CWDG-TRIBES, USDA-FS-2023-CWDG-CWSF, USDA-FS-2023-CWDG-NEMW, USDA-FS-2023-CWDG-SGSF) at grants.gov.

Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. eastern time on October 31, 2023.

Eligibility: 

Who Can Apply? Entities eligible to apply for at-risk communities for funding under the CWDG include:

• Units of local governments representing communities located in an area with a risk of wildfires,
• Indian Tribes (please apply through either the Indian Tribes/Alaska Native Corporations specific notice or the applicable regional notice),
• Non-profit organizations including homeowner associations that assist such communities,
• State forestry agencies (including U.S. territories and interests), and
• Alaska Native Corporations (please apply through either the Indian Tribes/Alaska Native Corporations specific notice or the applicable regional notice).

There are two categories of projects that can be applied for and will be evaluated separately:

1. For Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Development or Revision: One of the fundamental building blocks in creating a fire adapted community is the development, adoption and continuous use of a well-prepared CWPP. In some cases, a community may choose to utilize a FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan or Tribal hazard mitigation plan with a wildfire component that meets the same objectives of a CWPP.
2. For project implementation: The project must be described in a Community Wildfire Protection Plan that is not more than 10-years old.

Priority will be given to projects that:

• Are located in an area identified as having a high or very high wildfire hazard potential;
• Benefit a low-income community; or
• Are located in a community impacted by a severe disaster within the previous 10 years which increased wildfire risk and/or hazard.
• The maximum amount of Federal funding awarded to any one community or Tribe via this competitive process is:
• $250,000 for the creation or updating of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
• $10 million for a project described within a Community Wildfire Protection Plan less than 10 years old.
• For planning purposes, the total Federal funding available through the CWDG competitive process could be up to $250 million for this second round.

Required matching funds:

• 10% non-Federal match for proposals to develop or update a Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
• 25% non-federal match for proposals to implement projects described within a Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
• Match waiver request available for communities meeting the definition of underserved, nationally recognized Tribes, and Pacific Islands.

Desciption: 

The Ready, Set, Go! (RSG) Program is managed by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and is accepting proposals from fire departments for Fuels Reduction Projects. This opportunity is provided by the USDA Forest Service through a cooperative agreement with the IAFC.

The goal is to facilitate on-the-ground fuels reduction projects in communities across the country. The funding opportunity is for fire and emergency response agencies to implement or expand community fuels reduction projects in their jurisdiction. Funding can support staffing costs, contractual services, purchase of mitigation PPE, and purchase of small equipment (valued at less than $5,000). Fire departments that work closely with the Forest Service and other partners on cross-boundary fuels reduction projects and illustrate financial need will receive the highest priority for funding.

A maximum of $20,000 per department is available and requires a minimum in-kind match of 25% of the award total. All community/organization efforts must be reported in the RSG! Program's Achievement Management System (AMS). 

Funding is awarded by the IAFC according to the established set of criteria. Applications will be reviewed through a formal, peer-review process to ensure effective use of the funds. The RSG! Program works in a complementary and collaborative fashion with other wildfire public education programs to amplify the message of community fire adaptation.

Awardees will be sub-recipients of federal funding and must comply with all the provisions of 2 CFR 200.

Timing – No extensions will be given.

September 30, 2023 at 11:59 PM EDT – Applications due.

August 16, 2024 – All work must be completed, and invoices submitted to IAFC for reimbursement.

September 23, 2024 – Closeout reports are due to IAFC. A template will be provided. 

Free Membership in the Ready, Set, Go! Program is required.  Contact RSG! Program staff at RSG@iafc.org with any questions.

REQUIREMENTS

• Eligible Projects
• The following are eligible wildfire fuels reduction projects. Alternative projects can be proposed and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Thinning, limbing, mastication (reduction of ground and ladder fuels)
• Grazing program
• Chipper days
• Transfer of slash and fuels to a burn or disposal site
• Development of a burn pad or debris collection site
• Defensible Space Projects (Residential defensible space projects must apply to a collective, multiple adjacent residential structures)

Eligible Organizations

• A fire and emergency response agency with demonstrated wildfire risk in their response area
• RSG Membership: You MUST be a member of the IAFC's national Ready, Set, Go! (RSG) Program to be awarded. Not a member? Sign up for free now at www.wildlandfirersg.org.
•  

Eligible Uses of Funding

• Staffing (project-specific)
• Supplies (Examples: gloves, eye protection, particle masks, chainsaws, limbers. All supplies must be directly tied to the wildfire mitigation project and justified in the project description.)
• Equipment Purchases, less than $5,000
• Contractual Costs (If the organization submitting a proposal outsources or contracts any work to meet the requirements contained herein, this must be clearly stated in the proposal. Additionally, all costs included in the proposals must be itemized and inclusive of any outsourced or contracted work. Any proposals which call for outsourcing or contracting work must identify and provide documentation on their procurement process for services that exceed $3,000.00.)

Ineligible Uses of Funding

• The purchase of firefighting suppression PPE
• Purchase of equipment worth more than $5,000
• The usage of funds for travel
• Printed materials (wildfire risk reduction education materials or any promotional materials)

Requirements
Match:

In-Kind: minimum 25% of the award amount required. In-kind match can be hours worked (educational and promotional efforts of fuels reduction project count), equipment purchased, and/or contractual costs in excess of the award amount. Supporting documentation must be provided.

Reporting

All community/organization efforts must be recorded in the RSG! Program's Achievement Management System (AMS). Tracking of time, labor, and services provided will be required for the awarded project(s). Awardees are expected to manage the time dedicated to the coordination of the project as well as the outcomes from the funded project(s) to include residents impacted, acres treated, amount of vegetation chipped or removed from the WUI, etc.

Awarded organizations must submit a closeout report, utilizing the report template provided by RSG! Program staff, no later than September 23, 2024.

Procurement: If the organization submitting a proposal outsources or contracts any work to meet the requirements contained herein, this must be clearly stated in the proposal. Additionally, all costs included in proposals must be itemized and inclusive of any outsourced or contracted work. Any proposals which call for outsourcing or contracting work must identify and provide documentation on their procurement process for contractual services.

A Wildland Fire Project Coordinator position is available with Colorado State University and the Center for Environmental management of Military Lands (CEMML) to be located in Fort Collins, Colorado. This position will directly support CEMML’s Wildland Fire Program Manager by running projects independently, writing fire management plans, and helping to develop and carry out data analyses.

This position will require the following skills:

• Excellent interpersonal skills to work seamlessly with internal team members and external sponsors and to engage new sponsors and help grow CEMML’s Wildland Fire Management Program.
• High-level analysis skills to analyze spatial and non-spatial data, including a solid understanding of fundamental statistical concepts.
• Solid organizational skills to manage up to a half-dozen projects simultaneously.
• Keeping up to date on the latest science and how to apply it directly, or by modifying/combining methodologies, or by creating novel methodologies.
• Creative and flexible thinking to address problems unique to the military that may not have direct correlates in other natural resources management environments.

This position has the ability currently to be hybrid optional; work will be conducted 3 days in the office, and 2 days from home. The incumbent must be able to work in-person at least 3 days per week at the location at CSU in Fort Collins.

The Gogebic Conservation District in the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan is hiring a Forestry Assistance Program (FAP) forester for Gogebic and Ontonagon Counties. This is a great opportunity to make a difference on forest health and wildlife/fisheries habitat.

The Forestry Assistance Program provides private landowners and local units of government with technical information and guidance on the use and management of their forestry, wildlife habitat, and related natural resource concerns. Day-to-day administrative supervision will be provided by the Gogebic Conservation District Manager. The position is based in the Gogebic Conservation District Office in Bessemer, MI. The forester services landowners in Gogebic and Ontonagon Counties.

This term position will be funded partially through the Longleaf Alliance’s Southeast Georgia Sentinel Landscape endeavors (US Endowment) with the remaining funds through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Working Lands for Wildlife program. Great progress has been made already in this region in fire-related outreach and cost-share.

The specific duties of the position include:

1. Formalizes and acts as a full-time coordinator of Southeast Georgia Prescribed Burn Association (name subject to change) at the behest of Tall Timbers, NRCS, and the Association.
2. Works closely with Board of the Association and other partners (to include Tall Timbers Geospatial Lab) to coordinate and ensure prioritization and safe execution of prescribed burns on private land within the Association.
3. Uses Burn Association to facilitate fire use, pool risk to create cost-effective insurance coverage and annually plan burns to mitigate smoke emissions and ameliorate limited workforce capacity.
4. Serves as Tall Timbers’ liaison for smoke-related concerns in the Augusta/Savannah areas of Georgia.
5. Leads the effort to create communication and collaboration with private land participants within the Association through regular landowner site visits and facilitating quarterly outreach and/or training workshops.
6. Assists in reducing backlog of NRCS cost-share burn acres when and where feasible within Association in part through coordinating landowners with vendors and other burning options (such as burn teams).
7. Oversees local extension and outreach services to private landowners, agencies and public land managers through weekly landowner visits, quarterly workshops and participation in conferences and Georgia Prescribed Fire Council meetings.
8. Assists with burn implementation as needed as a team member with the Tall Timbers Private Lands Fire Initiative.
9. Seeks funding from agencies and landowners to support efforts and assists with land management through cooperation with other groups and agencies.
10. Host field days and workshops to demonstrate successes and provide hands-on training. Increase capacity of certified burn managers through facilitating certification training.
11. Participates with other Tall Timbers outreach and training staff to implement fire or assist in other fire related activities as needed.

Application Timeline: Open until filled
Preferred Start Date: October 2023

Funded by the State of Oregon, the College of Forestry at Oregon State University will be conducting research to develop methodologies and collect necessary data to establish fuel pathways for low carbon fuels derived from woody biomass residues from forestry operations.

The Department of Wood Science and Engineering at Oregon State University is seeking a full-time postdoctoral researcher to work on biomass conversion to biofuels and characterization of resulting products. The successful candidate will participate in thermochemical conversion research as well as help develop carbon intensity scores for specified biomass conversion pathways.

Required qualifications:

• PhD in wood science, chemistry, chemical engineering, or related discipline.
• Strong oral and written scientific communication skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Prior research with thermochemical conversion of biomass.
• Prior experience with chemical and physical characterization of lignocellulosic biomass and biofuels.

Duties will include:

• Designing and implementing research protocols for the conversion of woody residue biomass into fuel and value-added products.
• Chemical and physical characterization of different types of biomass conversion products.
• Supervising and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students working on the project.
• Undertaking any other duties relevant to the research project.
• Lead and assist with the preparation of research articles, reports, and other related materials.
• Disseminate research findings at academic conferences and journals.

Location: Corvallis, Oregon, USA
Duration: 2 years (renewed yearly based on progress and performance).
Expected start date: as early as January 2024.

The selected candidate must be eligible to work in the United States at the time of the appointment and continue working legally for the proposed term of employment.
If you have questions, please contact Dr. Islam Hafez or Dr. Gerald Presley: islam.hafez@oregonstate.edu or Gerald.presley@oregonstate.edu.

Please send a cover letter highlighting your research interests and goals, full CV, and names and contacts of three references to Dr. Islam Hafez or Dr. Gerald Presley. Applications will be reviewed as they are received and continue until the position is filled.

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is looking for a Salish Unit Crew Superintendent, Wildland Fire Management Specialist (WFMS) to manage the Salish Fire Suppression Module within Salish Wildfire Unit of NW Region DNR. This position serves as the Superintendent of a year-round six-person module, which may expand to 10 people during fire season. In addition to suppression work, the module supports DNRs Forest Resiliency and Community Resiliency Programs in the form of fuel reduction projects and other FireWise USA related work helping expand NW Regions Fire Adapted Communities landscape; and may have the opportunity to participate in prescribed fire. Additionally, the position works in coordination with two other WFMS positions, and may be asked to supervise Engine Crews as well as work on administrative and higher-level projects within the Fire Unit.

The Nature Conservancy's Assistant Director of Fire Management (ADFM) oversees and supports all aspects of wildland fire management safety, including prescribed fire and wildfire suppression, with a particular initial focus on the Great Plains and the Western United States. The ADFM reports directly to the Director of Fire Management and assists with Safety Reviews, Safety Training, including live-fire training activities, and incident response. Additionally, the ADFM supports the Director of Fire Management and the Global Safety Team in administering fire reporting and fire qualifications for U.S. based Business Units (BUs).

The Community Wildfire Defense Program, or CWDG, is intended to help at-risk local communities and Tribes; plan for and reduce the risk of wildfire.

This program, which was authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, prioritizes at-risk communities in an area identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential, are low-income, or have been impacted by a severe disaster that affects the risk of wildfire.

The program provides funding to communities for two primary purposes:

• Develop and revise Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP).
• Implement projects described in a Community Wildfire Protection Plan that is less than ten years old.

The Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program also helps communities in the wildland urban interface (WUI) implement the three goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy.

• Restore and Maintain Landscapes: Landscapes across all jurisdictions are resilient to fire-related disturbances, in accordance with management objectives.
• Create Fire Adapted Communities: Human populations and infrastructure can better withstand a wildfire without loss of life and property.
• Improve Wildfire Response: All jurisdictions participate in making and implementing safe, effective, efficient risk-based wildfire management decisions.

These AmeriCorps national service positions are contingent on funding and open until filled. Ecostudies Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of native species and their ecosystems. We address complex environmental challenges with effective partnerships, conservation research, and strategic, science-based management. Because ecological conservation is vitally linked to community, we promote environmental justice by removing barriers to engagement and improving access to environmental education and career opportunities for underserved populations. Ecostudies Institute works to conserve and restore prairie and oak woodland habitat for native plants, birds mammals and butterflies - some of which are found nowhere else on Earth. Ecostudies seeks four full-time AmeriCorps members to fill prairie restoration service opportunities throughout southwest Washington. All members will learn restoration and monitoring techniques, contribute to regional restoration efforts, and become involved in the PNW conservation community. We will begin interviews for these 10.5 month positions in June 2023 and positions begin in October 2023.

• Restoration and Outreach Coordinator
• Prairie Science Technician
• Avian Science Technician
• Restoration Technician

The Ecostudies Institute Shared Resources Restoration Team will conduct all manner of restoration activities primarily on the prairies around Olympia, Tenino and Rochester, Washington. It will initially consist of a Project Manager, Specialist and two Technicians. They will integrate with partners that include Chehalis Tribe, Washington Departments of Fish and Wildlife and Natural Resources, Center for Natural Lands Management and others. As other funding is established, this team is also expected to work closely with the Chehalis Tribe’s expanding restoration team.

The team will help support project coordination and planning and reporting and will be key implementors for priority restoration and monitoring activities for habitats and rare species. We use an integrated and adaptive restoration approach that promotes learning and best practices in a regional collaborative context. This team is expected to become a core part of the region’s prescribed fire capacity and team members will be given significant opportunities to learn and improve their fire skills.

• Shared Resources Restoration Project Manager - Position Description
• Shared Resources Restoration Specialist - Position Description
• Shared Resources Restoration Technician (2) - Position Description

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is hiring a full-time permanent Prescribed Fire Operations Planner. This position will provide senior level leadership for all operational functions of the Prescribed Fire division and will develop prescribed fire planning, prioritization, coordination, and implementation of prescribed burn projects. Most of the work performed by this position is in Eastern Washington working with the two burn teams located in Okanogan County and Yakima County, though burn sites are statewide. The selected employee will have the option to work remotely when not in the field.

Open until filled.