What We Can Achieve Together:
The Ecological Fire Program Manager (EFPM) is a salaried position and the lead staff member within the Washington Chapter’s Ecological Fire Program, designed to build wildfire resilience in frontline communities of Central and Eastern Washington. This program addresses the wildfire crisis by working in collaboration with partners, engaging communities, and TNC’s fire programs to ensure that place-based fire management is implemented at an increased pace and scale through strategic and innovative expansion of projects, methodologies, tools and funding, that result in improved forest resilience and watershed health across the western dry-forest ecoregion. This work involves accelerating the use of ecological fire through the development and implementation of community-based cooperative burning programs with indigenous partners and with communities at the highest risk of wildfire impacts. The EFPM supports and guides Chapter programs to ensure the scientifically defensible execution of forest restoration and management throughout WA, to increase the resilience of forest ecosystems and frontline communities in the face of climate change. This position will work to increase political social license, funding, workforce capacity and on the ground implementation of beneficial fire to improve community resilience and engage frontline communities in creating local and equitable solutions to wildfire issues. This position has oversight of fire qualifications and fire implementation and will directly supervise staff. The EFPM ensures that the best available science guides our forest restoration work and conservation strategies, with an emphasis on building resilience in natural communities, thus allowing them to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem function in a changing climate. The successful candidate will connect chapter work to TNC’s North America Living with Fire strategy and our Western Dry Forests and Fire Program. The position will build on a history of local collaboration and the support of national networks such as the Fire Learning Network .
Essential Functions
The EFPM establishes TNC as a major conservation partner within the fire management community and leads in defining conservation priorities and long-term conservation strategies. They develop key partnerships with public and private organizations to identify and resolve technical issues and to widely communicate solutions and best practices. They engage local community support for local conservation efforts and negotiate complex and innovative solutions with government agencies and landowners to conserve and protect natural communities. They develop innovative scientific methods, analyses, tools and frameworks to manage natural systems to build resilience in the face of climate change. Anticipated percentage of time, relative to key job duties:
Relationship Building, Facilitation & Communications (40%)
Project Management, Implementation & Problem Solving (25%)
Grants and Contracts Management (25%)
Other functions (10%)
Responsibilities & Scope
The EFPM position is a strategic leader who translates plans into action, motivates our team, and fosters alignment to achieve organizational goals. Serving as the lead for TNC’s Accelerating Ecological Fire program in the Washington Chapter, this position is responsible for managing the program’s Theory of Change and reporting quarterly progress. The position establishes and maintains optimal standards of performance for the program while controlling costs and managing and administering budgets. They develop contracts and grants related to prescribed fire implementation that align with The Nature Conservancy’s approach to prescribed fire, our Strategic Framework, and conservation objectives. This position supports prescribed fire workforce development and implements prescribed burns to increase community wildfire resilience. They conduct or assist with training at local and national levels; and ensure that TNC’s fire guidelines and requirements are met or exceeded as defined in TNC’s Fire Management Manual . They provide technical and scientific support to fire planners and burn bosses, review proposed contracts and staff qualifications for prescribed fire operations, and provide input to TNC legal counsel on fire policy. They keep current on internal and external developments and trends in the field of wildland fire management and keep abreast of new burn techniques and equipment to enhance skills and maintain/grow fire credentials of TNC staff. To maintain excellence in the program, they build strong partnerships with public and private partners to further the goals of TNC and keep senior leadership informed of fire program activities, needs, risks, and accomplishments. The position is expected to travel to achieve these responsibilities. Approximately 75% of this position is focused on strategic leadership, coordination, budget, and contract management, and 25% is concentrated on prescribed fire implementation.
Level of Position : The Ecological Fire Program Manager is a mid-level, conservation team position within the Washington Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. They are accountable for conservation results within their control.
Within the scope of the position, the Ecological Fire Program Manager will:
Develop and implement a proactive, systems-level program, focused on ecologically based fire management.
Establish TNC as a major conservation partner within the fire management community and implement priorities and strategies associated with advancing the use of prescribed fire in Washington State and TNC’s Western Region.
Provide capacity and enabling conditions needed to test social license assumptions and establish community-based cooperative burning models across communities and non-traditional audiences with an equity lens - recognizing that Indigenous, under-resourced, and communities of color experience the most severe impacts from climate-driven events like wildfire.
Serve as the principle contact to government agencies, other conservation organizations, and the academic community on fire issues.
Strategically invest in and elevate innovation for pilot projects that use the unique strengths of TNC business units to accelerate and advance tactics that promote ecological, social and political enabling conditions for forest resilience.
Provide internal and external communications to accomplish policy objectives and, in partnership with our Government Relations team, provide consultation and research on policy issues.
Build on our local collaboration efforts in Fire Adapted Communities, WA Prescribed Fire Council, and support national networks such as the Fire Learning Network.
Coordinate community support, manage contracts and implement program strategies around workforce development and increasing the use of prescribed fire.
Work closely with TNC Staff to implement restoration and management on several thousand acres of private and public lands across the state.
The EFPM will direct prescribed fire operations; and develop and review Prescribed Burn Unit Plans.
Supervise staff with responsibility for performance management, training, and development.
Ensures program compliance with internal policies and external requirements.
Pursues grants and private donations to support the fire program and manages relevant grants and contracts.
Work Environment and Schedule
Work location is flexible within the dry forest region of Central Washington, but ability to be on-site at TNC locations in Washington is required.
May work long hours in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
Annual completion of Pack Test (Arduous Duty): Complete a 3-mile walk over level terrain in 45 minutes or less while carrying a 45-pound pack.
Position will require frequent (sometimes overnight) travel.
What You’ll Bring:
BA/BS degree and 5 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies
Experience leading crew members and managing resources in Prescribed Fire implementation. Experience in training and supervising staff and burn crew members or volunteers.
Experience serving as a course instructor for entry to mid-level wildland fire and prescribed fire courses.
Annually pass physical fitness testing at the arduous level.
Experience leading effectively in stressful situations.
3 to 5 years related experience in fire operations or ecological land management, similar field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience using ESRI software ArcMap, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, and mobile applications Collector or Field Maps
Desired Qualifications
Multi-lingual skills and multicultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated, especially working with Indigenous communities.
Experience and dedication to working with communities through empathetic listening to foster and sustain public acceptance and support for regularly using prescribed fire as a land management tool.
5-7 years’ experience in conservation practice or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Holds National Wildfire Coordinating Group qualifications for RxB2, including coursework and experience requirements. https://www.tncfiremanual.org/personnel.htm
Experience working with a variety of public, private and NGO partners to implement a shared vision.
Political savvy and ability to communicate clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
Experience working with communities that have been impacted by climate-related natural resource emergencies.
Experience facilitating collaborative decision-making across a diverse group of stakeholders.
Experience writing and securing grants.
Salary Information:
The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $79,000 - $89,000 . This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.
Who We Are :
The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube or on Glassdoor .
Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”
What We Bring:
Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!
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.
We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.
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 of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. 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 orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.
The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.
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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 [email protected] with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.
