What You Will Be Doing:
This position serves as the Assistant Fire Management Officer for the Fairbanks office of the AK Division of Forestry and Fire Protection. The incumbent will manage the local fire program and ensure safe, efficient, and effective fire prevention, fire preparedness, and fire suppression in accordance with Alaska statutes and the Alaska Interagency Wildland Fire Management Plan.
Daily, the incumbent will:
Ensure that initial attack resources are trained and ready to respond to new incidents. Direct initial attack response. And serve as safety officer and duty officer for the local area.
Provide ongoing supervision to more than 30 full-time state employees, with authority/responsibility to hire, train, assign work, and evaluate performance.
Attend planning meetings. Provide oversight and direction to the local Helitack/engine, prevention, fuels, training, and emergency firefighter programs.
Mission and Values/Culture:
The Division of Forestry and Fire Protection's mission is to protect the lives and property of Alaskans from wildfires and to manage Alaska's forest resources for maximum sustainable yield. Fairbanks Area Forestry's fire suppression responsibilities encompass approximately 9 million acres in the central interior of Alaska, including the Fairbanks North Star and Denali Boroughs. In many locations, FAF is the primary and sometimes only fire department response to wildfires.
Fairbanks Area's core structure is comprised of highly motivated firefighters who excel under adverse conditions, possess a strong, can-do work ethic, emphasize personal and professional integrity through continuous improvement, and are committed to building a team-focused wildland firefighter community.
Wildland Fire and Resource Technicians are on the front lines, ensuring Alaska meets its objectives of providing safe, competent, and community-focused wildfire protection and sustainable forest management for Alaska's diverse user groups.
Benefits of Joining Our Team:
Selected candidates will be part of a high-performing and community-oriented organization that provides firefighting response to wildfires threatening Alaska's residents, communities, and infrastructure. Individuals who are safety-minded, team-oriented, and thrive in a learning environment will have ample opportunities for upward mobility and training.
This position is especially attractive to those who enjoy working outdoors, traveling across Alaska and the Lower-48, are interested in a dynamic, challenging first-responder career path, and are committed to public service.
The Working Environment You Can Expect:
Fairbanks Area Forestry resides along the banks of the Chena River in downtown Fairbanks, Alaska. FAF's fire suppression organization is comprised of Type-6 and 7 engines, Helitack, Prevention, the White Mountain Type-2IA hand crew, EFF Type-2 hand crews, and dozer operations. Personnel staff engines, helicopters, and hand crews on a daily basis and are ready to respond to wildfires not only within FAF's protection area, but across Alaska.
When not on fires, fire staff are regularly engaged in training and fuels mitigation projects that enhance strategic and tactical fire suppression options and strengthen community wildland fire protection.
A high level of physical fitness is required, and all initial attack personnel are expected to participate in daily physical training and to complete annually required fitness testing.
We are looking for a candidate who possesses the following position-specific competencies.
Fire Management: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of fire management, including the characteristics, behavior, and ecology of fire; methodologies, strategies, and equipment used in prescribed fires; fire detection, prevention, and suppression strategies; and integration of fire with natural resource management.
Interpersonal Skills: Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.
Adaptability: Adjusts planned work by gathering relevant information and applying critical thinking to address multiple demands and competing priorities in a changing environment.
Teamwork: Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
Physical Strength and Agility: Ability to bend, lift, climb, stand, and walk for long periods of time; ability to perform moderately heavy laboring work.
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to learn more about working for the Division of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Minimum Qualifications
Red Card qualification under the National Incident Qualification System (see required job qualifications special note).
And Either
Twelve months of advanced level wildland fire fighting experience in the fire management program. This required experience includes work as a Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 4 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.
Or
Twenty-four months of journey level experience in the fire program in fire suppression or in a support capacity. This required experience includes work as a Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 3 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.
Or
Twenty-four months of journey level logistics dispatch experience. This required experience includes such work as Wildland Fire Dispatcher 2 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.
There is no substitution for the National Incident Qualification System (Red Card) qualifications.
Special Note:
Applicants must be at least eighteen years of age.
Most positions require National Incident Qualification System certifications. Because there are different specialty areas in this field, recruitment and selection will be made from among those candidates who meet the experience and the basic National Incident Qualification System training requirements specifically listed in the recruitment bulletin. The specialty areas are within one of the following functions: fire operations, wildland fire prevention, and aviation support.
For positions assigned wor
