Operations and Logistics Manager
3-month seasonal job, July-September, 2024 – Recruitment is open until the position is filled.
Background
Deer Creek Resources is California’s leading wildland fire intelligence and pre-fire planning consultancy. We use technology, storytelling, land information, and custom-made maps to help people solve complex land management problems. During wildfire season, our equipment and GIS technicians have supported tactical mapping operations in fire camps for some of the largest wildfires in California history. Along with our parent company, Firestorm, we provide a full suite of wildfire safety services, including the design and implementation of complex vegetation management projects and prescribed fires to protect communities and critical infrastructure.
We are hiring a seasonal Operations and Logistics Manager to oversee our onsite emergency mapping operations, supervise seasonal wildfire mapping staff, maintain equipment readiness and deploy our onsite GIS mapping support trailers during wildfires.
Responsibilities
This position reports to DCR’s Director. Tasks will include maintaining desktop computers and large-format printers, tracking ink and paper inventories, hauling trailers or generators to fire camps in California and across the American West, reviewing timesheets, repairing equipment, providing technical support, and preparing invoices. A successful candidate will have solid mechanical and organizational skills, be experienced towing trailers, and be very flexible and adaptable. Read the ‘Incident Mapping Specialist’ job position description below to get a better understanding of what our mapping technicians do on wildfires.
This is not a family-friendly job, as you may be called away for extended periods of time with no advanced notice. However, if you want to play travel-roulette, this job can be pretty exciting – for example, you may get a call at 6am that you’re headed to Taos, New Mexico or Central Idaho in 4 hours.
While you will be supported by drivers and mechanics from Firestorm, troubleshooting, mechanical, basic electrical know-how, and other practical skills are a huge plus.
Driving is a core part of this job. A clean driving record is required. Candidates already holding a commercial drivers license will be paid a higher rate while hauling.
Other desirable skills (not all necessary for the job, but a bonus) include :
- IT troubleshooting, expert knowledge of the Windows operating system
- Welding, fixing broken vehicles or plotters, carpentry, or towing trailers
- Metal fabrication skills (Our parent company has a nice metal shop).
- Chainsaw repair and maintenance
- Operating chippers or skid-steer mastication equipment
- Forklift skills (training available, previous experience desirable)
- Field surveying or mapping skills
- Willingness to be on call 24/7, and reachable via cell phone for most of the summer
Qualifications
The successful candidate will be well-spoken and effectively interact with clients and agency representatives in a professional manner. This position is based at DCR’s offices in Chico, California. Frequent overnight travel, mainly within Northern California, is required, especially during wildfire season, when travel may be required on extremely short-notice.
Candidates should have a practical understanding of land management, forestry, environmental interpretation, construction, or agriculture.
We place a high value on field experience. Our parent company Firestorm staffs wildland fire hand crews, Type III and VI fire engines, GIS Mapping Support Units, and prescribed burning modules. There are opportunities for this position to take wildfire and prescribed fire assignments in the fall, maintaining currency or advancing their wildfire qualifications including but not limited to FFT1, FEMO, Single Resource Boss (Engines, Crews, Firing), RXB2, Situation Unit Leader, and Planning Section Chief III.
Compensation
This is a seasonal position, with 40 hours a week guaranteed from July 1st thru September 30th. Large quantities of overtime are possible if we have a busy wildfire season.
Responding to this Announcement
- Email us a cover letter and current resume, including references.
- Send examples of your cartography work (web links are preferred).
- Please include something in the subject line that lets us know that you are not a robot.
Incident Mapping Specialist
Deer Creek Resources (DCR) mapping specialists provide onsite cartography, printing, data management, networking, and technical support during major wildland fires and other emergency incidents across the American West. We are accepting applications for our incident mapping team. Applicants must reside in the Western US. This is a call-when-needed position, with no guarantee of assignments or minimum term of employment. However, if we do have assignments, we work up to 112 hours per week.
Job Description
Successful applicants will operate DCR’s Mobile Mapping Support Modules on large wildfires, natural disasters, and pre-fire planning projects. Tasks may include:
- Cartography! We design and produce map atlases, briefing maps, and other large-format paper map products on a 24/7 schedule, keeping up with wildfires as they spread
- Development of GIS data, satellite imagery, and other geospatial data products as requested
- Data management, file backup, GPS data conversions
- Towing generators and trailers, cleaning or repairing equipment, ordering supplies, completing daily invoices
- Troubleshooting printers, networks, satellite internet, DSL, or MiFi problems, other IT tasks
- Providing GIS and cartography tech support, DJ’ing and maintaining a cheerful and positive presence under non-negotiable deadlines
This job usually requires setting up an enterprise-class computer network in an alfalfa field, fairgrounds or meadow. Once you have this up and running, you’ll spend the next week or three meeting Madison Avenue ad-agency-type production deadlines, fixing generators by headlamp, bathing in a converted semi-trailer, and eating tough steaks with inmates in a big circus tent.
We are looking for flexible, professional people who can support our team in any number of tasks, ranging from delivering supplies and cleaning trailers to designing geodatabases and helping our clients troubleshoot their internet connection.
Requirements
THIS JOB DEMANDS TECHNICAL COMPETENCE AND ROCK SOLID CHARACTER! If you enjoy producing quality products under pressure as a member of a high-functioning team, this job can be rewarding, fun and addictive.
Our job is to provide reliable equipment and a steady hand way out in the sticks, without any backup. In addition to solid GIS/IT skills, we need people who can build a computer from parts, change a truck tire, troubleshoot broken trailer brake lights, or fix a broken printer using common household items. Production volumes are high; late-night HP Plotter sweet-talking skills are essential. While a four-year degree in resource management, geography or forestry is preferred, expert computer-driving skills and solid GIS/cartography work experience are required. Wildfire or forestry experience can’t hurt, and a large personal library of energetic and tolerable music is a plus. Driving is required.
All candidates will be required to complete a practical GIS skills test as part of the application process , and we expect to see a portfolio of your cartography/design work.
Availability
Successful applicants must be available for 7 day assignments between June and October. Work is in 16 hour shifts for up to 14 days. Tent camping is required on many assignments. All travel expenses are paid. We are especially interested in hiring people who can be available on very short notice (within 6-12 hours) between July 15 and September 15.
Responding to this Announcement
- Email us a cover letter and current resume, including references.
- Send examples of your cartography work (web links are preferred).
- Please include something in the subject line that lets us know that you are not a robot.