Program Specialist

Job Overview:

The Rural Fire Specialists primarily focuses on leading the implementation of the County Co-op Fire Protection Program within the Land Office. This position will serve as a principal member of the Land Office fire leadership team. The incumbent supports both the current operational needs and the strategic initiatives of the Fire Protection program and the Forestry Division within the Land Office operating area. Areas of emphasis include planning and providing wildland fire training for Local Government, mobilization of Local Government Fire Forces, fire business, county cooperative fire equipment and agreements, fire prevention, responding to incidents as a county fire advisor, fire suppression, and liaison to local government during large incidents. Work assignments are covered by established policies and general program objectives; and the incumbent is responsible for determining the methods and techniques necessary to carry out their assigned responsibilities.

Additional duties may include supporting Land Office efforts to carry out a comprehensive fire protection program that includes all three tenants of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy – Safe and Effective Response, Fire Resistive Landscapes, and Fire Adapted Communities. This may include representing the agency at meetings and conferences, coordinating, and directing special projects, and attending training and/or continuing education as required. These professional and administrative tasks require general knowledge of the County Cooperative Fire Protection Program, the DNRC Fire Protection Program Strategy, and other areas related to overall missions of the Fire Protection Program, the Forestry Division, and the Department. The Rural Fire Specialist works under the general supervision of the Assistant Area Fire Management Officer.

The ability to build and maintain effective relationships is critical to the success of this position. The Rural Fire Specialist establishes and maintains various relationships with DNRC staff, Local Government partners, other Land Offices, interagency partners, dispatch centers, and the public. The incumbent may supervise interns, seasonal employees, and temporary workers, and may be required to supervise additional personnel while functioning in an ICS position or suppression role during fires or emergency situations.

Essential Functions (Major Duties or Responsibilities):

Program Management and Administration:
Implement and administer the State/County Cooperative Fire Protection Program within the Land Office operating area. The Rural Fire Specialist serves as a key member of the Land Office fire program supporting both the current operational needs and strategic initiatives of the Fire Protection Program.

Coordinate the implementation of the State/County Cooperative Fire Management Program within the Land Office to ensure effective resource support and use. This includes providing leadership, expertise, and resource support to local governments (e.g., counties and federal agencies); identifying supply and equipment needs; scheduling equipment and communication system development and maintenance; inspecting and developing equipment and service contracts; and related fire program readiness and coordination activities.
Recommends short- and long-range plans for the Land Office fire program to ensure effective fire protection for the Land Office and the efficient use of personnel and budgeted resources. Allocates workload; prepares annual program work plans; identifies and implements efficiencies; develops contingency plans with the input from Area Fire Management Officers and Area Managers. Assigns priorities to problems; defines procedures; allocates resources; defines roles and responsibilities; and organizes resources. Coordinates fire program planning with other state, Federal, county, local, tribal, and volunteer agencies on lands that include rural settings, forested lands, and Wildland/Urban Interfaces (WUI). Integrates changing technology, land ownership changes, population shifts, and forest changes such as drought or insect depredation into plans to maintain an adaptable, safe, and effective fire program plan. Annually reviews and, if necessary, recommends modifications to Agreements, County Fire Management Plans, and other operating guides with cooperating agencies (e.g., interagency coordination centers, county governments, federal agencies, etc.). Develops and implements procedures to ensure that Land Office and Zone fire suppression operations are technically sound and operationally feasible. Evaluate functional effectiveness of current initial attack operations and recommend changes. Provide information to the Land Office Fire leadership for the preparation of biennial budgets by developing allocation recommendations and assisting with implementation for annual training, prevention, and suppression needs and recommending spending priorities by reviewing past funding practices, anticipated projects and expenditures, program goals and objectives, and related personnel and other administrative expenses. Develop recommendations for staffing and equipment needs. Manages assets including supplies and equipment (including aviation and vehicle assets); keeps the fire program operational by evaluating fire occurrence, interagency, the availability of supplies and equipment, budget limitations and constraints, and historical precedent. Determines appropriate equipment and other resource needs and purchases fire supplies and equipment to maintain a sufficient level of readiness and operability. Represents DNRC and Land Office on interagency coordinating groups to solve problems, plan fire suppression and prevention activities, coordinate programs, and allocate resources. As requested, represents Land Office on various boards and committees and provides fire management expertise and guidance to other regional and local county fire management organizations. Engages in problem solving, facilitation and conflict resolution at both the Land Office and Unit level with cooperators such as the US Forest Service, BLM, county government, forest contractors and landowners, and Tribal Nations. Identifies and articulates issues, defines processes and regulations, and works cooperatively with affected parties and/or the public to identify and develop solutions. Builds and maintains the capacity of cooperating partners by leading, managing, and supporting a coordinated system of fire response and community preparedness. Evaluates Land Office needs; facilitates the development of project priorities with local government cooperators. As needed, provides guidance on effective implementation for community preparedness projects/campaigns and develops targeted projects for local communities and/or regions of the land office. Provides support to local fire adapted community campaigns, networks, and projects as necessary. Leads and manages the efforts to reduce human caused fires by working collaboratively with internal and external partners to provide consistent messaging across all jurisdictions. Prepares and disseminates information to media outlets regarding active fires and fire danger to promote public safety and fire prevention; provides education and information to local governments and other organizations on fire prevention programs, guidelines for homeowners, subdivision planning and growth, and the nature of wildland fire threat in the Land Office consistent with community wildfire protection plans and Fire Protection Bureau program guidance. Exercises professional judgement and initiative; to provide leadership and vision, program direction, supervision, structure, management and administration, and coordination enabling the Land Office to effectively execute the DNRC Fire Protection Program, by carrying out its constituent sub-programs within the parameters of associated program guidance; and contribute to the success of the DNRC Fire Protection Strategic Plan.

Training and Resource Coordination:
Build and maintain the capacity of the local government partners by facilitating the readiness, activation, and mobilization of firefighting resources in support of DNRC’s statewide fire protection mission.

Serve as the principle subject matter expert and lead for all matters related to the hiring, contracting and mobilization of Local Government Fire Forces within the Land Office. Maintains a comprehensive understanding of interagency mobilization and incident business policy, manuals, guides, and forms. Coordinate with interagency dispatch centers and LGFF on availability for out-of-jurisdiction mobilization.  Analyze training needs working in coordination with Land Office Staff, County Fire Wardens and Fire Chiefs. Continually evaluate the effectiveness of fire training to ensure objectives are met and aligned with all applicable standards. Share information, track efforts, and measure effectiveness against benchmarks to identify specific performance and/or service gaps as it pertains to the County Cooperative Fire Protection Program. Identify necessary changes to meet identified program needs and to enhance program effectiveness and efficiency. Lead and support a compressive suite of fire training for local government partners across the Land Office. Serve as a course coordinator or unit instructor based on individual qualifications and expertise. Fire training can include NWCG S-courses or blended department specific general suppression training (GST). The Rural Fire Coordinator will utilize the latest technology and modern delivery systems to present training that replicates real world scenarios and gives the highest quality experience to the students. Training will be conducted both in person and utilizing a virtual delivery system based on need. Assist local government to develop and maintain staff qualifications and skills. Certify qualifications and skills to local government firefighting personnel utilizing the Chief Certification process and NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications PMS 310-1. Utilize the Incident Qualification System – IQS for tracking training, task books, target positions and qualifications of Local Government fire forces. Provide information and reference materials for local governments, rural communities, and DNRC personnel pertaining to topics related to effective rural and wildland fire protection. Instruct groups and individuals on how to improve rural fire protection, research responses to information requests and inquiries, provide recommendations on community fire protection and prevention issues, and provide general program information. Participates in DNRC and interagency task forces, boards, associations, and working groups related to regional fire programs. These include Interagency Workforce Needs Analysis; Wildland Fire Qualifications and Certification; interagency training programs; and fire suppression planning and training groups comprised of DNRC, Federal Agencies, and local government fire personnel. Determine supply and equipment needs to keep the Land Office Fire Program operational. This includes evaluating fire occurrence and conditions (e.g., fuel loads and human activity). Provide recommendations to the Area Fire Management Officers on appropriate equipment, staffing and other resources needs and coordinate procurement and deployment to maintain readiness and operability.

Fire Management and Response:
Performs fire management (fire response, prescribed fire, other) duties based on agency needs and individual qualifications and certifications. Seeks training and assignments to develop individual qualifications in operations and other fire management functions. Assist local government in providing incident organization, accountability, and structure by applying the ICS system.

APPLICATION MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR THE POSITION ARE :

Cover Letter Resume

HELPFUL HINT:  You must check the “relevant document” box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application.

What are some of the benefits you can expect from working at DNRC?

Paid Vacation, Sick Leave and Holidays

*If you are interested in a complete job description, please contact HR at Makayla.Mangold@mt.gov

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):
The required knowledge, skills and abilities are typically acquired through a combination of education and experience equivalent to an associate degree in fire protection (wildland or structural), forestry, natural resources, or related field and four years of progressively responsible experience, including communications, education, fire suppression, fire prevention, community preparedness, training, and program management. 

The incumbent must be able to attain and maintain National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) qualification/certification as an ICT4 - Incident Commander Type 4 and TFLD Task Force Leader.

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities:
This position requires advanced and technical knowledge in wildland fire suppression – strategies and tactics, fire and fuels management, resource allocation, and knowledge of DNRC policy as it pertains to the County Cooperative Fire Protection Program. The incumbent must have demonstrated ability to clearly and effectively communicate complex information pertaining to wildland fire incidents, procedures, and operations. The position also requires a working knowledge of Forestry Division and DNRC policies and practices; strategic planning; research principles and practices; budget monitoring; and the Incident Command System. The responsibilities of this position require the ability to supervise, coordinate, and direct the work of fire suppression personnel. The incumbent must understand and apply Department policy; make sound decisions; train, direct, motivate, and lead others effectively; maintain effective working relationships; achieve work plan objectives through others; apply general management concepts such as goal setting and work planning; and develop and administer a variety of functions concurrently. The position requires skill in the use and operation of tools, equipment and vehicles used in wildland fire control, forest management activities and field operations. Requires a thorough knowledge of a variety of computer software applications including word processing, spreadsheets, databases and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Must be able to perform fire management suppression duties based upon agency needs and individual qualifications and certifications on national, regional, or local interagency incident management overhead teams. This work requires knowledge of wildland fire size-up and tactical methods, fire behavior, local fire prevention needs, the incident command system, professional-level forest management practices and procedures; State of Montana laws, policies, procedures, and protection responsibilities; and fire management procedures.

SPECIAL INFORMATION: 
Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. A valid driver's license is required with less than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months.

ELIGIBILITY TO WORK: 
In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the person selected must produce within three days of hire documents that show authorization to work in the United States. Examples of such documentation include a birth certificate or Social Security card along with a driver’s license or other picture I.D., or a U.S. passport, or a "green card".

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