Request for Proposals
Archbold Biological Station and Buck Island Ranch•Venus, FL
•Onsite
About The Position
Archbold Biological Station is seeking a highly qualified fire and natural resource management professional to conduct an independent assessment of its prescribed fire program. The consultant will also help develop an updated, rigorous, science-based Fire Management Plan and associated policies and procedures. Archbold is a biological research and conservation organization where prescribed fire is integral to both land stewardship and long-term ecological research. Fire management decisions must integrate operational effectiveness and safety with ecological science, research needs, habitat management, restoration, and species conservation. This is a specialized consulting engagement anticipated to extend approximately 9–12 months and will require substantial on-site engagement at Archbold Biological Station in Venus, Florida.
Requirements
- A master’s degree or higher in ecology, natural resources, conservation biology, wildlife biology, forestry, fire ecology, or a closely related scientific or natural resource discipline.
- Significant professional experience in prescribed fire and natural resource management, including planning and implementation of prescribed burns in fire-adapted ecosystems.
- Experience developing, implementing, evaluating, or substantially contributing to fire management plans.
- Familiarity with, and the demonstrated ability to apply, nationally recognized prescribed-fire standards — including NWCG qualifications (e.g., Prescribed Fire Burn Boss), written burn-plan standards, complexity analysis, and go/no-go and risk-management procedures.
- Significant experience with conservation land management, habitat management, and/or ecological restoration.
- Demonstrated experience working with threatened or endangered species, sensitive habitats, or other significant conservation resources, and incorporating ecological considerations into management decisions.
- Demonstrated understanding of the relationship among ecological science, prescribed fire, restoration, and conservation.
- Knowledge of rigorous prescribed-fire safety practices, training requirements, crew operations, operational procedures, and risk management.
- Experience with broader land-management issues relevant to prescribed fire, including invasive species management.
- Ability to work effectively with scientists, land managers, field personnel, organizational leadership, and external partners.
- Ability to spend substantial time on site at Archbold during the engagement.
Nice To Haves
- Applying prescribed fire and national fire-management standards across multiple states, regions, or management contexts, bringing an independent, outside perspective to Archbold’s program.
- Managing or overseeing conservation lands, preserves, or natural resource programs.
- Working across multiple conservation organizations, agencies, or land-management entities.
- Developing or evaluating fire-management safety protocols, field procedures, training programs, or organizational systems.
- Working at the intersection of scientific research and active land management.
- Previous experience with evaluating fire management plans.
Responsibilities
- Assess Archbold’s existing prescribed fire program, including plans, policies, procedures, staffing, training, safety practices, operational protocols, and organizational capacity.
- Develop or substantially revise Archbold’s Fire Management Plan and recommend associated policies, procedures, and operational standards consistent with nationally recognized prescribed-fire standards.
- Engage Archbold’s science team throughout the planning process and incorporate their input to ensure the revised plan effectively balances prescribed-fire operations, ecological management objectives, and ongoing research needs.
- Evaluate how prescribed fire is planned and implemented in relation to ecological research, long-term monitoring, threatened and endangered species, habitat needs, and conservation priorities.
- Assess the integration of prescribed fire with broader land-management needs, including ecological restoration, invasive species management, and management of fire-adapted ecosystems.
- Review prescribed-fire safety practices, crew qualifications, training, decision-making, and risk-management procedures, and recommend improvements consistent with rigorous professional standards.
- Assess the equipment and apparatus required to conduct prescribed fire safely and effectively — including vehicles and their condition and adequacy, fireline and ignition equipment, and personal protective and safety equipment — and recommend acquisitions, replacements, or upgrades.
- Recommend appropriate roles, responsibilities, staffing, training, partnerships, and other resources necessary for a safe and effective long-term fire management program.
- Identify the specific qualifications, certifications, and training that program personnel require, and determine what it would take to bring Archbold’s crew qualifications and operational protocols up to nationally recognized standards, including a practical, phased path to get there.
- Provide strategic guidance during implementation of priority recommendations.
