Wildfire Science and Innovation Team Lead

Job Opportunity: Wildfire Science and Innovation Team Lead 

Employee type: Full time, Permanent

Location: Moscow, Idaho (remote option available; occasional travel required) 

Forsite is actively looking for a Wildfire Science and Innovation Team Lead to join our Forsite Fire Team. Forsite is actively looking for a Wildfire Science and Innovation Team Lead to join our Forsite Fire Team. We are a company built on safety, trust, and the resolve to get things done — where teamwork is second nature, innovation is expected, and the work we do has real impact on people and landscapes across North America.

WHO WE ARE

Forsite is a geospatial intelligence company operating across Canada and the United States. Formed through the unification of six established organizations — Barr Air Patrol, Barr GeoSpatial Solutions, Airborne Imaging Inc., Northwest Management Inc., Forcorp, and Forsite Consultants Ltd. — we bring together more than 85 years of aerial heritage, North America's largest independent aerial LiDAR library, and decades of on-the-ground forestry and wildfire expertise into a single integrated platform.

We bring together aerial LiDAR acquisition, pipeline patrol and inspection, forest management, wildfire risk science, and environmental analytics under one roof — giving utilities, energy operators, land managers, government agencies, and insurers a single partner for the complete intelligence picture their operations depend on.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

As Wildfire Science and Innovation Team Lead, you will anchor the scientific and technical capability of Forsite Fire. This is a permanent, senior individual contributor and leadership role – designed for someone equally comfortable advancing applied wildfire science as they are engaging with clients, government agencies, and industry partners.

Scientific Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of wildfire scientists, analysts, and specialists across the US
• Set the scientific direction and quality standards for fire behavior analysis, long-term fire modeling, and decision-support outputs
• Foster a culture of rigorous, applied science and continuous learning within the team
• Oversee peer review and quality assurance of technical deliverables
• Identify and develop emerging talent within the wildfire science team
• Engage in business development to expand services throughout the US

Fire Behavior Analysis & Decision Support

• Lead or oversee fire behavior analysis using tools such as Behave, WRF, FlamMap, and related platforms
• Develop and refine methodologies for long-term fire assessment (LTAN) and fire behavior analysis (FBAN) across diverse ecosystems to support RiskView implementation
• Provide expert guidance on fire weather interpretation, fuels assessment, and risk-based fire management
• Translate complex fire science outputs into accessible, actionable intelligence for operational fire managers, utilities, and agency clients

Fuels Mapping & Geospatial Analysis

• Guide the team’s fuels mapping, vegetation management, and geospatial analysis capabilities
• Ensure integration of remote sensing products and spatial analysis tools into science workflows
• Develop or oversee models and datasets that support wildfire risk assessment for infrastructure and land management clients

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a senior technical point of contact for key clients including government agencies, electrical utilities, and land management organizations
• Lead or contribute to proposals, capability presentations, and client scoping discussions
• Represent Forsite Fire at industry forums, technical workshops, and scientific conferences

Innovation & Research

• Monitor and integrate advances in wildfire science, fire weather research, and decision-support technology into Forsite’s capabilities
• Pursue or support applied research partnerships with academic institutions, government agencies, and industry

Contribute to or lead the development of novel analytical approaches, tools, or data products that strengthen Forsite Fire’s competitive position

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

Forsite welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and is looking for the right person to join our team. If you don’t meet every requirement but bring relevant skills, experience and a great attitude, we encourage you to apply!

Must have:

• Qualification as FBAN and/or LTAN, or equivalent demonstrated experience in fire behavior analysis
• Significant experience in wildfire science, fire behavior modeling, or a closely related discipline
• Demonstrated experience leading or mentoring a technical team in an applied or operational environment
• Strong working knowledge of wildfire decision-support tools (e.g., FlamMap, Prometheus, or equivalent)
• Experience working with or for government fire agencies, electrical utilities, or land management organizations
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical findings to non-specialist audiences
• Knowledge of funding sources at the state and federal levels
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects in a dynamic, client-driven environment

Nice to have:

• Graduate degree (M.Sc. or Ph.D.) in forestry, fire ecology, atmospheric science, geography, or a related field
• Experience in wildfire risk mitigation or fuels management
• Proficiency in geospatial analysis tools (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS)
• Familiarity with fire weather data interpretation and fire weather index systems
• Experience working in US wildfire environments
• Background in consulting, advisory services, and business development
• Publication record or contributions to applied wildfire science

WHO YOU ARE

• A team player who enjoys working collaboratively and contributes to a positive team environment; reliable and accountable
• A problem solver who thinks critically and proactively finds solutions; can initiate/lead new ideas and follow them through
• A good decision maker
  who exercises sound judgment in dynamic situations
• A strong communicator, both written and verbal (and technical writing would be great)
• Quality-driven – pays attention to detail and takes pride in delivering high quality work
• Someone who can work independently under limited direct supervision as well as in a dynamic team environment
• You are adaptable and resilient where you thrive in a fast-paced environment where priorities shift; you’re comfortable working on multiple projects at once and can adjust to changing demands
• Professional, friendly and respectful and committed to excellent service

WHAT WE PROVIDE

We offer a flexible and rewarding work environment, including:

• Competitive wages
• Work-life flexibility
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Professional development support
  

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

At Forsite, we are committed to fostering a work environment where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to succeed. We believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation and strengthen our team. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, identities and experiences, including but not limited to Indigenous peoples, racialized individuals, persons with disabilities, women, LGBTQ2+ individuals, and veterans. If you require accommodation during the hiring process, please let us know – we are happy to support you.

Forsite is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.