Program Assistant, Wildland Fire Academy

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Title: Program Assistant, Wildland Fire Academy

Reports to: Senior Manager, Wildland Fire Academy

Status: Full-Time Temporary (March 2025 - November 2025)

Salary: $45,000 Annually

Location: Sacramento, California (or surrounding + 75 miles)

Position Summary:

The Program Assistant will work as part of a team to assist in the operational and logistical aspects of all team programs. The Program Assistant will provide support for Program Staff by ensuring that site partners, leaders, and member outcomes are achieved in a safe and responsible manner.

The PA Season will run from March 1 – November 30 each year.

Responsibilities:

• Supports training events, both leader and member.
• Maintains personal field readiness throughout fuels crew season to provide for leader support when needed.
• Obtain and maintain IQCS Red Card each year.
• Obtain National Saw Program Level Saw Card and passion to personally develop own skill set.
• Maintains Wildland Fire Academy Equipment Cache and Inventories.
• Completes general administrative tasks as assigned.
• Provide logistical support to leaders in the field.
• Repair and/or replace broken/damaged gear, equipment and tools.
• Prepare vehicles for programs to use, cleaning and ensuring inventories and tracking
• Supports the monitoring of field readiness for all crew member positions
• Monitors and responds to crew member inquires.
• Responds to help requests as needed.
• Continuously gathers field insight and program improvements from field sites.
• Travel to support crew operations throughout the season, travel in Western United States may be up to 50% of the time.
• Temporarily provide leadership for a team in the field should a leader be unable to continue their position
• Work in collaboration with team members to create and support a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, team work, empowerment, and positive crew dynamics and incident management.
• Other duties as assigned

Expectations:

• Complete administrative tasks accurately and in a timely fashion
• Provide excellent inventory accountability Fire Cache Management.
• Foster an environment that promotes teamwork between SCA leaders, staff and site partners
• Represent a positive and professional image of SCA
• Understand and follow all policies and procedures as outlined in the SCA Employee Handbook and the SCA Field Guide

Qualifications:

• High school degree or equivalent
• Must be at least 21 years old
• Demonstrates experience including skills related to the position such as crew leadership, fuel reduction operations, and crew administration.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (both written and verbal)
• Ability to work independently and as part of a highly mobile, fast-paced team
• Maintain IQCS Red Card, annual refresher required and Successful WCT Completion each season.
• SalesForce experience a plus
• Experience with conservation programming a plus
• Valid Driver’s license and driving record within SCA guidelines
• Must pass SCA criminal background check

While performing this job, it will require: 40+ hours/week. Work on nights and weekends. May require travel during the high fire season. The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the duties of this position. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is occasionally required to: Stand, walk, carry, climb, use hands, listen, crawl, etc

The Student Conservation Association, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.