As Needed - Senior Burn Crew Member

The Nature Conservancy•Morehead, KY

7d•$22 - $23

About The Position

The As Needed Senior Burn Crew Member (ANSBCM) works as part of a team in wildland fire operations, participating in ignition, control, mop-up, suppression, monitoring, prescribed fire implementation, fire-line preparation, equipment maintenance, and post-burn monitoring. The member may oversee staff and volunteers during fire-related activities and may perform other land-management tasks assigned by a Burn Crew Manager or another command position. During fire operations, assignments may correspond to the member’s official fire-line qualifications. This is an as-needed, as-requested role under the supervision of the Fire Manager. Work needs and hours are coordinated with the Fire Manager or designee; there is no minimum hourly requirement, and assignments depend on organizational need and the individual’s availability. The position may involve frequent travel and fire assignments of up to two weeks. The employee must reside in Central or Eastern Kentucky near work areas. Housing is not provided, but work-related travel expenses are reimbursed. The Kentucky Business Unit works with government agencies to improve forest health and resiliency through prescribed burning in the Appalachian landscape, typically assisting with 10,000 to 25,000 acres of burns per season. The spring fire season runs from February through April, with most work near Morehead, Kentucky, and occasional travel to Tennessee. The position is described as hourly and seasonal, January 18 through April 30, with a pay range of $22.00–$23.00 per hour, based on qualifications and experience. The member is responsible for keeping current with burn techniques and equipment, developing and maintaining professional fire credentials, and building relationships in the professional fire community and local communities. Work may include suppression activities with nonprofit, local, state, federal, tribal, or Indigenous partners, either as a TNC employee or as a volunteer or short-term employee of a partner organization. Work may take place in variable weather at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding conditions.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Qualified as a Fire Fighter Type 2 (FFT2).
Two seasons of wildland fire experience.
Required coursework: Introduction to ICS (I-100), Human Factors on the Fire line (L-180), Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior (S-190), and Firefighting Training (S-130).
Successfully pass the arduous physical fitness test.
Experience operating various types of equipment.
Ability to obtain related licenses or certifications as required, such as First Aid and CPR.
Valid driver’s license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program; employment is contingent on completing a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a motor vehicle record review.
Must reside in Central or Eastern Kentucky in proximity to work areas.
Availability for as-needed assignments; there is no minimum hourly requirement.
Ability to work in a team environment.
Ability to work in variable weather, remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding conditions.

Nice To Haves

Firefighter Type 1 qualification.
Wildland Fire Faller qualification.
ATV/UTV operator qualification.
Experience driving off-road, loading, and towing trailers.
Multilingual skills and multicultural or cross-cultural experience.
Experience managing volunteers or entry-level staff.
Two or more years of fire-operations experience in land management or a similar field.
Working knowledge of common software applications such as Word, Excel, and web browsers.
Clear communication in written, spoken, and graphical forms in English and other relevant languages.
Updated Incident Qualification Card (Red Card).

Responsibilities

Participate in wildland fire operations, including ignition, control, mop-up, suppression, and monitoring.
Assist with prescribed fire implementation and the safe, effective preparation of fire lines.
Use and maintain fire-related equipment.
Conduct post-burn monitoring and other assigned tasks.
Oversee staff and volunteers during fire-related activities when assigned.
Perform other land-management activities assigned by a Burn Crew Manager or other command position.
Accept fire-operation assignments corresponding to official fire-line qualifications.
Keep current with burn techniques and equipment and maintain or grow professional fire credentials.
Build and maintain relationships in the professional fire community and in local communities where TNC works.
Participate in wildland fire suppression activities with partner organizations when assigned.