Western Regional Lead

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Posting End Date

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

We are seeking an individual to serve as Western Regional Lead for British Columbia and Alberta. Candidates should currently reside in or be willing to relocate to this area and will be expected to work remotely.

*Fluency in French is an asset.

**Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Summary Housed at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus (UBCO), the Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program (the Program) will be the first of its kind in Canada and will develop the foundational framework required for a nationally recognized program to facilitate the safe and effective application of prescribed fire contributing to measurable improvements in biodiversity, ecological resilience, and community safety. The Program will involve the development of curriculum and regional hubs across Canada which will provide region-specific and hands-on prescribed fire training. 

The Regional Lead will oversee training and outreach programming in prescribed fire, stakeholder engagement, and partnership development for their assigned region. They will contribute to the development of the hybrid online and in-person curriculum and will train learners for key roles on prescribed fires. This position will work alongside other Regional Leads and lead the teams in their region to develop and implement training and program activities including planning and oversight of in-person field training, engaging with regional groups, assisting in reporting and protocol development, developing partnerships, and advising the Prescribed Fire Manager on integration of regional fire regime effects into field training. This position will ensure that research, including prescribed fire and fire effects monitoring, is effectively translated into best practices and practical application for prescribed fire, ecological restoration, and biodiversity conservation which reflects local fire regimes.  Organizational Status This position reports to the Fire Program Manager and works for the Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program in the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences for UBC’s Okanagan campus. This position is expected to work closely with the Program employees and build relationships with a wide range of external stakeholders including partners, federal, provincial and regional agencies, contractors, NGOs, foundations, Indigenous groups, the public, and other groups from across Canada.  Work Performed

• Contributes to the planning, development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the online and in-person Prescribed Fire curriculum for the Program. Will assist with ensuring quality learner materials and educational instruction are appropriately scaffolded based on learning objectives and learner needs. 

• Supports the development of prescribed fire monitoring protocols and systems for the training components of the Program. 

• Plans and delivers training to learners for key Prescribed Fire roles and conducts reviews to ensure learner engagement and comprehensive goals are in line with the Program objectives. 

• Consults with internal and external stakeholders, consultants and contractors for course development, maintenance and reviews.  

• Supports the development and implementation of procedures, systems and best practices to support the safe delivery of courses. Ensures quality assurance is maintained to the highest standard.  

• Supports the development and implementation of a national partnership and engagement plan to identify and formalize partnerships and networks across Canada. This includes engaging with a network of trained instructors, establishing regional hubs to deliver prescribed fire training, and creating a national research and extension network to share best practices in prescribed fire. 

• May advise on regional regulatory requirements in the development of prescribed fire monitoring protocols. 

• Builds and implements protocols, proposals, workplans, timelines, and evaluation tasks for key Program objectives and deliverables. 

• Manages, develops, and identifies new relationships to support the Program objectives, and tracks engagement activities to ensure timely and consistent communications. 

• Maintains communication and engagement with regional program collaborators including internal UBC teams, and external partners including municipal, provincial and national government bodies, NGOs, First Nations, community-based organizations, and others. 

• Collaborates with the Communications and Engagement Strategist to provide feedback into regional communications plans and recommends communications activities including approaches to community engagement and partnerships to ensure wide reach. 

• Oversees learner registration, and support learners throughout the Program, including tracking learner competencies nationally, and providing administrative support as needed. 

• Participates in budget forecasting and preparation of financial reports and may support the Program Director in identifying and applying for regional funding opportunities, such as grant proposal development, to support Program activities. 

• Supervises and trains staff and may have input on hiring and performance. 

• May require travel around Canada and will need to occasionally work evenings and weekends to support the Program.   

• Perform other duties as required. 

Consequence of Error/Judgement Errors or incorrect decisions of the Program Manager could seriously compromise the timing and quality of training and knowledge extension projects of the Program. In addition, inaccurate reporting, lack of grant facilitation, and failure in communications could result in lost funding and jeopardized relationships with collaborators and communities. 

Poor judgement or poor relationship management may harm the reputation of UBCO and may result in lost research partnership opportunities.  Inaccurate or incomplete information regarding partnership opportunities or sponsor regulations could result in a loss of funding or may commit the University to unacceptable award conditions.  Mismanagement of partnerships could result in the return of funds, loss of future funds and/or inability to collect funds owed to the University Incorrect interpretation of Sponsoring Agency and University policy could result in non-compliance with sponsoring agency terms. 

Supervision Received This position will work with considerable latitude. Work is reviewed against the achievement of Program objectives. Facilitation activities are reviewed for conformity to established objectives and standards. Direct supervision is provided by the Prescribed Fire Manager. Supervision Given Manages a team of Training and Outreach Facilitators.  Minimum Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of four years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience. 

• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.

• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion .

Preferred Qualifications

• Recent and significant experience (more than 4 years) and training in fire science and/or landscape fire management in a leadership position.

• Experience in prescribed fire planning and implementation is considered an asset. 

• Experience working in a training environment and/or in curriculum development; 

• Experience in project management, organization, coordination, and facilitation – especially those involving multiple phases and/or teams; 

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills including public speaking, presentations, and facilitation; 

• Experience leading, mentoring, and managing diverse teams in remote and/or hybrid work environments;  

• Ability to work with minimal direction and exercise sound judgement and decision-making; 

• Effective written communication skills including grant writing, reporting, project briefs, etc.; 

• Valid Class 5 Driver’s License is required. 

• Occupational First Aid Level 1, or CPR Level A; 

• S-490: Advanced Wildland Fire Behaviour course is an asset;

• Computer and data analysis skills (eg. Word processing, Excel, citation/reference management software, programming skills in R or Python are considered an asset); 

• A graduate degree in fire ecology, forestry, environmental sciences, conservation sciences, or a related field is an asset;