DPW Fuel Department Manager

Burning Man•Reno, NV

5d•Remote

About The Position

The Department of Public Works (DPW) Fuel Operations Manager both plans part-time in the pre-season and oversees full-time during the event, the propane operations and liquid fuel operations in Black Rock City for the Burning Man event. Operations include the BRC Fuel Safety Program for BRC Participants specific to Art, Theme Camps, and Mutant Vehicles, in addition to mobile fuel delivery routes, and the fueling stations for BRC Operations, Vendors, and other event critical groups. They will ensure that DPW Fuel operations are conducted in a manner that prioritizes safety, timeliness, and professionalism. This temporary, eligible for benefits role is: From February - July : Full-Time, Exempt , based fully remote. From August - September : Full-Time , Exempt , based on-site out of Black Rock City, Nevada . From October - October : Full-Time, Exempt , based fully remote . The deadline to apply for this role is 5:00pm PST on March 6, 2026.

Requirements

Able and willing to follow standards set in necessary trainings that can be provided on-site: Liquid fuel handling Completed DPW Liquid Fuel Operations packet
Accurate use of handheld digital devices for tracking needs
Working knowledge of OSHA-compliant personal protection equipment, first aid kits, and fire extinguishers.
Must have been to Burning Man and be familiar with the event worksite, Black Rock City and its departments.
Capable of climbing a ladder and safely traversing the top of the fuel storage tanks
Able to drive safely and navigate Black Rock City streets that are congested with pedestrians, bicycles, and mutant vehicles.
Understanding of event production timelines, budgeting and inventory maintenance, and working with integrated plans.
Proficient at navigating digital and online technology
Able to proactively engage in advanced learning, teach and effectively update existing online applications, tools, systems, spreadsheets, and documents.
Able to maintain consistent organization and tidiness in the work environment and in handling important information (ie, tracking, personnel data, goals and timelines, payroll, etc.)
Clear, service-oriented and professional communication, verbally and written.
Experienced with using 2-way radios and following radio protocol.
Able to embody present and responsive leadership qualities for a diverse team while maintaining firm boundaries and adhering to set standards
Operates with a high level of behavioral integrity and reliability.
Effectively manages own time, the time of individual team members, and the efforts of the team as a whole.
Able to integrate feedback into action, remain calm and focused under pressure or in an emergency, and maintain a professional demeanor that leads by example.
Capable of working in an extreme environment including drastic temperature changes, high winds, poor air quality, and low to no visibility at times.
Ability to temporarily relocate for work at the Burning Man event held in Gerlach, Nevada.
Must have a valid driver’s license and a good driving record.

Nice To Haves

OSHA 10 Certification (Maybe acquired through in-house training)
Certified for the handling of propane
Experience supervising major projects in remote wilderness and/or desert environments
First-aid knowledge

Responsibilities

Manage the planning, logistics, budgeting, and hiring for the DPW Fuel Department in collaboration with the DPW Personnel Manager and other Fuel managers.
Work with the DPW Utilities Superintendent pre-season to reserve both liquid fuel and propane tanks for the event.
Work with the DPW Utilities Superintendent to create the schedule for the number of fuel deliveries needed from the Fuel Vendor for each day from July 15th through September 15th, by the end of May and send it to the Vendor.
Alongside the DPW Utilities Superintendent, work pre-season with vendors and event partners, including Commissary Vendor, BLM, and Law Enforcement, to see that their on-site fuel tank needs are met.
Review and update Fuel Depot layouts including storage and transfer areas for all fuels, safe electrical layouts, and provide all necessary safety equipment for operating the stations.
Collaborate with DPW Utilities Superintendent on outgoing communications to Communications, Website, Placement, DMV, and Art Departments on fuel availability and registration process for the upcoming season.
Works with DPW Utilities Superintendent and other Burning Man departments including Government Relations, LNT/Compliance, FAST, and Event Operations to maintain safe fuel storage regulations and compliance within Black Rock City.
Support the DPW Fuel Accounts Manager through the registration process as fuel users are contacted to understand, estimate, and prioritize their needs.
Submit purchasing requests for the Fuel Department to the DPW Utilities Superintendent.
Oversee the collection of information for the Staff Camp and distribution of requests so adequate resources and housing are provided for the Crew.
Provide the fuel crew with safety training for fuel delivery and handling.
Organize required HAZMAT training.
Tactfully manage, organize, delegate appropriately to, and empower the DPW Fuel Department Managers.
Reassign and redirect workflow using education, empowerment, and delegation when appropriate or necessary, monitoring team morale and setting manageable work expectations.
Oversee their management of Fuel Team staff and volunteers.
Proactively take the lead on the training of management so that they may successfully train crew members under their chain of command.
Embody and cultivate the leadership qualities of the Burning Man Organization to empower staff to do their best work and be the best people they can be.
Provide a strong example of leadership and mentor staff to ensure a successful event season.
Create and actively manage staff work schedules, and log and report crew work hours by established deadlines weekly.
This role will be required to be on call overnight as Manager-On-Duty, in rotation with other Operations Managers.
Lead meetings for DPW Fuel staff, attend and support crew attendance to Team Meetings and DPW Morning Meetings; collect and disseminate critical information about on-playa happenings.
Review and teach the BRC Rain Contingency Plan, Fuel Spill Response Plan, Burning Man Integrated Plan, and all emergency response plans; understand when to execute each with your team.
Oversee DPW Fuel Personnel Manager as they onboard new hires and support fuel staff.
Oversee the DPW Accounts Manager as they interface with Participant customers including account registrations, safety plans and camp maps, asset tagging and on-site review of generator placement and fuel storage, and fuel sales processing.
Oversee the DPW Mobile Fuel Ops Manager as they plan routes, register assets for fueling, track daily fueling, and troubleshoot delivery problems.
Oversee the DPW Fuel Depot Operations Manager in the management of the Staff Fuel Depot and the Participant Fuel Depot, and the daily ordering of fuel from the vendor.
Oversee the DPW Fuel Operations Lead in the set-up and maintenance of all liquid fuel equipment on-site.
Oversee the DPW Propane Operations Manager in the maintenance of propane equipment on-site and for any response calls due to leaking propane tanks by ESD or DPW Housing.
Oversee the DPW Fuel Mechanic Lead in the maintenance of the DPW Fuel Fleet, and help make decisions on in-house vs. Vendor maintenance.
Oversee the DPW Fuel Technology Lead in providing support for department operations related to the software used for the flow of data for the event.
Ensure on-site fuel needs are met for the duration of setup through strike.
Maintain regular communication with the DPW Power Crew about the status of BRC and Gerlach infrastructure generator fueling.
Attend meetings and create reports as necessary to keep the DPW Council as well as other involved departments informed of the progress and/or problems of the project.
Maintain continuity in documentation, reports, and tracking standards outlined by the DPW Utilities Superintendent.
Commit to improving and updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for this role and crew operations throughout the season for accuracy.
Contribute to the annual update of public educational documents to ensure the safety of fuels stored by artists, theme camps, mutant vehicles, and infrastructure.
Work with Google products (Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Drive), Microsoft Word and Excel, and any additional online tools, technology, or applications specific to this role as required.
Maintain budget awareness: discuss any purchases outside of the allocated budget with the DPW Utilities Superintendent.
Submit receipts and expense reports in a timely manner.
Write and submit the final “Ember” report by the end of the event cycle that scrutinizes and critiques the successes of the season and areas in need of improvement with the purpose of improved overall efficiency.
Maintain clear and respectful communication.
Work with the Fuel Crew to plan and execute LNT and Waste disposal plans.
Establish and oversee the maintenance of a clean and safe worksite; ensure that all team members are provided with the necessary OSHA-approved safety equipment.
Wear your allocated PPE (personal protective equipment) which is specific for the materials you are handling.
Order replacement PPE for the Fuel Crew as needed.
Read, understand, and abide by the rules and codes of conduct as described in the DPW Handbook, Burning Man Staff Policies, and Black Rock Station protocols.
Monitor personal well-being, set manageable work expectations, and proactively address any concerns with the Utilities Superintendent.
Stay up to date with email correspondence and departmental communications.
Distribute any relevant information to crew members in a timely fashion.
Regularly produce comprehensive department and staffing schedules and effectively assign tasks.
Perform various other duties as assigned by the Burning Man Project.
Drives the creation, publishing, and maintenance of process documentation related to assigned duties.
Takes a leadership role in the acculturation and training of staff.
Teaches live or e-learning classes, as requested.
Promotes a culture of teaching and learning throughout the community.
Mentors subordinates in acquiring the knowledge, skills, and experience that will allow them to advance in the organization.
Aids, encourages, and inspires their team.
Collaborates with the education team to develop training materials in their area of expertise, as requested.
Pursues ongoing learning in their area of expertise, working to stay current on emergent knowledge, skills, and processes.
Participates in conferences, forums, and networking events, where appropriate.
Represents Burning Man as a subject matter expert and culture-bearer, as requested.