OFFICE LOCATION

Northern California

This position may be based out of a home or TNC office in Northern California. In order to be present at field project sites, it is estimated that the Prescribed Fire Manager should be based south of Redding and north of Santa Barbara.

WHO WE ARE

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Grounded in science, we develop innovative solutions to the world’s toughest environmental challenges so that people and nature can thrive. Our work is guided by our values, which include a commitment to diversity; respect for people, communities, and cultures; and a collaborative, nonpartisan approach. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world. 

The California Chapter is TNC’s largest state program and one of the largest, most dynamic conservation organizations in the country. With approximately 275 employees, from financial analysts and fundraisers to ecologists and economists, we are currently invested in 14 strategies to address the biggest challenges facing California and the world, including numerous community-based projects designed to increase the pace, scale, and effectiveness of conservation. Over the past six decades, we have protected 1.4 million acres, 5,000 miles of streams, and 3.8 million acres of ocean habitat in California and off the coast. 

The California Chapter believes that we are most effective when we are embedded in our state’s communities, politics, media, and environmental issues. For this reason, and to reduce our carbon footprint when meeting in person, all staff live in California, including those in a home office.

Finally, we are passionate about holding the middle ground in American politics and civic life and doing our part to make conservation a shared national value. The hallmark of The Nature Conservancy is its “big tent” approach, engaging people across the political and ideological spectrum to find solutions that last. We welcome everyone. Everyone in our organization should therefore be adept at working with people who may not share their personal values or opinions. We ask all employees to embrace the critical strategic position of our brand and organization as non-partisan. It is the foundation of our success.

WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER

The California Chapter is growing our prescribed fire efforts both on our California preserves and with our partners on federal, state, tribal, and private land throughout California. The Prescribed Fire Manager (PFM) will join the Forest Strategy Team within the Climate Program to advance our forest restoration work. The PFM will play a pivotal role in providing prescribed fire training to build workforce among diverse organizations and agencies across the State. Specifically, the PFM will support The Nature Conservancy and partner organizations throughout the State during times when key training or curriculum development, prescribed fire planning and review, crew supervision, or a particular skill or qualification that enables burn crews to have a greater impact.

In addition to the work advancing the Forest Strategy, the Prescribed Fire Manager provides fire management supervision and coordination for the California Chapter of The Nature Conservancy for prescribed fires, wildfires, fire training and fire qualifications. See TNC’s Fire Management Manual for more details (https://www.tncfiremanual.org/. 
With prescribed burn qualifications including National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2) and Prescribed Fire Manager (RXMG, attainable on the job), the position reviews and approves fire management plans, prescribed burn plans, and contractor qualifications. The Prescribed Fire Manager mentors, supports, evaluates, certifies, and designates burn bosses. They provide Ignition Authorizations for Conservancy prescribed burns. They ensure Conservancy fire management requirements and guidelines are met or exceeded and keep senior leadership in their area informed of fire program activities, needs, risks and accomplishments. The Prescribed Fire Manager modifies or exempts specific fire management guidelines as defined in the Fire Management Manual, with written justification.

The Prescribed Fire Manager supports prescribed fire workforce development and implements prescribed burns to increase community wildfire resilience. They ensure that fire personnel qualification records are annually collected and maintained in the IQCS database. They ensure timely notifications are made for all reportable fire incidents and annual reporting of the program's fire management activities. They review proposed contracts and agreements related to fire management activities and provide comments to TNC legal counsel. The Prescribed Fire Manager oversees internal reviews and designs and implements fire safety standards specific to the programs overseen, provided that those standards meet or exceed organizational standards, and may suspend fire management program operations if there is clear evidence of safety violations, serious risk of potential safety violations, or non-compliance with Conservancy SOPs, requirements, or guidelines.

As part of the incumbent’s ongoing professional development, they will keep abreast of internal and external developments in the field of wildland fire management to maintain excellence in their program. Additionally, they shall build strong partnerships with public and private partners to further the goals of the Conservancy in their area of responsibility, including delivery of or assisting with fire management training at local, regional, and national levels.

The PFM will work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances. This position is a grant-funded two-year term with opportunity to extend.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU

Are you passionate about returning fire to fire-adapted ecosystems and burning and learning in a collaborative setting with diverse partners? 

Guided by science, TNC creates innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that people and nature can thrive together. TNC has been conducting prescribed burns for 62 years, first on our own preserves and now in partnership with all kinds of people in a wide variety of landscapes around the world. 

We’re looking for someone who is highly motivated to help grow and diversify the prescribed fire workforce and skilled at working with a wide range of partners to establish and advance prescribed fire projects, mainly in forested fuel types in the Sierra Nevada and Northern California.  Most of the prescribed fire projects the Prescribed Fire Manager will support function as cooperative burns or Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges (TREX), which provide experiential training that builds robust local capacity for fire management and offers professional fire practitioners a more holistic perspective—while implementing treatments that support community and landscape objectives. 

Come join TNC and apply today!

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• 4 years of experience in fire management or natural resource management or similar field and a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent combination of education and experience, such as 8 years of experience and a GED/high school diploma, etc.)
• Must meet NWCG qualifications for RXB2 (Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2), including coursework and experience requirements. (See TNC’s Fire Management Manual for a full explanation of qualification requirements: https://www.tncfiremanual.org/BurnBoss.htm)
• Experience in authoring and reviewing prescribed burn unit plans and site fire management plans.
• Experience in training and curriculum design.
• Experience leading effectively in stressful situations. 
• Experience using applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and web browsers. 
• Experience communicating effectively with internal colleagues, partners, and or media.
• Must achieve physical fitness standards as set by the local Fire Manager and TNC Fire Management Manual.      
• Fire Manager Qualification must be approved and designated in writing by the Conservancy Fire Management Coordinator.
• Ability and willingness to achieve NWCG Prescribed Fire Manager (RXMG) qualification.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with cooperative burning and indigenous-led burning.
• Multi-lingual skills and multicultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated. 
• Ability and willingness to communicate and work closely with burn bosses, land managers and scientists to develop strategies and meet conservation and fire management objectives.
• Knowledge of ecological land management principles.
• Familiarity with fire ecology and fire management in California fuel types and agencies.
• Knowledge of current trends and practices in fire management, conservation, land management and natural resource preservation. 
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate people, programs, and potential problems, and to build partnerships.
• Ability and willingness to apply science to decision-making and guide activities.
• Knowledge of Conservancy fire management Standard Operating Procedure, requirements, and guidelines. 
• Completing tasks independently and with respect to timeline(s).
• Excellent communication skills via written, spoken, and graphical means in English.

WHAT WE BRING

Each person who works at TNC contributes to our goal of protecting nature for future generations. Another one of TNC’s primary goals is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that employees around the globe feel that their unique contributions are valued. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “You’ll join for the mission, and you’ll stay for the people.” To learn more, head to YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.  

We’re proud to support the health and wellbeing of the people we employ. We offer a competitive, comprehensive benefits package that includes healthcare coverage, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, and other benefits that support work-life balance. 

If you’re interested in working with us, please apply—we’d love to hear from you.

SALARY INFORMATION

The starting pay for this position is within the range of $70,900 – $100,075 for annual base salary. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA and state of employment is California. The salary range for this position will the following based on location:

San Francisco Bay area: $85,100 - $100,075

Merced, Redding, Roseville, Sacramento, Santa Cruz, Truckee: $78,000 - $91,725

Chico, Fort Bragg: $70,900 - $83,375

If your location in Northern California is not listed, the hiring team will confirm salary range with candidates during the interview process. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including the candidate's location, qualifications, skills, and experience. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people with diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, gender identities, military or veteran status or other status protected by law. 

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.