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 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, that supports work / life balance, and that supports growth. 

The Ember Alliance is hiring a permanent, full time position in Colorado or Montana! The Project Manager position will provide integral project guidance and support to The Ember Alliance’s Resilient Communities and Ecosystems Team. This position primarily focuses on Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) development. 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 facilitating in-person community and partner meetings. Candidates should have a passion for collaborative and equitable planning to prepare communities for wildfire.  

A successful candidate will have experience with community and partner engagement, project and budget management, logistical and organizational skills, and team collaboration. Wildfire and planning experience is a plus. The Project Manager is responsible for managing 2-4 projects simultaneously, depending on project complexity. They will have a passion for supporting our Wildfire Preparedness for all Communities initiative through the development of CWPPs. This candidate should be willing to learn and accept feedback from peers/supervisors. 

Part of this position requires travel and field time in support of CWPP. May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.   

If you think you are a good fit for the job and for The Ember Alliance, we encourage you to apply even if you are unsure that you meet every qualification.

Qualifications

What You’ll Do  

The CWPP Project Manager duties focus on developing Community Wildfire Protection Plans in close coordination with partners. Tasks include but are not limited to:   

• Manage, support, and/or lead Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) planning process and document generation and other similar projects, adhering to contract timelines, deadlines, and budgets. 
• Coordinate with other Ember Alliance personnel and external CWPP project partners and clients to ensure planning and personnel needs are met throughout a project. 
• Maintain and report to Director and Assistant Director of RCE on project budgets to track progress, keep project on budget, and coordinate with accounting team to invoice clients. 
• Represent The Ember Alliance to clients, partners, and community as an engaged and responsive member of the project team to maintain and build partner relationships; may also represent The Ember Alliance at local and regional meetings. 
• Coordinate and facilitate CWPP Core Team meetings, partner meetings, and community meetings to meet project objectives and foster holistic and equitable cross-boundary wildfire planning. 
• Provide subject matter expertise on CWPP projects, including wildfire risk assessment, social vulnerability assessment, community engagement, project prioritization, recommendation development, postfire preplanning, and document generation/design as needed and available. 
• Assist in the development of new CWPP project scopes, approaches, and budgets. 
• Manage work assignments with minimal direction and supervision from Director and Assistant Director of RCE. 
• Provide project management and planning support for other Ember Alliance projects as needed and available.
• Demonstrate a strong work ethic, including a commitment to principles of Duty, Integrity and Respect.  
• Actively participate in creating a kind, safe and healthy work environment which encourages the diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice of all people.    

Breakdown of duties: 85-95% planning and project management, 5-15% travel and field time.

Required: Must be 18 years of age or older, have a current and valid U.S. driver’s license, and be legally eligible to work in the U.S. and participate in a background check.

What Makes A Great Candidate  

• Passion for TEA’s ecological and social missions.  
• Clear written and verbal communications skills.  
• Strong partner management and meeting facilitation skills. 

• Experience adhering to project budgets and timelines and delegating project work amongst a team, ability to problem solve and manage multiple projects.  Experience in and aptitude for strategic decision-making.

• Effective knowledge of common software applications (e.g. Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite).  
• Master’s degree natural resource management, forestry, fire ecology, or other related field OR Bachelor’s degree natural resource management, forestry, fire ecology, or other related field and 3 years relevant experience OR 5 years relevant experience. 

What Makes You Stand Out  

• Qualified Project Manager Certificate.  
• Demonstrated commitment to collaboration and partnership building.  
• Experience working with partner organizations to develop a CWPP. 
• Knowledge of analysis, modeling, and planning using ArcGIS, R, or similar platforms. 
• Background in wildfire or community planning.

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: $26.50 per hour salary annualized as $53,000 to $55,120. The Ember Alliance uses an hourly wage for all employees.

The Ember Alliance is proud to offer a competitive benefits package for permanent-full-time employees which includes health and dental insurance coverage with an employer match of 80% for the employee only, an employer sponsored $50,000 life insurance policy, paid time off, paid holidays, bereavement leave, paid sick leave, long-term disability, and benefits coverage for up to two weeks of leave-with-out-pay per year. Additionally, full time employees with 3 months of employment are entitled to participate in an immediately vested 401k tax-advantaged retirement savings plan with 4% employer match. 

Location 

Office + Remote (Preferred 1st Fort Collins, 2nd Colorado, 3rd Montana, 4th anywhere)  

The Ember Alliance is headquartered in Fort Collins, CO. Our team works nationally on planning projects.  

Potential candidate must be able to work from office when required. Preferred location is the greater Fort Collins, CO or Missoula, MT areas; remote work may be a consideration.   

The possibility of working from a home office on administrative projects will be assessed on a case-by-case basis for candidates with proven independent remote work records.  

How to Apply

Interested applicants should submit a one-page cover letter, a writing sample, three professional references, and a resume. Application is rolling until filled. Please specify your earliest available start date and preferred work location.  

The Ember Alliance is an equal opportunity employer. 

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.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.