Director of Fuels Programs (Hazardous Fuels)

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

The Director of Fuels Programs (Non-Merchantable) leads strategy, scope development, estimation, and contract oversight for BurnBot's fuels reduction work where there is no saleable byproduct: mechanical fuels reduction at scale. This role anchors BurnBot's programmatic approach to non-merchantable fuels, ensuring technical accuracy in bids, high-quality execution, and strong agency partnerships.

This Director is BurnBot's primary subject-matter expert and deal architect for fuels, owning prescription development, equipment strategy, and the operating relationships with federal, state, tribal, and private partners that enable landscape-scale fuels treatment.

This role is exempt with a salary range of $120,000 - 150,000. However, we do consider many factors when creating job offers, including (but not limited to), the role, location, responsibilities, experience, training, education, and skillset.

Job Duties/Responsibilities

• Prepare estimates, technical scopes, and proposal strategy for non-merchantable fuels projects (mastication, brushing, slash treatment, fuels reduction)

• Serve as the primary Subject Matter Expert and deal architect for proposals: shaping prescription, equipment selection, production rates, pricing assumptions, and technical documentation

• Lead the creation of task orders/resource orders for fuels projects, ensuring they meet customer requirements and internal execution standards

• Develop and refine prescriptions for reducing mechanical fuel across diverse Western US fuel models (chaparral, oak woodlands, mixed conifer, pinyon-juniper, sagebrush, etc.)

• Maintain contract oversight throughout execution, including involvement in contract clarifications, amendments, compliance checks, and customer relationship management

• Provide oversight authority on fuels projects, including approval of scope modifications, major schedule adjustments, change orders, subcontracted partner involvement, and budget adherence

• Partner with Operations Director and/or Regional Directors during the handoff process and maintain quality oversight through execution

• Develop and manage strategic subcontract partners (mastication subs, brush crews, specialized equipment partners)

• Act as the fuels SME during customer meetings, job walks, audits, and technical reviews

• Provide advisory support to the Operations Director and/or Regional Directors on smaller fuels projects where regions may self-perform bid development.

• Offer SME guidance for complex regional scopes, high-risk work, or opportunities

• Coordinate closely with Sales & Marketing at the bid stage and with the Director of Fire Programs whenever a fuels project includes a prescribed fire component (Rx phases hand off to the Fire Program)

• Partner with Finance and Legal to ensure contract structures, pricing models, compliance, and risk terms meet enterprise standards

• Structure and negotiate large-scale contracts with federal (USFS, BLM, NPS), state (CalFire, ODF, DNRC, etc.), tribal, and private landowner customers, including cost-share programs (NRCS EQIP, RCPP)

• Ensure regulatory compliance across all fuels programs (NEPA, NHPA, ESA consultation, etc)

• Lead technology-forward implementation by integrating advanced tools (LiDAR-based prescription, telemetry-enabled equipment, treatment effectiveness monitoring, etc.) into fuels operations

• Build and refine internal systems that support execution at scale, including KPI tracking, subcontractor onboarding, and operational reporting

• Drive sustainability initiatives that align with conservation goals and environmental standards

• Collaborate on R&D partnerships to advance fuel treatment technologies and methodologies

• Identify and pursue new market opportunities (post-fire recovery, defensible space at scale, watershed-scale fuels work)

• Work closely with technology teams to integrate BurnBot's intelligence and autonomy capabilities into fuels workflows

• Represent BurnBot at industry conferences, regulatory meetings, and stakeholder engagements

• Maintain and promote a safe, productive, and positive working environment

• Strong bias for action and the ability to execute assigned tasks with or without guidance

• Can adapt to a fast-changing environment and work priorities

• Willingness to learn, seek clarification, and embrace new responsibilities as required

• Work long and flexible hours as necessary to fulfill business needs, while providing support to employees and ensuring project success

• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Forestry, Natural Resources, Fire Ecology, Range Science, or related field, or equivalent experience

• 8+ years of experience in fuels treatment, mechanical thinning, or fire-related vegetation management

• Proven track record in contract negotiation and partnership development with federal, state, tribal, and private partners

• Deep understanding of Western US fuel models, fire ecology, and treatment effectiveness

• Experience with regulatory compliance (NEPA, ESA, NHPA, etc)

• Strong business development and strategic planning skills

• Ability to work independently as an individual contributor with plans to scale a team

• Willingness to travel extensively across Western US markets and emerging regions

• Travel up to 75% of the time to project sites

• Ability to communicate effectively

• Passion for BurnBot's mission

It would be cool if…

• NWCG-qualified (Feller, FFT2 or higher)

• Experience designing or implementing landscape-scale fuels treatment projects

• Familiarity with mastication equipment selection and production benchmarking

• Experience with cost-share program design (NRCS, state grants)

• Wildland firefighter operations background

Still interested? Please apply by sending your resume to careers@burnbot.com or visiting our job postings on Indeed.

Burnbot is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including but not limited to, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with one or more disabilities, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at 415-795-9124 x 1010 or people@burnbot.com.