Prescribed Fire Manager, Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program

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Job Profile

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Department

Compensation Range

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge qualifications and experience for the the normal course employees will be hired transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

At UBC we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research innovation and learning for all faculty staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

The purpose of this position is to lead the management and support the delivery of the first Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program (the Program).

Housed at the University of British Columbias Okanagan campus (UBCO) the Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program will be the first of its kind in Canada and will develop the foundational framework required for a nationally recognized program to facilitate the safe and effective application of prescribed fire contributing to measurable improvements in biodiversity ecological resilience and community safety. The Program will involve the development of curriculum and regional hubs across Canada which will provide region-specific and hands-on prescribed fire training.

This position will be responsible for helping lead the development and implementation of the core infrastructure of the Program in coordination with the Director Dr. Mathieu Bourbonnais and the Operations Manager. The Prescribed Fire Manager will develop a comprehensive set of policies procedures and support systems for the in-person field component of the Program and work with the Operations Manager to align these with university policies and procedures for the success of the Program. With support from the Operations Manager they will be responsible for the hiring and supervision of three Regional Managers and six Research and Extension Coordinators to build and deliver the field components of the Program. This position will advise senior leadership on a national communication and engagement strategy and provide oversight on the communications plan. They will be responsible for the successful delivery of the prescribed fire field Program including logistics for all prescribed fire operations and field training and leadership for the Research and Extension Team outreach activities. They will liaise with the Operations Manager and Regional Leads to coordinate field instructors training and support with writing financial progress and activity reports.

This position will work collaboratively with the Operations Manager to oversee the Research and Extension Team and the integration of the Program in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (EESC) which will be the academic home of the Program at UBCO.

Organizational Status

This position reports to Dr. Mathieu Bourbonnais (Director) and works in the Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at UBCs Okanagan campus.

Work Performed

• Leads the development and implementation of the prescribed fire field operations and training program.
• Establishes and manages relationships with national partners to enhance Program outreach and success.
• Oversee and manages budgets of approved funding which includes preparing financial reports and communications with multiple agencies
• Makes decisions related to the development and implementation of prescribed fire training policies procedures and systems across the Program.
• Builds and implements workplans timelines and evaluation tasks for key Program objectives.
• Coordinates with field instructors Research and Extension team and other local and provincial agencies to ensure the successful implementation of Program training and prescribed fire activities.
• Tracks and reports on progress against key milestones and recommend changes to mitigate risks as needed
• Manage develop and identify new relationships to support Program objectives track engagement activities to ensure timely and consistent communications
• Aids the Director in strategic planning and activity reporting
• Maintains communication with all program collaborators including internal UBC teams and external partners including provincial and national government bodies NGOs First Nations community-based organizations and others.
• Collaborates with the Operations Manager to support communications planning with the Communications Coordinator
• Leads and provides direction to the Research and Extension team to build a national partnership engagement strategy and develop regional prescribed fire training hubs to reflect the ecological and logistic differences in these regions.
• Support the Director with recruiting selecting evaluating supervising and if necessary terminating staff and contractors.
• Perform other duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Errors or incorrect decisions of this position could seriously compromise the timing and quality of training and knowledge extension projects of the addition inaccurate reporting lack of grant facilitation and failure in communications could result in lost funding and jeopardized relationships with collaborators and communities.

Poor judgement or poor relationship management may harm the reputation of UBCO and may result in lost research partnership opportunities. Inaccurate or incomplete information regarding partnership opportunities or sponsor regulations could result in a loss of funding or may commit the University to unacceptable award conditions. Mismanagement of partnerships could result in the return of funds loss of future funds and/or inability to collect funds owed to the University. Incorrect interpretation of Sponsoring Agency and University policy could result in non-compliance with sponsoring agency terms.

Supervision Received
This position will work autonomously with considerable latitude. This position is expected to be able to independently perform duties and consult regularly with the Director. Work is reviewed in terms of achievement of specific goals.

Supervision Given
Manages staff and is responsible for hiring discipline evaluation and termination. This role will have three direct reports and six indirect subordinate reports.

Minimum Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of three years of related experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives including perspectives in conflict with ones own
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing ones own awareness knowledge and skills related to equity diversity and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• An undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline (fire ecology landscape ecology biology forestry or a related field);
• Five years of demonstrated experience in prescribed and operational wildfire management;
• Experience in coordinating field work and event planning;
• Operational experience planning implementing coordinating and reporting for prescribed fire activities;
• Occupational First Aid Level 1 or CPR Level A;
• Experience managing diverse teams in a hybrid and/or remote environments;
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills;
• Ability to work with minimal direction and exercise sound judgement and decision-making;
• Effective oral and written communication skills including presentations grant applications reports etc.;
• Computer and data analysis skills (e.g. Word processing Excel citation/reference management software)