Title: Fire Management Technician – Individual Placement

Reports to: Katie Owens, Program Coordinator, The Nature Conservancy – Georgia

Locations: Based in Rome, GA

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Exempt (450-hour AmeriCorps National Service Term)

Stipend: $500/week – paid bi-weekly  

Other Benefits: Dorm housing is provided for the entire season. (service days and none service days).

Start/End date:   01/06/25 – 05/2/25 - 17 weeks

Positions Available: 6 

Position opened until filled. 

Southeast Conservation Corps: SECC empowers young adults to cultivate compassion, responsibility, and grit through community service, hard work, and environmental stewardship.

The Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC) is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization. The SECC selects young adults, ages 18-30, to complete conservation service projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC programs encourage environmental stewardship, foster community partnerships, and emphasize experiential learning. SECC serves a diverse population that is representative of the Southeast, including youth, graduates, veterans, and a cross-section of ethnicities and income levels.  

Site Dscription: Founded in 1951, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change and conserving lands, water, and oceans at an unprecedented scale. We are providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Serving in 72 countries, including all 50 United States, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities. For more information about The Nature Conservancy, visit The Nature Conservancy: A World Where People & Nature Thrive (nature.org).

Overview: 

Northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama are home to hundreds of thousands of acres of forests that have been suppressed from fire for decades. Most of these forests need fire to benefit wildlife, reduce fuels to prevent catastrophic wildfires and be productive timber forests overall. TNC serves closely in northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama with private landowners, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, and the Talladega National Forest on timber management, trail maintenance, and prescribed burning. This Individual Placement will have opportunities to burn with local counties, the Georgia Forestry Commission, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, and the Talladega National Forest, all of whom embrace the return of fire to Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama for community and environmental benefits.

In addition to returning fire to the landscape, this Individual Placement will allow the IP to maintain several preserves and easements that TNC owns to protect biodiversity and provide recreational access for the public. The IP will also assist with the upkeep of established and well-used trail systems found on the preserves.

Position Responsibilities:

Seasonal Prescribed Burns.

• It involves conducting prescribed burns for the benefit of rare and endangered species. Individual Placement will participate in prescribed burn operations throughout Northwest Georgia on key preserves owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy (TNC). The Individual Placement will also be assisting TNC partners such as private landowners, state agencies, federal agencies, and potentially the Alabama TNC Chapter.

Assistance with ignition, control, mop-up, suppression, and monitoring.

•  Involves participation in preparing fire lines, maintaining equipment, post-burn monitoring, and other tasks.
• The Montane Longleaf Ecosystem is a rare ecosystem found only in Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama. A generous portion of this Individual Placement will focus on restoring or maintaining the montane longleaf ecosystem through planting and the use of fire. TNC expects this year’s projects will directly benefit at least 5,000 acres of land.

Preserve Management.

• When conditions are not conducive to prescribed burns, Individual Placement performs other duties, such as habitat restoration.
• Northwest Georgia is also home to one of the most biologically diverse river systems in the southeast, the Upper Coosa Watershed. There will be opportunities to assist with river restoration projects, with a focus specifically on expanding the Dub Denman Canoe Trail in the Tallapoosa River Watershed.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A high school diploma and 6 months of related experience is required.

• Must be willing to complete online and in-person training to become a Fire Fighter Type 2 (FFT2).

• Must have the ability to hike on uneven terrain, off-trail on unmarked paths in slippery and/or wet conditions.

• Must have the capacity to use sharp tools and carry heavy equipment.

• Must achieve arduous physical fitness fire standard (Walk 3 miles in 45 minutes carrying a 45lb pack).

• Must have a valid driver’s license and clean driving record.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience operating various types of equipment (Type 6 Engine and UTVS).

• The ability to pull an 18-foot trailer.

AmeriCorps Qualifications:  To qualify, you must be between the ages of 18 and 30 and a US citizen that has received a high school diploma or GED. All offers of employment are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and federal criminal background check. Must be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award. 

Service Schedule:

The position lasts approximately 17 weeks (4 months), from January through April. The Individual Placement will serve a 40-hour serve week, Monday through Friday with lunch breaks each day. Due to the position being weather dependent, some weekends will be served. Since the position involves fire and tracts of varied sizes, some service days will be more extensive than others. This will result in half days on non-fire related service days.

Housing:

Housing is available for students. Students will share a 2-bedroom duplex with the fire crew lead. The students room will be setup as bunk housing. Students must sign a housing agreement with The Nature Conservancy.

Training:

1. Preparing Fire Lines

The Individual Placement will learn to use fire tools and establish knowledge of fire lines prior to prescribed burns. This individual will also learn to drop snags close to fire lines using chainsaws. Trainings include:

• Fire Fighter Type II Certification (FFT2)
•  Introduction to ICS (I-100)
• Human Factors on the Fire Line (L-180)
• Wildland Fire Chainsaws (S-212)

2. Wildland Fire Operations

The Individual Placement will learn the essential functions and responsibilities of ignition, control, mop-up, suppression, and post burn monitoring. Trainings Include:

• Introduction to Wild Land Fire Behavior (S-190)
• Firefighter Training (S-130)
• Burn Training

3. Stewardship Projects

The Individual Placement will learn to assist with overseeing shortleaf and longleaf tree plantings and gain knowledge on rare aquatic and terrestrial species and monitor them. This individual will also learn to perform the basics of invasive species removal and control.

Transportation: A personal vehicle is required to get to the service site and/or office. The Individual Placement will also drive an agency vehicle for this position. The driver must pass a background check, review, and sign The Nature Conservancy’s Vehicle Safety Agreement. The Individual Placement will also have to pass Conservation Legacy’s driver background screening to drive.

Compensation:  The Individual Placement are paid a living stipend of $500 per week ($1000 dispersed bi-weekly) before taxes, via direct deposit. Upon successful completion of the term of service AmeriCorps members will earn an AmeriCorps Segal education award to be used for student loans, qualifying programs/classes, or tuition for traditional Title IV accredited colleges. 

Participation and Expedition Behavior:

• Serve effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem-solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service. Members must commit to participating in all crew/team activities, including service days in local communities where applicable.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
• Have the cognitive ability to learn necessary skills and apply them to carry out the service requirements effectively.
• Appropriately always represent the Program and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners.

Outdoor Skills (where appropriate): Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor skills as appropriate to the project. Additionally, remain hydrated, fed, and properly dressed to remain healthy and safe, avoiding environmental injuries.

Substance Free:

In accordance with a drug-free environment, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property. 

Additional Notes:

All applicants are required to perform a criminal history check, offers of employment are contingent upon results.

This program is available to all eligible applicants, without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or religion. 

To Apply: 

Follow the SECC link and complete the application. Please include 3 references, a resume, and a copy of your transcripts (unofficial is okay). You can put the references in a word doc and upload it alongside your resume. A cover letter is encouraged but not required.

If you have questions about the position, please contact:

Katie Owens

Program Coordinator

The Nature Conservancy – The Georgia Chapter

(706) 767-0497

kowens@tnc.org 

OR

Nathaniel Payne

Conservation and Fire Manager The Nature Conservancy – NWGA

(706) 218-9220

nathaniel.payne@tnc.org 

If you have questions about the application process, please contact:

Ray Wilson

Individual Placement Program Coordinator

Southeast Conservation Corps

rwilson@conservationlegacy.org 

(423) 322-4976