Deputy Director of Fire Management

Overview

The Deputy Director of Fire Management reports to the Director of Fire Management.

The Deputy Director of Fire Management is a senior leadership role within The Ember Alliances Fire Management Department serving as the departments second most senior leadership position. This role operates as a senior thought partner and operational deputy to the Director sharing in high-level departmental planning organizational policy and cross-functional strategy across all Fire Management program areas including prescribed fire implementation workforce development training research and partner engagement.

The Deputy Director of Fire Management also provides direct leadership mentorship and subject matter expertise to Program Managers and project staff across the department and is expected to remain an active practitioner in the field alongside these leadership responsibilities.

Duties & Responsibilities

Department Development and Management:

• Support the Director in the development and implementation of new programs and initiatives in line with the organizations mission and vision
• Assist in building strategic objectives and vision for the Department of Fire Management
• Collaborate with staff and external partners to design plan and execute projects that align with the organizations mission and values
• Support monitoring and evaluation of department outcomes contributing to data-driven decisions that improve department effectiveness and impact
• Assist in overseeing program implementation ensuring adherence to timelines budgets key performance indicators and program objectives
• Identify grants and other funding opportunities that are on-mission for the department and organization
• Assist with preparing and submitting timely and accurate reports to funders Board members and other partners
• Support development and review of policies SOPs and procedures in the Fire Management Manual
• Assist with development of templates for prescribed fire contracts landowner agreements and MOUs used across Fire Management projects
• Additional administrative duties as assigned

Policy and engagement

• Lead the development and advancement of wildfire resilience and prescribed fire policy recommendations informed by community and practitioner experience. 

• Build maintain and strengthen partnerships with communities agencies NGOs and other stakeholders to support policy and resilience objectives. 

• Facilitate stakeholder engagement through meetings workshops listening sessions and collaborative planning processes. 

• Analyze legislative regulatory and administrative barriers and identify opportunities to improve wildfire and land management outcomes. 

• Translate lessons learned from prescribed fire community wildfire protection and resilience initiatives into actionable policy solutions. 

• Develop reports briefing materials issue papers communication products and recommendations for decision-makers and partners. 

• Coordinate strategic initiatives that connect community priorities with state and regional wildfire resilience goals. 

• Monitor project performance evaluate outcomes and maintain systems for tracking engagement partnerships and policy impacts. 

Team Leadership and Management:

• Supervise Program Managers providing mentorship guidance evaluation and support including the development of Individual Development Plans
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment encouraging teamwork professional development and a shared sense of purpose among department staff
• Help ensure a physically and psychologically safe and kind work environment
• Identify training opportunities and share new and relevant research to ensure industry best practices
• Assist Department employees with Emergency Response protocols

Wildfire and Community Preparedness Subject Matter Expertise:

• Provide subject matter expertise and guidance to Program Managers and Project Managers
• Support systems and organizing processes for safe wildland fire operations and a functional command environment
• Assist with implementation of prescribed fires on state federal and private lands as an RXB2 or other qualification as needed
• Contribute to consequence analysis and complexity rating for prescribed fire implementation
• Assist with preparation and review of burn plans; approve NWCG burn plans (if RXB2 qualified)
• Instruct at training events as needed
• Participate on an Incident Command Team as needed
• Review documents for technical soundness

Senior Strategic Leadership and Advisory:

The Deputy Director of Fire Management operates as a senior thought partner and operational deputy to the Director of Fire Management with influence across all departmental functions:

• Contribute to high-level planning and strategic direction across Fire Management program areas including prescribed fire implementation workforce development training research and partner engagement
• Provide input on organizational policies standard operating procedures and Fire Management Manual development and review
• Support the Director in senior-level partner relationships funder communications and cross-organizational coordination as needed
• Serve as a senior resource and mentor to Program Managers and project staff across the department supporting professional development and operational quality
• Support Fire Duty Officer (FDO) processes for department staff as assigned

Partner Engagement:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with partner organizations funders and community leaders
• Support the Director in managing and extending formal and informal partnerships with local state governmental and NGO agencies and contacts
• Assist in codifying relationships with partners through MOUs MOAs and cooperative agreements
• Represent The Ember Alliance at external events conferences and meetings advocating for programs and cultivating partnerships
• Employee may be required to participate in prescribed fire implementation suppression or training up to level of current qualification on an as-needed basis as determined by supervisor

Core Competencies

• Strategic thinking and sound judgment in support of departmental planning and direction
• Team leadership mentorship and staff development across a distributed program
• Wildland fire subject matter expertise applied across planning field and training contexts
• Relationship management with partners funders and collaborating agencies
• Advanced written and verbal communication adaptable across technical field and executive audiences
• Ability to operate effectively as both a senior advisor and a hands-on practitioner
• Risk management and problem-solving under time and operational pressure

Span of Control

• May supervise* Program Managers and other staff within the Fire Management Program**

*Supervisory duties include

1. Approving timesheets and time off in The Ember Alliances HRIS
2. Approving expense reports
3. Completing biannual reviews and goal setting
4. Having regular check-ins (e.g. weekly or bi-weekly) with employees to ensure their workload is on target and help them manage & prioritize their workload
5. Training and mentoring Project Managers and identifying professional development opportunities

This does not apply to operational situations with Fire Management staff (i.e. overseeing personnel on the fire line).

**The number of Program staff is at the discretion of the Director who will with team input modify as needed to fit departmental requisites.

Work Location

Remote; occasional travel required for fire assignments trainings and partner or Board meetings.

Qualifications :

NWCG Qualifications

• Currently or previously qualified as RXB2 (minimum)
• Currently or previously qualified as ICT4 DIVS or TFLD (desired)

Relevant Experience

• 2 or more years of experience supervising staff and/or managing complex multi-faceted programs with demonstrated success designing implementing and evaluating programs
• Passion for the organizations mission and a commitment to social impact
• Strong leadership and management skills with the ability to build inspire lead and motivate a diverse team
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically develop innovative solutions and adapt to changing circumstances
• Experience partnering with senior leadership on department-level strategy and policy (desired)

Education

• Degree in Ecosystem Management or related field or 8 years combination of education and experience in wildland fire management

Technical Skills

• Experience in budgeting resource allocation and financial management for programs
• Experience developing and negotiating agreements and contracts
• Exceptional communication skills including the ability to effectively convey complex information to various partners and navigate difficult conversations
• Competent in using Microsoft Suite products including Excel and Word

Additional Information :

Schedule Requirements 

This is an at-will position. The average work week is 40 hours but the schedule may vary depending on project needs. 

Work Location 

Remote

85% Office Remote/15% Travel(approximately) 

How to Apply 

Interested applicants should review The Ember Alliance website and submit aresume cover letter NWCG qualification records and three professional referencesthrough the Smart Recruiters website. This position will close on 10/ specify your earliest available start date. 

Remote Work :

Yes

Employment Type :

Full-time