Burn Crew Manager

The Burn Crew Manager oversees a squad (2-7 Burn Crew Members) in wild land fire activities, as directed by a Burn Boss, or other command position. The Burn Crew Manager (BCM) participates in preparing fire lines, maintaining equipment, post-burn monitoring and other tasks. They may perform other preserve management duties when conditions are not conducive to prescribed fire. As part of the BCM’s ongoing professional development, they will be responsible for keeping abreast of new burn techniques and equipment to enhance skills and maintain/grow professional fire certification credentials.

In addition, they shall work to build and maintain relationships in the professional fire community and in the local community where the Conservancy works. This may include participation in wild land fire suppression activities in partnership with other non-profits, local fire departments, and local, state and federal agencies, tribal or indigenous, either as a TNC employee or as a volunteer or short-term employee of the partner entity (such as an Administratively determined, short term federal employee).

They should have the ability to perform heavy physical work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.

The Tennessee program has a robust prescribed fire management program. We work alongside government agencies to improve forest health and resiliency by strategically implementing prescribed burns in the Appalachian landscape. Your role as a seasonal fire employee is critical to our success. We typically assist with burning 10,000 acres to 25,000 acres per season which makes for a busy time. With this amount of burning, you will receive valuable experience around ecologically based prescribed burning in hardwood forests.

The spring fire season begins in February and ends in April. The Tennessee Business Unit is recruiting three BCM to lead our squads based near Tellico Plains and Crossville, TN. The BCM is responsible for daily oversight of the squad and for handling administrative tasks such as time reporting, accomplishment tracking, logistics planning, purchases, and the overall safety of the squad.

The BCM uses and maintains a full suite of wildland fire equipment and ensures readiness of burn crew members. This is an hourly, seasonal, position beginning full-time February 8 and ending April 16 and part-time, remote, and as needed beginning December 7 with a pay range of $26.00 to $27.50 USD per hour, based on qualifications and experience with housing provided during the full-time employment period.

During the part-time as needed period you will have the chance to work with our staff and begin planning for the arrival of the burn crew in February.

• High school diploma and 1-year training in fire operations, science-related field or similar field or related experience in land management.
• Qualified Fire Fighter Type 1 (Squad Boss) and successful completion of FFT1 task book. Requirements for FFT1 can be found in the Conservancy Fire Management Manual.
• Two or more seasons as a Senior Burn Crew Member or similar agency qualification.
• Must achieve physical fitness standards as set by the local Fire Manager and the TNC Fire Manual.
• Experience operating and maintaining various types of equipment.
• Experience supervising staff or volunteers is required May be required to obtain related licenses and certifications such as CPR and herbicide application.

• Two (2) years of training in fire operations or other science-related fields or related experience in land management or a similar field.
• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural…