What We Can Achieve Together:
The Nature Conservancy is the world’s leading non-profit organization working on fire issues. We have been working with fire since 1962, when we conducted our first controlled burn. Our approach has evolved from one that was primarily focused on managing our preserves for biodiversity to one that includes developing more equitable policy and funding, growing skilled fire management workforces, and helping communities develop ways to live more safely with wildfire.
The Nature Conservancy’s Oregon Fire program is working to support prescribed fire planning, implementation, and monitoring across Oregon. The Prescribed Fire Module Assistant will be an employee of The Nature Conservancy, based in one of three focal geographies, helping lead a new, 5 to 10-person prescribed fire module. For approximately 6-8 months per year (spring through fall), the Module Assistant will work closely with the module leader, and organization partners such as the U.S. Forest Service and other local, state, federal, NGO, university, and Tribal partners, in preparing, conducting, and reviewing prescribed fire/fuels management activities in Oregon. During this time the module assistant will be expected to live in the predetermined locations for the module, providing module leadership and other project planning, implementation, monitoring, and partnership support needs. For the remainder of the year, the Module Assistant will assist with priority TNC-focused projects including planning and implementation of prescribed fire/fuels on TNC and partner lands, engagement with TNC partners to develop and prioritize future projects, coordination with private, state, and Tribal entities to identify and recruit future module crewmembers, and other tasks. The Module Leader will be expected to travel frequently within their focal area for prescribed fire assignments. During the “offseason” (i.e., when the seasonal crewmembers are not working), the module leader may live and work from any location in Oregon but will be expected to travel to their assigned geography to meet with partners in support of future planning, implementation, monitoring, and relationship building.
The Module Assistant will report directly to the Prescribed Fire Module Leader within their geography. This position is expected to help TNC, the U.S. Forest Service, and other partners to meet their respective prescribed fire and fuels management goals.
The Module Assistant, under the direction of the Module Leader will assist with training and mentoring module crewmembers representing a set of partner organizations on prescribed fire assignments. This position will work independently and in teams, lead others, follow direction from supervisors, teach courses, and mentor others, while also advancing their own training and qualifications. The Module Assistant will work with and lead module crews which may consist of permanent and short-term TNC employees as well as volunteers, contractors, and assigned partner agency staff serving on the module for a season or short-term rotation.
This 3-year term position is supported by federal, state, and private funding with the intention of assisting with prescribed fire across land ownerships.
We’re Looking for You:
The Module Assistant will assist with leadership of crews on prescribed burns, preparing fire lines, maintaining equipment, monitoring post-burn fire effects, and carrying out other prescribed fire and vegetation management related tasks. They will also work with partners to plan and prepare for prescribed fire operations, including unit layout, burn plan writing, and following TNC’s Fire Manual and Standard Operating Procedures.
The Module Assistant will support prescribed fire planning, operations, monitoring, and training opportunities for other non-profit NGOs, Indigenous peoples and tribes, local fire departments, and local, state, and federal agencies, with a focus on providing inclusive workforce development opportunities for under-represented groups. This work may include engagement with willing private landowners in developing prescribed fire agreements, planning, and implementing prescribed fire on these lands.
In addition, they are responsible for safe and effective fire operations, and they will administer physical fitness testing, train, and organize crews, manage volunteers, and contribute to annual refresher training.
The Module assistant may participate in wildland fire management activities in partnership with other non-government organizations, Indigenous Peoples and Tribes, local fire departments, and local, state, and federal agencies, either as a TNC employee or as a short-term employee of a partner entity (such as an Administratively Determined short-term federal employee).
This is a regular, full-time, hourly wage position. Working over 40 hours a week will occur occasionally, especially during prescribed fire seasons and while traveling for assignments overtime rates apply after the first 40 hours each week. Travel expenses, meals and lodging will be provided by TNC when traveling for prescribed fire assignments.
Module Assistant will be expected to:
- Perform tasks under the supervision of the Prescribed Fire Module Lead and in coordination with local U.S. Forest Service Fire Management staff.
- Assist with identification, recruitment, and supervision of module crewmembers.
- Function as a contributing member of a mixed-gender, cross-generational team with a range of experience and skills.
- Ensure safe work practices.
- Be able to perform heavy physical work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Lead crew through with all aspects of prescribed burning including planning, implementation, and monitoring.
- Operate ATVs, UTVs, tractors, chain saws, and leaf blowers and tow trailers.
- Maintain assigned equipment.
- Maintain accurate records of work time, expenses, etc. and submit reports in a timely manner.
- Become competent with mobile mapping and data collection such as Collector for ArcGIS and Avenza Maps.
