Fire Mitigation Consultant/Team Lead

NECHAMA Los Angeles-based Fire Mitigation Consultant/Team Lead 

Reports to: NECHAMA Operations Director 

NECHAMA – Jewish Response to Disaster is a national organization that responds to damage caused by hurricanes, tornados, floods, and other natural disasters. Rooted and guided by Jewish values, including tikkun olam, or repair of the world, NECHAMA has three overarching priorities: humanizing Jews and representing Jewish ideals in communities shattered by disaster; providing a platform for volunteers to explore their identities and purpose; and spreading hope and offering tangible support to people and communities in desperate need of assistance. Preparation for and mitigation of disasters is part of NECHAMA’s mandate.  

While NECHAMA does not engage in wildfire response and recovery, over the next six months NECHAMA plans to marshall its  expertise with brush removal and volunteer mobilization to help mitigate the impact of the next wildfires that will inevitably impact the Greater Los Angeles region. Working with the full spectrum of the institutional Jewish community in Los Angeles, NECHAMA will deploy teams of volunteers to create clear zones free of brush and vegetation around prioritized properties as well as other properties in the general nonprofit community.  

Overview of Job:  

• The Fire Mitigation Consultant/Team Lead will lead NECHAMA’s volunteer fire mitigation teams at prioritized workspaces in Greater Los Angeles.
• This position is a part-time independent contractor (1099) position paid hourly.
• NECHAMA currently anticipates 2-3 mini volunteer deployments/month over the next six months.
• Volunteer deployments will take place on Sundays, Mondays (if volunteers are available), and holidays (including Passover), possibly with more opportunities during spring break and other periods when there may be greater volunteer availability.

Responsibilities: 

• Lead volunteer fire mitigation teams in the field. This includes:
• Providing an opening briefing that describes NECHAMA and includes introductions, some kind of ice breaker, descriptions of the tasks at hand, and any necessary training relating to debris removal including tool and fire safety.
• Setting up tools, PPE, snacks, and water.
• Having volunteers sign in at the worksite (and fill out waivers if they have not already done so).
• Leading volunteers including explaining procedures, assigning tasks, and keeping morale high.
• Breaking down and packing up the worksite.
• In coordination with the Operations Director and others who will help source work sites, vet those sites for suitability, amount of available work, and proximity to other worksites if multiple venues will be worked on in a particular day.
• Along with Operations Director, source and maintain brush removal and fire mitigation tools and transport them to worksites.
• Coordinate with remote NECHAMA Volunteer Coordinator on the volunteer pipeline and any information about volunteers working on a particular day.
• In coordination with the Operations Director and Volunteer Coordinator maintain a clear  understanding of site needs, projected number of volunteers, and local partners.
• Provide written summaries of project completions.
• Assist remote communications team in identifying stories and social media content during service days, taking photos and highlighting particular volunteers.
• Source and transport snacks and water to worksites.
• Possibly coordinate chainsaw and brush equipment training workshops.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Minimum of two years experience in disaster response (Americorps terms will be counted towards experience), NGO case management, volunteerism, logistics, groundskeeping, or forestry. Volunteer experience counts towards experience.
• Knowledge of fire mitigation and brush/vegetation clearing best practices.
• Experience with outdoor hand and power tools, including chainsaws (use and proper safety precautions) and any California-specific regulations regarding fossil fuel burning tools.
• Familiarity with the Greater Los Angeles region.
• Strong communications skills.
• Detail-oriented and well-organized with ability to see the big picture.
• Ability to work independently without onsite supervision.
• Ability to work with diverse volunteers who have varied levels of capacity and supervision needs.
• Integrity, credibility, and commitment to and passion for NECHAMA’s mission.
• Ability to travel and move tools to project sites around the Greater Los Angeles area.
• Valid US driver’s license and ability to pass a MVR check by the organization’s insurance provider.
• Preference that consultant has their own vehicle large enough to transport necessary tools to site.

Pay: $22 – $25/hour for this consultant/1099 position, depending on experience plus mileage reimbursement of $0.70/mile if providing own vehicle.