The Crew Leaders will have leadership roles on prescribed burns Potomac Headwaters landscape from October 1, 2021 through April 15, 2022. The Conservancy supports Potomac Headwaters Fire Learning Network partners on multiple controlled burns each year. Together with the 2-person as-needed burn crew, the Crew Leader helps fill a void of wildland firefighters for single or multi-day prescribed fire operations. These positions coordinate staff meeting times, oversee equipment preparation and rehabilitation, engine maintenance, radio programming, travel to burn sites and routinely has supervisory responsibility of crew during burns. Staffing needs for these positions could average 40-50 hours per operational period (bi-weekly) at the discretion of the TNC-MD Fire Manager. Operational periods are generally sporadic and clustered by opportune weather conditions, and no guarantee of a minimum number of opportunities is given or implied. The Crew Leader will participate on opportunities only as their own schedules will allow, and thus participation on any given opportunity is not required.  

The primary responsibilities of the Crew Leader will be to: oversee communication from Burn Boss to crew and volunteers to determine availability; ensure crew receives Avenza maps; work with Burn Boss to assign crew to burns, plan transport of crew to/from work sites, ensure equipment is ready (refill drip torches, charge radios; sharpen hand tools, service chainsaws, prep engine and trash pumps and help maintain shop space); communicate via phone/text with agency fire staff, supervise burn crew (holding-firing) on prescribed burns; secure meals and overnight lodging for crew using TNC credit card; planning and directing team building activities. Wildland fire operations includes line construction, holding, ignition, patrol, mop-up, and monitoring. The Crew Leader may also be asked to assist with burn plan preparation. All Individuals will be representing the Conservancy on partner burns and must act accordingly.

Individual is expected to provide some of their own personal protective equipment (Nomex pants, Nomex shirt, fire boots, hard hat) as outlined by the TNC fire management manual http://www.tncfiremanual.org/require.htm and provide their own transportation to the meeting location (TBD). TNC will provide a radio and transportation from meeting location to the burn unit and return. TNC can provide line pack, fire shelter, and radio harness if necessary. There is also potential for assisting on forestry-related projects.  

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Function as both leader and member of a work team, in a high stress team environment.
• Convey work instructions to Burn Crew members.               
• Makes decisions on the fire line based upon evaluation of fire behavior, available resources and judgment.
• Perform other preserve management duties when conditions are not conducive to prescribed fire. 
• Ability to perform heavy physical work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
• Must have valid driver’s license and good driving record