Jobs

Firewise Council of Southwest Colorado

Firewise Council of Southwest Colorado
Keeping homes, properties and lives
from being damaged and hurt by wildfire

Firewise Council Program Coordinator

Roles

The Firewise Ambassador Program Coordinator’s main role is to link with Ambassadors and enhance the Ambassador program in all ways possible through careful volunteer and program management.    The Firewise Council Program Coordinator serves as the central contact person for Ambassadors. In this role, s/he connects the volunteers to resources, listens, problem solves, cheer leads, recognizes, solves conflicts, and ensures Ambassadors are fulfilling the majority of their commitments. The Firewise Council Program Coordinator is the “hub” of the program especially because the Ambassadors work across three counties in southwest Colorado and are mostly connected through e-mail, phone calls and bi-monthly meetings.   Next, the Firewise Council Program Coordinator manages many detailed projects, initiatives and tasks, and is responsible for executing the annual work plan. Finally, the Program Coordinator is responsible for staffing the 2009 May Wildfire Prevention and Education Month.

Tasks
Ambassador Program

  • Take broad program direction from the Firewise Council and its Ambassador Committee
  • Coordinate all aspects of the Ambassador Program  
  • Manage up to 90 volunteer “Ambassadors” including recruitment, orientation, recognition, serving as the ongoing resource and contact, and working to ensure Ambassadors are fulfilling most of their agreed-upon commitments
  • Resolve program issues that arise
  • Organize and execute regular recruitment meetings with a focus on Archuleta and Montezuma Counties in 2009
  • Stay current on new information to distribute to Ambassadors; assemble volunteer notebooks; and keep information current
  • Work with volunteers and the Firewise Council Chair to assist with Firewise Council bi-monthly meetings and help with any logistics or planning related to the Firewise Council  in-services
  • Conduct annual program evaluation; and write and disburse report
  • Organize and staff regular Firewise Council Ambassador Committee meetings 
  • Ensure regular media coverage for the program 
  • Write grants for the program, and carry out necessary grant monitoring and reporting
  • Organize and execute Program Sponsorship program after forming a core team (goal: 50% of the 2010 budget is from local program sponsors’ funding)
  • Produce a monthly e-mail “Ambassador News Flash”
  • Develop new, stand-alone Web site in 2009; keep it up to date
  • Work to keep partnerships strong with fire departments, USFS/BLM, local governments, other non-profits, the CSFS and SJMA
  • Ensure minutes are taken for bi-monthly Firewise Council meetings

“Fire Month”

  • Work with the Firewise Council, key partners (CSFS, fire departments and USFS/BLM)  to develop annual work plan with goals, objectives, tasks and outcomes 
  • Coordinate all graphic design, media plans, publication and ad elements of the work plan
  • Provide necessary staff support to ensure work plan is completed
  • Prompt Ambassadors to do activities during “Fire Month”
  • Work with SJMA to report on and track “Fire Month”  expenses and income
  • Write follow report                                                                                                         

Necessary Attributes

  • High energy, drive and passion for wildfire issues (previous wildfire education experience helpful but not mandatory)
  • Attention to personal relationships, careful partnership building and follow through
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Team player; ability to collect many different types of input and move forward in a positive, productive way(s) 
  • Basic understanding of wildfire issues (e.g., County land use regulations, fire fighting protocols, policies of various fire departments, funding sources, HOAs, emergency management,  etc., etc.)  Note: It is not necessary for the Coordinator to be an expert in these issues and “on the job” learning is expected.
  • Ability to engage and secure the sustained support of many people and organizations 
  • Close attention to detail
  • Understanding of the multiple communities in southwest Colorado and their unique characteristics,  and willingness to work in each at the grassroots level

Necessary Experience

  • Volunteer management
  • Program management and oversight
  • Proven coalition building around a community issue(s)
  • Track record of complex project completion with demonstrate-able outcomes
  • Proven experience at working with many different agencies/partners  around a public issue
  • Grant writing and fundraising experience
  • Event planning
  • Public speaking
  • Media experience

Compensation Range:
Contract position.   $25.00/hour up to 11/hours/week. 

Minimum Educational Qualification: College education or equivalent experience. 

Other:

  • The San Juan Mountains Association (SJMA) serves as the fiscal agent for the project (www.sjma.org).
  • Funding is secured for this position until August 2009. Contract work after this date is contingent upon fundraising objectives being met.
  • It is expected that the Firewise Council Program Coordinator will work from a home office.

 

Please submit a resumé with a cover letter by August 28, 2008 to:

Susan Bryson
Executive Director
San Juan Mountains Association
P.O. Box 2261
Durango, Colorado 81302

Firewise Council of Southwest Colorado              
c/o San Juan Mountains Association (fiscal agent)

P.O. Box 2261, Durango, Colorado 81302    *  970-385-1210    *   www.southwestcoloradofires.org

 

SJMA has a small number of seasonal, part time and full time positions that need to be filled from time to time. Positions may be in Durango, Dolores, Pagosa, Bayfield, Mancos, or Silverton. Advertisements will be in the local newspapers as well as on this webpage.

Please give us a call if you have any questions. (970) 385-1210

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