Prescribed Fire and Stewardship Technician

The Nature Conservancy

Prescribed Fire and Stewardship Technician at The Nature Conservancy managing conservation strategies. Implements prescribed burns and stewardship programs while coordinating community support in Kentucky.

Posted 7/23/2026full-timeMorehead • Kentucky • 🇺🇸 United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $55,000 - $57,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates expertise in wildland fire management, including prescribed burns, fire plan development, and ecological restoration. Proven ability to lead teams, manage budgets, and ensure compliance with policies while maintaining physical fitness for arduous tasks.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Bachelor's Degree in Natural Resource ManagementNWCG Squad Boss (FFT1) CertificationWildland Faller QualificationExperience with Wildland Fire ManagementProficient in ArcGIS and GPS

ATS Keywords

Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills

Prescribed Fire ImplementationFire Management PlanningVegetation MonitoringFire Equipment MaintenanceHerbicide ApplicationBudget ManagementData Collection and ReportingSupervision of Staff and VolunteersLogistics PlanningPhysical Fitness for Arduous Tasks

Soft Skills

LeadershipDecision-MakingNetworkingIndependent WorkTeam Collaboration

Tools & Technologies

Fire PumpsPower EquipmentOff-Road VehiclesSkid-SteersTractorsMicrosoft ProductsAvenza Maps

Certifications & Qualifications

Valid Driver's LicenseHerbicide Applicator License

Industry Keywords

Natural Resource ManagementPrescribed BurnsFuels ManagementEcology of Eastern ForestsKentucky GrasslandsConservation PartnershipsFirebreak PreparationState and Federal Collaboration

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Assists with the implementation of prescribed burns by maintaining firebreaks, leading squads of 3 – 7 firefighters, maintaining fire equipment, and planning logistics.
Assists with the development of prescribed burn plans, fire management plans, and land management plans.
Maintains fire and stewardship supplies and equipment and maintains maintenance records.
Maintains physical fitness necessary for maintaining wildland fire qualifications (arduous level).
Works in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
Leads vegetation and fire effects monitoring programs, collects maintains, and reports data.
Leads and monitors work groups consisting of staff, interns, and volunteers covering a wide geographic area.
Performs tasks with minimal supervision and makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience and context.
Assists with hiring, supervising, and managing seasonal staff and volunteers.
Ensures program compliance with internal policies and external requirements.
Financial responsibility including working within a budget to complete projects, negotiating and contracting with vendors and assisting with budget development.
Manages preserves, preserves infrastructure, and maintains hiking trails.
Maintains herbicide applicator licenses and applies herbicides.
Functions as a leader and member of a work team, in high stress environments.
Networks with diverse groups, including landowners, conservation partners, government officials, donors, board members, volunteers, and the public to recruit support for the Conservancy and publicize Conservancy programs/preserves.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree and 3 years’ experience in natural resource management or similar field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
NWCG Squad Boss (FFT1), and Wildland Faller qualified, or equivalent, documented training and experience at or above the FFT1 and Wildland Faller qualifications.
Experience with wildland fire management in the Appalachians or similar ecosystems including but not limited to implementing prescribed burns, assisting with burn plan development, supervising squads, working with engines and UTVs, preparing firebreaks, monitoring fire effects, writing prescribed burn plans, and working with state and federal partners.
Must have foundational knowledge and experience of prescribed fire, fuels management, restoration, and overall ecology of eastern forests, native grasslands found within Kentucky.
Must have demonstrated experience maintaining and operation various types of fire and stewardship equipment including but not limited to fire pumps, power equipment, off-road vehicles, skid-steers, tractors, and the ability to load, transport, and tow trailers.
Must be experienced using ArcGIS, Avenza Maps, GPS, and Microsoft Products.
Must be able to maintain arduous fitness level demonstrated by successfully completing the arduous pack test and must have and maintain a valid driver’s license.
Must have valid driver’s license and good driving record.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health care benefits
Flexible spending accounts
401(k) plan with an 8% employer match
Parental leave
Accrued paid time off
Life insurance
Disability coverage
Employee assistance program
Other life and work well-being benefits