Prescribed Fire Coordinator

The Nature Conservancy • Harrisburg, PA

2d • $58,000 - $63,000

About The Position

What We Can Achieve Together: The Prescribed Fire Coordinator functions as both a leader and member within the prescribed fire community. They work with TNC staff, public agencies, landowners, and other partners to scale the use of prescribed fire for improved biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. They will be responsible for ensuring fire readiness of equipment and personnel for upcoming prescribed burns and operating in compliance with internal policies and external requirements. On prescribed burns they will serve in strategic roles as determined by TNC’s PA Fire Program Lead or designated Burn Boss. The position includes considerable time spent in an office coordinating with partners, completing burn plans, managing grants and contracts, and records management. They will facilitate Pennsylvania Certified Prescribed Burn Manager planning meetings and training, conduct site visits with landowners, assist with burn plan writing, and coordinate burn implementation. The Coordinator reports to the Pennsylvania Fire Program Lead and serves as a member of TNC’s Land Management Team in Pennsylvania and Delaware. However, they will be expected to perform tasks with minimal supervision and make independent decisions based on analysis, experience, and context. While a supervisory role is not expected for this position, the Coordinator will monitor staff, partners, and/or contractors in context of achieving fire and other land management goals. The Coordinator may work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances. There will be frequent local travel to project sites and prescribed burns across Pennsylvania, plus occasional longer travel for meetings/conferences or prescribed fire events. We’re Looking for You: Want to help save the planet? Through the efforts of The Nature Conservancy over 137,000 acres in Pennsylvania and Delaware have been preserved for people and nature and you can help with the management of some of our lands. From the mountains to the sea, the Pennsylvania and Delaware Chapter is dedicated to conserving the natural resources that make each state unique. To be successful in our mission, The Nature Conservancy is embracing processes and novel solutions that will accelerate and amplify our impact. This work at the intersection of people and nature requires new perspectives, skillsets, and an agile approach and we are seeking individuals to join us in helping to transform our work.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 3 years’ experience in natural resource management or similar field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Qualified Fire Fighter Type 1 (Squad Boss). Requirements for FFT1 can be found in the Conservancy Fire Management Manual .
• Must achieve physical fitness standards as set by local Fire Manager and the TNC Fire Manual.
• Relationship building experience to work closely with a variety of partners, (private, local, state, and federal), to coordinate efforts to manage fire-dependent landscapes.
• Ability to effectively explain conservation practices to technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience in Wildland fire training and curriculum design.
• Experience with GIS mapping and sharing spatial data.
• Experience completing tasks independently with respect to timeline(s).
• Experience with communication via written, spoken and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
• Experience using common software applications such as Word, Excel, web browsers, etc.
• Must have valid driver's license.

Nice To Haves

• Federally qualified Single Resource Boss or ability to achieve said qualification.
• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Ability and willingness to apply science to decision-making and guide activities.
• Knowledge of ecological land management principles.
• Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, land management and natural resource preservation.

Responsibilities

• Ensuring fire readiness of equipment and personnel for upcoming prescribed burns and operating in compliance with internal policies and external requirements.
• Serving in strategic roles on prescribed burns as determined by TNC’s PA Fire Program Lead or designated Burn Boss.
• Coordinating with partners, completing burn plans, managing grants and contracts, and records management.
• Facilitating Pennsylvania Certified Prescribed Burn Manager planning meetings and training.
• Conducting site visits with landowners, assisting with burn plan writing, and coordinating burn implementation.
• Monitoring staff, partners, and/or contractors in context of achieving fire and other land management goals.

Benefits

• TNC offers a competitive, 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, other life and work well-being benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level