GIS Program Manager

Only applications through SmartRecruiters will be considered.

• Preferred locations: 1st Fort Collins, CO, 2nd Colorado, 3rd Montana, 4th anywhere.
• The GIS Program Manager reports to the Director of Resilient Communities and Ecosystems.
• Employees can work remotely.
• Full-time.

Company Description

The Ember Alliance is a national organization of wildland fire practitioners, researchers, analysts, and instructors dedicated to increasing the pace and scale of prescribed fire. The mission of The Ember Alliance is to restore the relationship between communities and fire on the landscape.

The Resilient Communities and Ecosystems Department advances fire-adapted communities in collaboration with community members, nonprofit partners, fire protection districts, counties, and other government agencies by (1) leading community wildfire planning efforts, (2) collaboratively enabling wildfire risk mitigation from the local to state level, (3) providing technical assistance and applied research to support fire and forest management, and (4) leading research to answer critical wildfire mitigation implementation questions that inform and improve our Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) work. We are recognized as a leader in CWPP development and have earned a reputation for collaboratively developing holistic and actionable plans.

The Ember Alliance is a just and transparent workplace that strives for clear and kind communication. Our team is committed to centering fire practitioners from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds, including those who have not worked in fire before. We are dedicated to a workplace that recognizes the inherent value of our employees, supports work / life balance, and supports growth.

Job Description

The GIS Program Manager position provides integral project guidance and support to The Ember Alliance’s Resilient Communities and Ecosystems (RCE) Department. They are responsible for implementing the goals and strategies of the GIS Program. This primarily includes supervision and support of up to three GIS Specialists and Wildfire Analysts, managing complex projects, creating and strengthening relationships with partners, and seeking new opportunities and partnerships that align with the program’s mission. The Program Manager will help their team and other RCE staff solve problems, train new staff, support project managers’ budget management and invoicing, and ensure directives from the Department Director and Senior Strategic Team are followed in their program.

The Program Manager will also serve as a lead for 1-3 GIS/wildfire modeling and mapping projects simultaneously in support of CWPP development, wildfire mitigation plans, burn plans, and other projects. The position is office-based but has a minimal field component including but not limited to performing field assessments across a multi-state region and presentation at relevant in-person community and partner meetings.

The Program Manager has experience with mapping and modeling (ArcPro, QGIS, Python, R), spatial data quality assurance and quality control, development of effective public-facing maps, both hardcopy and interactive online maps, logistical and organizational skills, and team collaboration.

Part of this position requires travel and field time in support of CWPPs and from time to time, other needed wildfire analysis and research projects. They may occasionally work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.

Responsibilities and Scope 

The GIS Program Manager duties focus on supporting the data and modeling needs of RCE projects, particularly CWPPs, in close coordination with GIS specialists and wildfire analysts. Tasks include but are not limited to: 

• Oversee and implement the GIS program, including managing employee workloads, deadlines, data management, project priorities, and process improvement.
• Work with the CWPP Program Manager and the rest of the RCE team to align program projects with department strategy.
• Supervise and mentor at most three employees.
• Build and maintain relationships with partners.
• Provide subject matter expertise and project management on RCE projects requiring mapping/modeling and analysis.
• Lead and/or collaborate with the CWPP Program Manager on the creation, refinement, and management of new initiatives or enhancement of existing programs that fulfill TEA’s mission and objectives. This encompasses identifying needs, designing strategies, and ensuring programs deliver measurable impact.
• Work with Department Director to secure funding to support projects within program (via writing project proposals, applying for grants, etc.).
• Geospatial Analysis:

• Use ArcGIS, Python, R, and specialized programs/packages like FireFamilyPlus and FlamMap to produce spatial analysis of wildfire behavior and potential impacts to support planning.
• Acquire and document data from various sources and conduct thorough QAQC.
• Interpret and explain spatial patterns in fire behavior and fire effects.
• Learn new GIS and data analysis processes quickly and share that knowledge with the team through training and/or writing SOPs.
• Visual Communication:
• Produce high-quality maps and related graphics that visually communicate important information.
• Written Communication:
• Support document generation, including writing portions of CWPPs, such as descriptions of fire behavior, management recommendations, and modeling and mapping methodology.
• Effectively use common software applications (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, Asana, Slack, Canva, and Zotero).
• Verbal Communication:
• Interface with other organizations involved in wildfire management and research.
• Represent The Ember Alliance at local and regional meetings with clients, partners, and the community.
• Deliver presentations on fire behavior modeling and other analyses at CWPP core team and community meetings.
• Provide subject matter expertise on CWPPs and other projects, including wildfire risk assessment, project prioritization, recommendation development, postfire preplanning, and document generation.
• Administrative:
• Attend regular meetings with supervisors, Resilient Communities and Ecosystems, and all of The Ember Alliance.
• Manage work assignments with minimal direction from supervisors.
• Adhere to contract timelines, deadlines, and budgets.

• Support other staff as needed in department development including funding opportunities, budget and contract management, invoicing, and programmatic reporting.

• Demonstrate a strong work ethic, including a commitment to principles of Duty, Integrity and Respect.
• Assertively participate in creating a kind, safe and healthy work environment which encourages the diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice of all people.
• Other Work
• Assist with fieldwork for CWPP development or other research projects.

Qualifications and Skills:

Required:

• Minimum four years of experience managing multiple ongoing projects or high complexity projects.
• Minimum three years of successful supervision of one or more staff.
• Bachelor’s degree in forestry, conservation, or a related field with GIS certification or completed coursework and three years of experience primarily working with GIS technologies in a professional environment; or five years of professional GIS experience.
• Coding experience in ArcGIS-compatible languages such as Python, JavaScript, or html.

Preferred:

• Five years managing multiple ongoing projects or high complexity projects; familiarity with project management software such as Asana.
• Five years managing a project team, including the supervision of multiple staff.
• Experience with program management and development.
• Master’s degree in forestry, conservation, or a related field with GIS coursework and/or certification.
• Training or experience in forestry, fire management, conservation, restoration, wildfire suppression, or prescribed fire.
• Knowledge of fire regimes, fuels, or ecosystem processes in landscapes in the US West.
• Two years of experience working in a professional environment with GIS technologies focused on modeling and analysis for wildland fire, smoke, or traffic management.
• Quantitative and qualitative data analysis experience using R Studio.

Core Competencies: 

• Program management including the management of staff, workloads, growth, processes, and integration with other programs.
• Effective supervision and development of staff.
• Expertise with ArcGIS and ESRI tools for spatial analysis.
• Proficiency with Python, JavaScript, R, or other ESRI-compatible languages.
• Excellent geospatial data management and organization skills.
• Experience working collaboratively with other organizations on projects.
• Technical writing on GIS processes.
• Presentation and interpretation of data for virtual and in-person presentations.
• Competent in using Microsoft Suite products including Excel, Word, etc.

If you do not meet all the requirements listed, still consider applying. The Ember Alliance recognizes that historically women and people of color have not had equal access to professional opportunities and education, and we aim to hire the best person for the position, not the best resumé.

Additional information:

Schedule Requirements: 

This is an at-will position. The average work week is 40 hours, but the schedule may vary depending on project needs.

Pay and Benefits:

Salary: $34.00 per hour salary annualized as $70,720. The Ember Alliance uses an hourly wage for all employees.

Overtime will be based on operational needs. Paid time off, paid holidays, paid sick leave, paid family leave, unpaid family leave, and leave without pay benefits are provided. A jury duty policy is also in place. Employer-sponsored health, vision, dental care coverage, life insurance, long-term disability are available as soon as employment begins. An employer-matched retirement plan is available 3 months after employment begins and is immediately vested.

Breakdown of duties: 65-70% planning and project work, 20% supervision, 5-10% travel and field time.

Employees are required to complete a Background Check and Motor Vehicle Record Check prior to employment. Employees required to hold a company credit card may be subjected to a credit check. Failure to pass any of these checks does not automatically disqualify you from employment.

Employees must abide by The Ember Alliance’s current Covid policies, which as of 3/29/2024 is complying with CDC guidelines.