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RFP Fire Management Program Assessment & Planning Consultant
Job Location:
Monthly Salary:
Posted:
11 September 2026 (7 days ago)
Posted:
Application Deadline:
10 December 2026
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Vacancies:
Job Summary
Fire Management Program Assessment and Planning
Archbold Biological Station seeks a highly qualified fire and natural resource management professional to conduct an independent assessment of its prescribed fire program and to help develop an updated rigorous science-based Fire Management Plan and associated policies and procedures.
Archbold is a biological research and conservation organization where prescribed fire is integral to both land stewardship and long-term ecological research. Archbold manages fire-dependent ecosystems that support threatened and endangered species and other significant conservation resources. Fire management decisions must therefore integrate operational effectiveness and safety with ecological science research needs habitat management restoration and species conservation.
This is a specialized consulting engagement anticipated to extend approximately 912 months. The work will require substantial on-site engagement at Archbold Biological Station in Venus Florida.
Scope of Work
Working with Archbold leadership scientists and land management staff the consultant will:
- Assess Archbolds existing prescribed fire program including plans policies procedures staffing training safety practices operational protocols and organizational capacity.
- Develop or substantially revise Archbolds Fire Management Plan and recommend associated policies procedures and operational standards consistent with nationally recognized prescribed-fire standards. The consultant shall engage Archbolds science team throughout the planning process and incorporate their input to ensure the revised plan effectively balances prescribed-fire operations ecological management objectives and ongoing research needs.
- Evaluate how prescribed fire is planned and implemented in relation to ecological research long-term monitoring threatened and endangered species habitat needs and conservation priorities.
- Assess the integration of prescribed fire with broader land-management needs including ecological restoration invasive species management and management of fire-adapted ecosystems.
- Review prescribed-fire safety practices crew qualifications training decision-making and risk-management procedures and recommend improvements consistent with rigorous professional standards.
- Assess the equipment and apparatus required to conduct prescribed fire safely and effectively including vehicles and their condition and adequacy fireline and ignition equipment and personal protective and safety equipment and recommend acquisitions replacements or upgrades.
- Recommend appropriate roles responsibilities staffing training partnerships and other resources necessary for a safe and effective long-term fire management program.
- Identify the specific qualifications certifications and training that program personnel require and determine what it would take to bring Archbolds crew qualifications and operational protocols up to nationally recognized standards including a practical phased path to get there.
- Provide strategic guidance during implementation of priority recommendations.
Required Qualifications
The successful consultant will have:
The successful consultant will have:
- A masters degree or higher in ecology natural resources conservation biology wildlife biology forestry fire ecology or a closely related scientific or natural resource discipline.
- Significant professional experience in prescribed fire and natural resource management including planning and implementation of prescribed burns in fire-adapted ecosystems.
- Experience developing implementing evaluating or substantially contributing to fire management plans.
- Familiarity with and the demonstrated ability to apply nationally recognized prescribed-fire standards including NWCG qualifications (e.g. Prescribed Fire Burn Boss) written burn-plan standards complexity analysis and go/no-go and risk-management procedures.
- Significant experience with conservation land management habitat management and/or ecological restoration.
- Demonstrated experience working with threatened or endangered species sensitive habitats or other significant conservation resources and incorporating ecological considerations into management decisions.
- Demonstrated understanding of the relationship among ecological science prescribed fire restoration and conservation.
- Knowledge of rigorous prescribed-fire safety practices training requirements crew operations operational procedures and risk management.
- Experience with broader land-management issues relevant to prescribed fire including invasive species management.
- Ability to work effectively with scientists land managers field personnel organizational leadership and external partners.
- Ability to spend substantial time on site at Archbold during the engagement.
Preferred Experience
Additional consideration will be given to candidates with experience:
Additional consideration will be given to candidates with experience:
- Applying prescribed fire and national fire-management standards across multiple states regions or management contexts bringing an independent outside perspective to Archbolds program.
- Managing or overseeing conservation lands preserves or natural resource programs.
- Working across multiple conservation organizations agencies or land-management entities.
- Developing or evaluating fire-management safety protocols field procedures training programs or organizational systems.
- Working at the intersection of scientific research and active land management.
- Previous experience with evaluating fire management plans.
Proposal Requirements
To keep the application process straightforward interested individuals should submit:
To keep the application process straightforward interested individuals should submit:
- Curriculum Vitae describing relevant education and professional experience.
- Statement of Relevant Experience maximum two pages. Briefly describe selected projects responsibilities or professional experiences that demonstrate the applicants qualifications to perform this work. Applicants should focus on the experiences they consider most relevant to Archbolds needs. These might include for example prescribed fire planning and implementation; fire management planning; application of fifire in different fire-adapted ecosystems; habitat management or ecological restoration; threatened and endangered species conservation; invasive species management; fire safety and operational protocols; or integration of ecological science with land-management decisions. Specific examples of projects or management challenges are encouraged. Applicants are not expected to address every qualification individually.
- Availability and Rate. Briefly indicate availability to begin the engagement ability to spend substantial time working on site at Archbold and proposed hourly or daily consulting rate.
No references or additional proposal materials are required at this stage. Archbold may request additional information from finalists if needed.
Evaluation and Selection
Archbold will evaluate submissions based on the depth and relevance of the applicants experience and expertise relative to the scope of work with particular consideration given to:
Evaluation and Selection
Archbold will evaluate submissions based on the depth and relevance of the applicants experience and expertise relative to the scope of work with particular consideration given to:
- Prescribed-fire and fire-management expertise including application of nationally recognized standards;
- Scientific and ecological background;
- Conservation land management and restoration experience;
- Experience integrating fire management with ecological research habitat and species conservation;
- Safety training and operational expertise;
- Ability to work collaboratively and substantially on site;
- Availability to begin the work promptly; and
- Proposed cost and overall value.
Finalists may be invited to a brief interview. Archbold anticipates making a selection promptly following review of submissions.
Submission
Submit a CV statement of relevant experience availability and proposed rate electronically by September 23 2026.
Questions regarding this RFP should be directed to
Archbold Biological Station reserves the right to request additional information negotiate the final scope and terms with the preferred consultant or decline to make an award.
Submission
Submit a CV statement of relevant experience availability and proposed rate electronically by September 23 2026.
Questions regarding this RFP should be directed to
Archbold Biological Station reserves the right to request additional information negotiate the final scope and terms with the preferred consultant or decline to make an award.
Archbold is an equal opportunity employer. We take action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin disability Veteran status or other legally protected status. Archbold will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics and stands proud of its collaborative culture.
Archbolds mission is to build and share the scientific knowledge needed to protect the life lands and waters of Florida and beyond. Archbolds footprint encompasses the ancient scrub habitats of the Lake Wales Ridge; the Avon Park Air Force Range Sentinel Landscape; the vast open ranchlands of Central Florida; and the many waterways that flow south into Lake Okeechobee and then drain to the coasts touching the lives of millions of Floridians. Archbold studies and protects these natural wonders as ecosystems: as complex networks shaped by measurable natural processes. Our dozens of research sites encompass the pristine sand dunes of the Lake Wales Ridge; the ranchlands and wetlands that make up much of Central Florida; and the rivers that flow south into Lake Okeechobee and beyond.
Today Archbold stewards a rich mosaic of natural habitats native ecosystems working lands and historic buildings at Archbold Biological Station and Buck Island Ranch. The Station and the Ranch serve as the place-based crucible for our innovative science conservation and education programs. These draw from a long deep history dating back from our beginnings founded by Richard Archbold in 1941.
Achbold is an E-Verify Employer
Achbold is an E-Verify Employer
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