Fire Management Specialist

This role is responsible for the planning and implementation of wildfire prevention and mitigation programs as directed by the Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission. Goals include reduction of wildfire risk in the Central Pine Barrens region, improving forest health, fostering ecological diversity and public awareness of wildfire risks. Responsibilities will include overseeing the implementation of all aspects of the Commission’s prescribed fire management program in cooperation with public landowning agencies which includes the preparation of prescribed fire burn plans and wildland fire management plans, conducting fuels, smoke and wildland fire management/mitigation, equipment management, and assisting in public education and outreach. This employee will represent the Commission on the Academy Board and at the Commission’s Wildfire Task Force meetings. This employee will be under the direct supervision of the Executive Director.

6/23/2025

Full Time

Central Pine Barrens

 

Responsibilities include:

• Serve as a member of an interdisciplinary multiagency team in planning, developing, and implementing land management plans, compliance documents and agreements.
• Develop, plan and maintain a comprehensive fuels management program including selecting areas in need of fuels treatment; developing appropriate methods to reduce fuels; developing the necessary budget; scheduling fire operations.
• Recommend and evaluate strategies for fuels and fire management plans as well as environmental documents and prescribed fire plans.
• Prepare and administer grants to fund wildfire prevention and mitigation projects and community wildfire protection plans.
• Manage and support prescribed fire use, fuel treatment planning and habitat management protocols.
• Develop and review pretreatment and burn plans including application of fuel models, estimating fire behavior using computer modeling, and developing GIS-based maps of burn and treatment units.
• Administer, lead and participate in prescribed fire and fuels management activities to ensure targets are achieved, objectives are met, and mitigation measures are adequate.
• Supports and assists in the development and implementation of long-term ecological monitoring to facilitate and refine adaptive management programming.
• Ensure that all fire management actions comply with Federal, New York State and Suffolk County air quality rules and regulations.
• Supervise prescribed fire crew members, interns and other subordinate staff associated with prescribed fire projects while ensuring the safety and welfare of all participating personnel and property.
• Identify training needs, mentors and assists in staff and volunteer training and development; assists in the development of a volunteer network to support prescribed fire implementation.
• Assist with the planning and operation of the New York Wildfire and Incident Management Academy and the instruction of NWCG courses.
• Ensure that use of fire apparatus, water delivery systems and hand tool use and maintenance follow nationally accepted standards and practices.
• Assist in purchasing new equipment and equipment cache and fleet.
• Participate in the development of mutual aid agreements to facilitate multi-agency projects and assistance.
• Respond to public inquiries and conduct outreach for the prescribed fire program.
• Ensures accurate record-keeping of all actions.
• Provides staff support at public events
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• 7 years of relevant experience including prescribed fire programs operation and implementation required; 10 or more years professional level experience involving prescribed and wildland fire preferred.
• B.S. / B.A.in emergency management, fire science, fire administration, ecology, conservation biology, forestry or related natural science required; M.S. or PhD in emergency management, fire science, fire administration, ecology, conservation biology or related natural science/natural resources related field preferred.
• Certified as an NWCG certified Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2), NWCG Task Force Leader (TFLD) or equivalent with ability to maintain this certification during the duration of employment required.
• Advanced training in NWCG “S” courses and/or “RX” courses.
  • RX-301 – Prescribed Fire Implementation
  • RX 341- Prescribed Fire Plan Preparation
  • First Responder (Wilderness)
  • S212 Wildland Saws
  • UTV/ATV Qualified
• Must be able to meet the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation requirements for work capacity test.
• Professional knowledge of and expertise in managing wildland fires including both suppression and prescribed fires and natural resource management/ecology/forestry to lead the development; maintenance and enhancement of a prescribed fire and wildland urban interface fuels management program.
• Strong foundation in the principles of conservation biology and restoration ecology, especially pertaining to pine barrens ecological communities.
• Ability to initiate and manage incidents and planned events at the Type 4 level utilizing the Incident Command System (ICS) and Incident Action Plans.
• Demonstrated field supervisory experience with prescribed fire and similar natural resource management field work.
• Ability to train employees and cooperators and document completion of required work performance tasks in NWCG and other NY State accepted position task books.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience analyzing and applying fire management strategies.
• Knowledge of and experience with BEHAVE fire modeling system for use in modeling fire behavior for purposes of planning and implementation of prescribed fire.
• Experience with specifying, equipping, mobilizing, deploying and maintaining prescribed fire equipment cache, fire communications systems, engines and crew.
• Solid working knowledge of and experience in using GPS units, remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (especially ESRI software) for data collection and mapping.
• Proficient in fire engine use and maintenance; use of wildland fire water delivery systems and use and maintenance of hand tools.
• Ability to operate motor vehicles, Type 6 and Type 7 engines,  four-wheel drive (4WD) truck, Utility Task Vehicle (UTV), All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and demonstrated knowledge of and experience in operating a variety of other field tools.
• Experience with permitting and compliance with federal and state laws and regulations related to wetlands; rare, threatened and endangered species and species of special concern as well as NEPA and SEQRA.
• Knowledge and experience in developing and implementing wildfire prevention and education programs, including familiarity with Firewise, Ready Set Go and how to perform home assessments
• Training and demonstrated experience supervising others in a manner which promotes teamwork and collaboration for optimal performance and situational awareness.
• Prefer experience with performing ecological restoration, knowledge of and direct experience with applying adaptive management principles for natural resource management and the use of various ecological restoration tools including mechanical treatments, herbicide application and similar tools in support of and as an alternate management practice to prescribed fire.
• Experience in working with public land managers, volunteers and the public.

 

*The Authority may accept an equivalent combination of education and experience to meet the requirements*

 

Interested candidates should submit their application and resume, including salary requirements via the SCWA website (www.scwa.com) and click on “Career Opportunities”. Salary is commensurate with education and experience within the range of $90,000-98,000 per year.  Salary expectations should be disclosed on the application.

(The Authority shall not employ relatives of employees as defined to mean an employee's spouse, child, stepchild, stepparent or direct descendant of grandparents of the employee as defined in the New York State General Municipal Law 810.)