Fire Operations Supervisor

About BurnBot
BurnBot provides systematic fuels treatment services to prevent destructive wildfires. We're firefighters, scientists, engineers, prescribed fire practitioners, ecologists, and community members who are answering the call to scale fuel treatment capacity. Our modern fuel treatment system recognizes and supports conservation efforts with a clean, smoke-free process. We need technology to amplify our workforces with targeted use of synthetic fire to treat fuel loads 10x faster than previously possible.

The Role
BurnBot is seeking a Fire Operations Specialist (FOS) to perform middle leadership oversight within the Fire Program. This role mixes supervisory oversight of BurnBot Fire Modules with responsibility for field-based project operational oversight as well as performing client-focused tasks. 

This role, while in the field a majority of the time, may be based in Placerville, CA, Medford, OR, or our South San Francisco, CA Headquarters.

Administrative tasks include day to day management of 5-person Fire Modules. The FOS will have primary responsibility for recruitment and retention of 1-3 Modules as well as performing supervisory duties including onboarding, ensuring administrative tasks are carried out to BurnBot standards, providing performance feedback, coordinating training, and providing direction leadership in lieu of the Module Leader when they are unavailable. The FOS will help to coordinate Module mobilizations as well as their own in coordination with other FOS and Fire overhead.

Field based tasks will include:

• Planning for and/or execution of prescribed fire (broadcast burning, pile burning, air curtain burning, RX2/PFV burning, etc) 

• Module leadership for wildfire mobilization and/or mobilization coordination across multiple types of equipment (Type 5 or 6 engines, chippers, heavy equipment, etc)

• Conducting or coordinating Defensible Space Inspections 

• The FOS is expected to serve as a project manager/POC or Burn Boss for field projects and maintain a consistent field presence to support Fire Modules, evaluate conditions, and ensure alignment between planning and execution.

• Performs job walks and field verification for proposal building

• In coordination with organizational stakeholders, ensure all projects comply with OSHA, environmental regulations, and fire requirements

• Maintains day-to-day relationship touchpoints at the site and project level

• Captures issues early and escalates effectively through the Fire Director staff or Program leads

• Maintains project artifacts including scope documentation, maps/GIS inputs, schedules, and acceptance checklists

• Other duties as assigned

Administrative Tasks:

• Customer management including developing and maintaining relationships with current and potential clients. 

• Help to develop proposal budgets, project implementation schedules, and scopes of work. 

• Unique skills and qualifications that the FOS possesses will be incorporated into their workload as needed for related BurnBot work.  

The FOS splits time approximately 40/60% between administrative responsibilities and field engagement. This role serves as the critical operational bridge between Fire Modules and the Director Staff level.

This is an exempt role with a salary of $123,000 to $140,000 per year. Placement within the range depends on experience, certifications, and skills.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Directly oversee and support Fire Modules across multiple crews and/or project sites including directly managing modules as needed

• Ensure consistent execution of company standards related to safety, quality, productivity, and professionalism

• Provide guidance, direction, and corrective action to Fire Module leadership

• Maintain oversight of safety performance across all assigned operations

• Ensure compliance with burn plans, project plans, safety policies, and regulatory requirements

• Review incidents, near misses, and safety reports; implement corrective actions and improvements

• Reinforce stop-work authority and risk management expectations at all levels

• Own and manage all required operational reporting (i.e. Production, Safety, Equipment, Labor, Budget, etc.)

• Participate in job walks, pre-bid site visits, and scope development

• Support long-range operational planning, including staffing needs, equipment acquisition, and seasonal workload balancing

• Serve as a primary point of contact between field operations and BurnBot Directors

• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Ability to travel extensively (up to 60%)

• Valid driver's license and ability to be insured under company policy (this role requires driving company vehicles and trailers to remote job sites)

• Minimally qualified as an NWCG ENGB or CRWB, ICT5, and RXB3

• 5 years of experience in forestry, fuels mitigation, vegetation management, or wildland fire operations in the public or private sector

• Demonstrated experience supervising fire crews or foremen

• Experience working with public agencies and regulatory bodies

• Strong working knowledge of prescribed fire operations, wildfire operations, and field safety standards

• Proven ability to manage reporting, documentation, and operational planning

• Physical ability to perform demanding field work (lifting up to 50 lbs, uneven terrain, long days outdoors)

Desired Qualifications

• Any of the following NWCG certifications: FIRB, RXB2/1, CRWB, ENGB, TFLD, DIVS, ICT4

• Experience in wildland firefighting and prescribed burning

• Experience operating farm, forestry, or other heavy equipment, trucks and large trailers

• Experience supporting proposal development and estimating

• Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry, Fire Science, Natural Resources, or related field

• NFPA Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist

• GIS Data Analysis

Still interested? Please apply at BurnBot.com/Careers or by sending your resume to careers@burnbot.com.

Physical requirements and working conditions

This position is performed primarily outdoors at active fuels treatment and prescribed fire sites. Essential functions include: walking, standing, bending, kneeling, and climbing on uneven, steep, or unimproved terrain for extended periods; working full shifts in variable and adverse conditions, including heat, cold, wind, dust, and smoke; operating, carrying, and maintaining hand and power tools, including chainsaws; lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation, and occasionally more with assistance; wearing required personal protective equipment for the duration of the shift, including fire-resistant clothing, hard hat, hearing and eye protection, gloves, and safety footwear; maintaining situational awareness and communicating clearly by radio in high-noise environments; and traveling by vehicle and by air to remote sites, including overnight and multi-day assignments.

BurnBot provides reasonable accommodation to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role. To request an accommodation, contact careers@burnbot.com or (415) 795-9124 x 1010.

BurnBot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion or religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, registered domestic partner status, age (40 and over), physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information or characteristics, military or veteran status, status as a protected or honorably discharged veteran, reproductive health decisionmaking, primary language, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, request for family care or medical leave, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law, or any combination of these characteristics.

Employment is contingent on satisfactory completion of a background check and a pre-employment drug screen, conducted after a conditional offer of employment and in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local law, including fair chance laws under which qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records are considered for employment.

If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact us at (415) 795-9124 x 1010 or careers@burnbot.com.

Salary : $123,000 - $140,000