Assistant Land Managers (Prescribed Burn Crew Members)

Summary

Archbold Biological Station is hiring two Assistant Land Managers to work on our new Headwaters Ecosystem Management Team. The positions are for those seeking regular participation in prescribed burns and invasive plant management on Archbold lands and those of a broad set of partner organizations throughout the Headwaters of the Everglades (>4000 square miles in central Florida) and the coincident Avon Park Air Force Range Sentinel Landscape. Opportunities may exist for the right candidate to contribute to Archbold land management planning and strategy. These positions are initially funded for 3 years with significant chances of extension, pending funding. 

Full-time on-site work is required, given the field-based nature of the position. Candidates should anticipate frequent day travel from Archbold to natural areas around the Headwaters of the Everglades. 

To apply, send a resume and cover letter to Joshua Daskin, Director of Conservation, by February 27, 2025. 

The start date is anticipated for early April 2025, with some flexibility.  

Required Education and Experience

• A high school degree or GED and frequent engagement in prescribed or wildland fire operations during at least 2 years of full-time work or volunteer experience—or it’s part-time equivalent—in land management.
  OR
• A bachelor’s degree or higher in an environmental, science, or natural resources management field and frequent engagement in prescribed or wildland fire operations during at least 1 year of full-time work or volunteer experience—or it’s part-time equivalent—in land management.

 Competencies and Additional Eligibility Qualifications

Not all competencies are required to excel in this position. Please consider applying if you fit several or most qualifications. 

• Holds a current Florida Forest Service Certified Burner credential OR has completed NWCG courses S-130, S-190, L-180, IS-700, and I-100.
• Candidates with a current NWCG Red Card, pack test at the arduous level, and certification as FFT2 or at a higher NWCG level will be looked on favorably, but these credentials are not required.
• Knowledge of safe prescribed burning practices.
• With instruction, able to read and understand burn prescriptions to implement safe and effective fire operations.
• Able to operate ignition and fire suppression equipment including pumps, hoses, hand tools, and drip torches.
• Capable operator of 4WD vehicles (trucks, ATVs, and UTVs); able or willing to learn to tow small trailers.
• With guidance, can identify invasive plants, and is willing to use herbicide to control them.
• Adheres to the highest standards of professionalism when interacting Archbold staff, neighbors, and partners, and contributes to a culture of safety and risk management.
• An understanding of and commitment to Archbold’s mission.
• Excited to work with scientists, conservationists, ranchers, politicians, land use planners, and others to advance ambitious, creative conservation goals.
• Communicates clearly, both verbally and in writing.
• Excels at performing assigned tasks independently and as part of a team, with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Possesses a valid drivers’ license with a good driving record, as determined by Archbold’s insurance carrier.
• Experience and proficiency in the use of computers and standard software (e.g. Windows, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, web searches).

 

• Vehicle, pump, and small engine maintenance.
• Operation of heavy equipment including mowers and tractors.
• Experience writing habitat management plans.
• Basic GIS mapping abilities.
• Grant-writing.
• Contract management.
• Familiarity with and/or a network of colleagues with environmental local, state, and/or federal agencies and non-profits in the Headwaters of the Everglades.

 Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Follow policies and procedures for operation of the Headwaters Ecosystem Management Team.
• Implement the full set of practices for prescribed burns on Archbold property from unit and fire break preparation to ensuring completion of mop-up.
• Provide personnel and equipment in support of prescribed fire on public agency lands throughout the Headwaters of the Everglades to accomplish at least 7000 acres of prescribed burns and 80 acres of Old World Climbing Fern treatments annually.
• Participate in a culture of safety and risk reduction at all times.
• Cooperate with Archbold and partner staff.
• Maintain state and/or federal fire management credentials.
• Assist in seeking out and coordinating responses to public agency needs for personnel and equipment support for prescribed fire and invasive plant management throughout the Headwaters of the Everglades and the Avon Park Air Force Range Sentinel Landscape.
• If qualified, write burn prescriptions and obtain Florida Forest Service permits for burns at Archbold and adhere to partners’ burn prescriptions.
• Ensure vehicles and equipment are maintained in clean and working condition.
• Track crew activities for grant reporting and management of Archbold fire science datasets.
• Occasionally attend regional partnership meetings to share work of the Headwaters Ecosystem Management Team.
• Communicate difficulties or concerns to supervisor in a timely manner and be responsive to requests for information work activities and performance.
• Conduct invasive plant surveys and treatments on Archbold and partners’ properties.
• Complete fire break preparations using mower, brush cutter, and tractor at Archbold properties.
• Understand and contribute to accomplishing the management goals of Archbold Biological Station and Archbold Reserve.
• As needed, contribute to Archbold weather, photo point, hydrology, and lake monitoring, providing redundancy for the management of associated long-term datasets.
• Perform data management, especially mapping land management activities and for routine monitoring.
• Retain physical fitness for full time outdoor work year-round in Florida’s subtropical climate.

Supervisory Responsibility

No direct supervisory responsibilities anticipated.

Work Environment

Daily visits to project sites in conditions that may include inclement weather, heat and humidity. Most work will be outdoors, with some in an office environment. Use of prescribed fire, herbicides, and associated equipment will be frequent. Archbold will provide the required personal protective equipment, which he incumbent is required to wear. Office work routinely requires use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and projectors. The incumbent may occasionally enter a laboratory setting with possible exposure to potentially hazardous materials and necessitating use of appropriate protective clothing and equipment when around these materials.   

Physical Demands

The demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to work in hot, humid weather and to walk and drive over uneven terrain, off-road. Working at a computer for long periods of time, talking or hearing, traveling between work sites and/or using virtual meeting technology will all be frequent. Frequent need to lift, push, and pull items up to 30 pounds; climb stairs; reach stoop, bend, kneel, crouch or crawl.  Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.

Acknowledgment

This information is not designed to be a complete inventory of the job duties, responsibilities, and qualifications.  Rather, it’s designed to give the general nature and level of work to be performed by an employee assigned to this job title.