Fire and Fuels Coordinator

Job Overview

Title: Fire and Fuels Coordinator                                                                          Date: 12/21/2022

Starting Salary: The starting salary range for this position will be $40,480 – $46,900 depending on experience, education, and skills relevant to the position.  Please note that the indicated starting salary range describes the range for an incumbent in this position.  Most new staff generally start at the beginning of the range percentile to ensure internal salary equity.

Location: Chattanooga, TN   

Status: Full time, exempt, part time remote eligible

Benefit Eligible: Health, Vision, Dental, Long-Term Disability, Retirement, Paid Time Off per Personnel Policies

Reports to:  Program Director

Organizational Summary:

Conservation Legacy is a nationwide non-profit.  The Corps programs within the organization engage participants in diverse conservation and community projects that serve public and private lands.   These projects provide opportunities for personal and professional development and strive toward a high priority of needs for public land managers and community partners. Through the mission of engaging future leaders who protect, restore and enhance our nation’s lands through community-based service; Conservation Legacy works toward a world with healthy lands, air and water; thriving people and resilient communities.

The Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC) is a program of the non-profit service organization, Conservation Legacy. SECC provides youth, young adults, and veterans opportunities to complete conservation projects on public and private lands throughout Tennessee and Southeast region. While serving with SECC members learn natural resource management practices and team work though completing high quality projects such as prescribed burning, fuels management, land restoration, trail construction, invasive plant management, disaster relief, and much more.  SECC operates field programs nearly year-round. Annually, field crew and internship engagement averages approximately 130 corps members and roughly 16 seasonal Crew Leaders or Assistant Crew Leaders.

Position Summary

The Fire and Fuels Coordinator’s primary responsibility is to support crews focused on fuels reduction and prescribed burning. Duties and responsibilities will include regularly scheduled field visits to crews, administrative duties related to project preparation for crews, facilitating fire and fuels related trainings, member and leader mentorship, gear and equipment management, maintaining positive partner relationships, and recruitment. Additionally, the ideal candidate for this position can facilitate crew rig-ups and de-rigs in person as well as effectively support crews from a distance. Evening, overnight, and weekend work will be required.  A flexible schedule is a must!

Essential Responsibilities and Functions

Program Logistics                                            

• Support local and satellite operations and logistics for fire and fuels crews including affinity models such as Veteran Fire Crews and Women’s+.
• Facilitate as lead or support in fire/fuels related trainings such as S212, S130 and S190
• Collaborate with SECC Logistics Coordinator to supervise and manage crews in and around the shop, including the management of gear, tools, and equipment.
• Manage, inventory, repair, and purchase chainsaws, hand tools, camp equipment, and supplies as needed and related to fire/fuels crews.
• Support the Logistics Coordinator as needed in the timely repair and maintenance of SECC fleet of vehicles and trailers associated with fire/fuels crews.
• Facilitate driver training for leaders and members as needed.
• Maintain and create organizational systems for logistical management related to fire/fuels.
• Provide logistical support to SECC fire/fuels crews in various locations across the Southeast.
• Respond to crew emergency situations, including last-minute travel and overnight stays.
• Provide technical field support to fire/fuels crews.

General Administration                      

• Work within the established field and program budget, updating the Program Director on relevant operations purchases.
• Design and co-create a recruitment strategy for fire/fuels programs for SECC and Southeast corps.
• Actively recruit, interview and support onboarding for fire/fuels members and leaders.
• Complete field site visit reports and regular check-ins with the SECC Program Director.
• Acquire and maintain relevant certifications necessary to preform/train chain saw and prescribed burning operations.

Coordinate with partners to manage participants’ technical qualifications and onboarding documentation within Conservation Legacy’s systems and protocols.

Miscellaneous

• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.
• Successfully engages, leads, and supports an inclusive work environment for those of underrepresented populations within the organization and the communities we serve.
• Leads and/or participates in organizational-wide teams, projects and initiatives that support the work of the Strategic Plans goals.
• Engage with Conservation Legacy staff and partners to maintain a high level of industry awareness, especially as it concerns fuels, fire and chainsaw standards, best practices, and protocols.

Other “Hats” You May Wear: Customer Service, Relationship Development, Marketing, Administrative, Supervision or Mentorship to Others, Facilitator, Trainer, Facilities, Human Resources, Supervisor

Physical Requirements:

• Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the manager.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Exhibits the ability to effectively work on diverse teams and with a variety of populations, including those underrepresented at our organization and those of Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.
• Hold a current Fire Fighter Type 1 certificate.
• Hold a current S-212 or equivalent chainsaw certification, with a desire to work towards the intermediate level of certification (B Faller, FAL 2).
• Extensive knowledge of Fireline operations
• 2 years’ experience leading corps, agency, conservation crews or staff related to fire/fuels management.
• Experience successfully working on small teams and managing conflict in small groups.
• Experience maintaining and managing tools and equipment related to fire/fuels, including chain saws.
• Able to prioritize tasks and remain organized. Able to divide focus between multiple field crews with various abilities, support needs, and staggered shop dates.
• Experience with influencing diverse groups of employees to achieve common goals.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.
• Able to carry out assigned work independently, while also able to work well with others and to seek assistance when needed to carry out assignments
• The ability to communicate effectively, manage complexity, cultivate innovation, drive and influence results of oneself and others.
• Instructor experience.
• Hold current CPR & WFR or WFA or the ability to obtain once hired.
• Familiarity with computer use, programs, and databases such as Microsoft Office programs and applications, or similar platforms.
• Ability to keep others, in remote locations, accountable to expectations.
• Valid Driver’s License and Insurable Driving Record
• Must be able to pass the organization’s criminal history check requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in participating in Administratively Determined (AD) fire operations as a participant or lead.
• Hold a current B Faller certification
• Small engine (chainsaw) repair and maintenance.

To Apply:

• Send cover letter and resume/CV to Caitlin Scott at [email protected]
  1. with subject line “Applicant_[Your Name]”.
  2. Cover letter must include a response to the following: Provide some examples of your experience effectively working with diverse communities, including those specific to Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and other underrepresented populations, in personal or professional context.

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer.  We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, political affiliation, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.