Wildfire Behavior and Planning Program Manager

At PGE our work involves dreaming about planning for and realizing a smarter cleaner more enduring Oregon neighborhood. Its core to our DNA and we havent stopped since we started in 1888. We energize lives strengthen communities and drive advancements in energy that promote social economic and environmental progress. Were always on the lookout for people passionate about leading and being a part of teams that are advancing innovative clean energy solutions that are also affordable and accessible to all.

Summary

As a Wildfire Behavior and Planning Program Manager you will lead the development implementation and continuous improvement of PGEs wildfire behavior analysis and fire planning program. In this role you will be responsible for building and managing the systems tools and strategies that forecast wildfire behavior support wildfire mitigation planning and strengthen PGEs operational readiness.

You will work across departments and with external partners to ensure that fire behavior modeling and fire planning are effectively integrated into PGEs broader wildfire mitigation emergency response and asset protection efforts. A successful candidate will bring strong program management skills combined with technical knowledge in fire behavior analysis and forecasting wildfire science and mitigation planning.

This role offers the chance to directly shape PGEs wildfire resilience strategy while helping secure the safe reliable delivery of power in one of the most dynamic sectors of the energy industry.

Key Responsibilities

Program Ownership and Strategy

• Lead the design implementation and evolution of PGEs wildfire behavior and planning program.
• Develop program strategies that align fire behavior analysis with wildfire mitigation priorities operational needs and regulatory requirements.
• Identify program goals performance metrics and continuous improvement opportunities.

Fire Behavior Modeling and Planning

• Perform and oversee wildfire behavior analysis using fuels topography and weather data.
• Utilize and manage wildfire modeling tools (e.g. BehavePlus FlamMap FSPro) to produce wildfire spread predictions and scenario analyses.
• Translate wildfire behavior forecasts into actionable planning products to inform mitigation projects emergency response strategies and infrastructure protection plans.

Project and Program Management

• Manage projects within the wildfire behavior/planning program portfolio ensuring delivery on scope schedule and budget.
• Develop project plans identify dependencies and coordinate resources across teams.
• Oversee vendor contracts and partnerships related to wildfire behavior modeling GIS mapping and risk analysis.

Stakeholder Collaboration and Support

• Partner with internal teams (Business Continuity & Emergency Management Vegetation Management Risk Field Operations) to embed wildfire behavior insights into decisionmaking.
• Support PGEs incident management team during wildfire events by providing fire behavior projections and risk assessments.
• Foster relationships with local state tribal and federal agencies research institutions and wildland fire science networks.

Training Tools and Standards Development

• Establish standards workflows and tools for consistent wildfire behavior modeling and planning practices.
• Provide training and technical support to internal stakeholders on interpreting wildfire modeling outputs and applying planning strategies.
• Stay current on wildland fire science advancements modeling technologies and policy changes impacting wildfire mitigation.

Reporting and Documentation

• Develop communication plans and reporting structures for wildfire behavior forecasts program status and planning deliverables.
• Maintain secure organized records of modeling inputs outputs decisions and afteraction reviews to inform future improvements.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelors degree in Fire Science Forestry Natural Resources Environmental Science Engineering or related field or equivalent experience.
• Masters degree preferred.

Experience

• Typically eight or more years in a related field including experience in wildfire behavior modeling wildfire planning or wildfire mitigation program management.

Certifications

• Specialized licenses certification and training may be preferred.
• Successful National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) training course completion of S390 (Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations) S482 (Strategic Operational Planning) or S495 (Geospatial Fire Analysis Interpretation and Application) S490 (Advanced Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations) S491 (Intermediate National Fire Danger Rating System)or S590 (Advanced Fire Behavior Interpretation) preferred.
• PMP certification preferred.

Valid drivers license required.

Competencies

Functional Competencies

• Advanced knowledge of wildfire behavior prediction fuels management wildland fire planning principles and wildfire modeling tools (e.g. BehavePlus FlamMap FSPro).
• Advanced knowledge of program and project management methodologies and practices.
• Strong skills in GIS mapping scenario planning and risk analysis related to wildfire events.
• Advanced ability to develop and manage project plans budgets and stakeholder communications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to translate technical modeling outputs into clear decision support tools.

General Competencies

• Advanced strategic thinking and program development skills.
• Strong collaboration relationshipbuilding and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Excellent problemsolving and decisionmaking skills under dynamic conditions.
• High attention to detail with the ability to see and communicate broader risk and resilience impacts.

Physical Schedule/Attendance and Cognitive Demands

Physical

• Does the job require a valid drivers license Yes
• Driving/travel/commute: Daily within service territory Occasionally (one to two times a month or less)
• Driving/travel/commute: Overnight inside/outside the service territory Occasionally (one to two times a month or less)
• Computer use (use computer regularly for entire work shift)
• Lifting/pushing/pulling (up to 10 lbs)
• Carrying (up to 10 lbs)

Cognitive Demands

• Ability to adhere to set response times deadlines and timesensitive tasks
• Ability to follow accuracy standards
• Ability to follow through on decisionmaking tasks
• Ability to interact effectively and collaboratively within a team environment
• Ability to communicate and problemsolve under stress
• Ability to respond and adapt to frequent change
• Ability to accept and demonstrate selfawareness when provided constructive feedback
• Ability to discern feedback and acknowledge ownership of areas of improvement
• Ability to avoid future mistakes by applying reasonable skills to new but similar work situations or tasks
• Ability to successfully collaborate with peers managers and others within the organization
• Demonstrates sound memory
• Ability to process new information to be applied consistently to work tasks

Schedule/Attendance

• Ability to adhere to preestablished schedule including start/stop time and break/lunch schedule
• Ability to work long hours
• Ability to work a variable schedule
• Ability to report to work and perform work during periods of severe inclement weather
• Ability to consistently meet attendance standards for regular reliable predictable fulltime attendance

Environment

• Office field

Compensation Range:

Actual total compensation including a performance based incentive bonus is commensurate with experience skills qualifications education training and internal equity. While we anticipate the selected candidate for this position will fall towards the middle or entry point of the compensation range the decision will be made on a casebycase basis.

PGE believes in rewarding dedicated performance. We provide a total rewards package that is designed to reward your contributions to the company and at the same time support your wellbeing and professional development both now and into the future. To find out more click here.

Join us today and power your potential!

Assisting with storms or other Company emergencies is a part of all positions at Portland General Electric.

PGE is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. PGE will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on race color national origin gender gender identity sexual orientation age religion disability protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

PGE does not discriminate on the basis of disability. We recognize individuals have a variety of abilities to offer and we believe there is much to value and celebrate by incorporating different abilities into the work we do. One very important way we live this out is in our application and interview process. We work hard to support individuals who may need an accommodation to fully participate in these processes. If you feel you may need an accommodation or would like to request one please notify the Talent Acquisition Specialist (Recruiter) associated with the job posting. You may also make this request by contacting or by calling. The Recruiter will provide information and next steps for the accommodation process. Our Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI) team is also available for support. You can contact them at .

To be considered for this position please complete the following employment application by the posting close date. Posting closes at midnight (Pacific Time) on the closing date below. If no date is listed job is open until filled.