Wildland Fire & Resource Technician - Operations Foreman (PCB 10-9505) - State of Alaska

 
The Fairbanks office of the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection is recruiting for an Operations foreman. This is a lead-level position with responsibility for directing the local area Wildland Fire program. The position directs daily activities, develops training plans, and evaluates the performance of subordinate employees. The foreman must maintain initial attack readiness and respond to wildland and urban-interface fires as Incident Commander, with a responsibility to direct, coordinate, and oversee 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 the desire 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 are provided as well as retirement.  
 
Core Responsibilities 
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.  The incumbent will oversee the local area's initial attack operations program.  The incumbent will 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, traveling 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 and providing opportunities for training assignments and allows individuals to travel across the state and nation when fire activity is low in the area. You will get to see many areas of the state and spend vast amounts of time outdoors travelling in a variety of methods, including engines, helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, 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, on a peaceful and beautiful stretch of the Chena River, across the street from restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, and many other amenities. Fairbanks is Alaska's second-largest city and 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, a Type 2 Exclusive Use Helicopter, a Type 2 handcrew, and a Type 2IA crew (White Mountain). On a daily basis, an Operations Foreman is in charge of coordinating all initial attack responses in the Fairbanks area. Once at a fire, an individual can expect to be the incident commander. This individual might have 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 environment are expected and a strong commitment to suppression objectives is a requirement. Physical fitness is also very important; there will be time assigned daily, as available, to maintain physical fitness and an annual required physical fitness test.
 
Who We Are Looking For
The incumbent must have a thorough knowledge of wildland fire suppression tactics and the incident command system. The incumbent must also have good communication skills (verbally and in writing) and be able to work cooperatively with others. The ideal candidate will be qualified as Incident Commander Type 3, Division Supervisor, and Engine Boss or willing to obtain these qualifications.