Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 4 - Heli-Tack Foreman (PCN 10-9518) - State of Alaska

The Fairbanks office of the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection is recruiting for a heli-tack foreman. This is a lead-level position with responsibility for directing the local area heli-tack program. The position directs daily activities, develops training plans, and evaluates the performance of subordinate employees. The individual in this position must maintain initial attack readiness and respond to wildland and urban-interface fires as Incident Command and is responsible for directing, coordinating, and overseeing the suppression response.
 
Mission and Culture
The mission of the Division of Forestry and Fire Protection is to develop, conserve, and enhance Alaska’s forests to provide a sustainable supply of forest resources for Alaskans. FAF is responsible for suppressing wildland and urban interface fires on over 8.5 million acres of land in the Central Interior of Alaska and is often a very busy area during the summer months. FAF’s protection area extends from the Chatanika River drainage in the north to the community of Cantwell in the south and from the Kantishna River in the west to the Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve in the east.  Fires are suppressed using a variety of apparatus, including helicopters and engines. The area and agency values resilience, a strong work ethic, and an ability to seek self-improvement on a daily basis to promote a positive view of the employee, fellow employees, and the agency. The employee will work in a fun-filled environment with like-minded individuals who enjoy the outdoors and understand the importance of suppressing wildfires and assisting with fuels mitigation projects. Health/life insurance benefits and retirement are provided.  
 
Core Responsibilities 
The core responsibilities of the heli-tack foreman are diverse and challenging. On a daily basis, the incumbent will lead lower-level technicians in preparedness and suppression activities, with the authority to assign work, set priorities, train/instruct, and evaluate work performance.  The incumbent will be expected to respond to wildland fires as Incident Commander and collaborate with interagency cooperators and other fire personnel regarding strategy, tactics, and use of resources. They will oversee the local area heli-tack program and administer a 90-day exclusive use helicopter contract.  The incumbent will also facilitate, coordinate, and conduct training for cooperators, fire departments, emergency firefighting personnel, and federal agencies.
 
This is a permanent seasonal (10-month) position with great opportunities for training, travel, and career advancement.  Health/life insurance and retirement benefits are provided.
 
Fire suppression activities will take place under adverse and hazardous conditions.  This position requires working weekends, long shifts, travel for extended periods of time, and flying in small fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
 
Benefits of Joining Our Team
Through a letter of agreement, this position receives a 30% increase to the base salary rate. The salary posted on this recruitment reflects the increased rate. This position also receives an increase in pay based on hazardous conditions through a hazard pay letter of agreement.
 
A selected candidate will be a member of a highly functioning and close-knit organization that values work ethic and flexibility. An individual who shows initiative and competence in their duties will have ample opportunity for upward mobility and training. The area does a great job of being flexible, providing opportunities for training assignments, and allowing individuals to travel across the state and nation when fire activity is low. You will get to see many areas of the state and spend vast amounts of time outdoors traveling in a variety of methods, including engines, helicopters, fixed-wing, and on foot. The work schedule can be somewhat flexible, but the position is highly critical to success during times of high fire danger, and a commitment to long hours and work schedule in remote locations is required.
 
The Working Environment You Can Expect
The base is located in Fairbanks, situated on a peaceful and beautiful stretch of the Chena River, and across the street from restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, and many other amenities. Fairbanks is the second largest city in Alaska and is the main hub of the Interior.  It is near the White Mountains, where there is ample opportunity for fishing and hunting. The area staffs 7 Type 6 engines as well as a Type 2 Exclusive Use Helicopter, multiple Type 2 hand crews, and a Type 2IA crew (White Mountain). On a daily basis, an individual may travel by helicopter anywhere in the area, including the Alaska Range near Healy or the White Mountains. Once at a fire, an individual can expect to remain engaged for 14-21 days, working 16-24 hour shifts on active fires with no cell service, and will be expected to cook and clean for themselves while respecting the environment. Long work hours in an arduous and difficult environment are expected, and a strong commitment to suppression objectives is a requirement, including committing up to 14 continuous days with no days off.  Physical fitness is also very important, and there will be time assigned daily, as available, to maintain physical fitness, as well as an annual required physical fitness test.
 
Who We Are Looking For
The incumbent must have a thorough knowledge of wildland fire suppression tactics, the incident command system, and helicopter operations.  The incumbent must have good communication skills (verbal and written) and be able to work cooperatively with others. The ideal candidate will be qualified as Incident Commander Type 3, Division Supervisor, and Helicopter Manager.