[Hiring] Deputy Director of Fire Management @The Ember Alliance

Role Description

The Deputy Director of Fire Management reports to the Director of Fire Management. This is a senior leadership role within The Ember Alliance's Fire Management Department, serving as the department's 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

• Support the Director in the development and implementation of new programs and initiatives in line with the organization's 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 organization's 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

• 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:
• Approving timesheets and time off in The Ember Alliance's HRIS.
• Approving expense reports.
• Completing biannual reviews and goal setting.
• 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.
• 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

• 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 organization's 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

• This is an at-will position. The average work week is 40 hours, but the schedule may vary depending on project needs.
• Remote; 85% Office + Remote/15% Travel (approximately).

How to Apply

Interested applicants should review The Ember Alliance website and submit a resume, cover letter, NWCG qualification records, and three professional references through the Smart Recruiters website. This position will close on 10/28. Please specify your earliest available start date.

Compensation

Up to USD 38 - hourly.