Introduction

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Division of Forestry is accepting applications for a Forest Fire Operations Specialist to provide leadership, direction and service to the Department's in ‐ state and out ‐ of ‐ agency forest fire suppression activities and related operational needs.

This recruitment is considered Statewide, as most regional headquarters within the state of Wisconsin may be considered via applicant need and agency approval. Remote work will be available, after the initial onboarding period. The exact amount is based on program need. Frequent travel throughout the state will be required. This may include weekend and holidays, throughout fire suppression season.

The DNR is a great place to work! We are a workplace focused on diversity, equity, and inclusivity. Current employees value work-hour flexibility, casual office atmosphere, healthy work-life balance, and working for an organization that provides training and growth opportunities.

The DNR excels at protecting and managing natural resources while supporting the economy and the well-being of our citizenry. We are dedicated to working with Wisconsinites while preserving and enhancing the natural resources of Wisconsin. The staff works in partnership with individuals and organizations to manage fish, wildlife, forests, parks, air, and water resources while promoting a healthy, sustainable environment and a full range of outdoor opportunities.

In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, we offer a competitive benefits package featuring:

• Substantial leave time including at least 3.5 weeks of vacation to start, 9 paid holidays, and 130 hours of sick time that roll over each year.
• Excellent and affordable health, vision, and dental benefits.
• An exceptional pension plan with employer match
• A free and confidential employee assistance program that offers employees and their immediate family dependents a variety of tools, resources, and professional consultation services to support their health, goals, and overall well-being.

Position Summary

This position serves as the Division's statewide fire operations manager regarding all aspects of administering, coordinating and evaluating the responsibilities associated with the fire program's operations. It serves as the Division's expert on intelligence ‐ related activities on wildland fires, as well as infrastructure needs related to the forest fire management program. This position serves as our primary liaison within Wisconsin with local, state, and federal fire agencies in development of interagency agreements and incident command issues. This position participates extensively in wildland fire suppression activities during spring and fall fire seasons and during other times of the year when there is significant fire danger.

Please review the Position Description for more details on this position.

Salary Information

Starting pay for this position is between $36.00 to $40.00 per hour ($74,880.00 to $83,200.00 annually).

This position is not represented by a collective bargaining unit. Pay on appointment will follow the provisions of the State of Wisconsin Compensation Plan.

This position is within the Forester Advanced classification. This position is included in Pay Schedule/Range 15/03. A 12 month probationary period may be required.

Job Details

Driver License Requirement: The selected candidate must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment and meet the requirements of the State of Wisconsin Fleet Vehicle Policy. The candidate must be at least 18 years of age with 2 years driving experience. Candidates with three (3) or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents in the past two (2) years, or who have an OWI/DUE violation within the past year are not eligible to drive state vehicles.

Medical Screening Requirement: All field Foresters will undergo medical testing for job-related physical health conditions upon acceptance of the position and prior to start date. Employment is contingent upon passing the medical screening.

Drug Screening Requirement: All field Foresters will undergo testing for controlled substances upon acceptance of the position and prior to start date. Employment is contingent upon passing the drug screening.

Physical Fitness Requirement: Depending on the position, the duties of the position require active fire suppression and prevention duties which require frequent exposure to a high degree of danger or peril and also require a high degree of physical conditioning. These positions are key to public safety and require the incumbent to meet and maintain the specific physical fitness test standards required for these positions. For more information see here . If the incumbent is unable to perform the assigned fire duties, they would be required to leave the position.

Emergency Response Time: Must be able to report within 30 minutes to the work station when directed for emergency response.

Forest Ranger Credentials: Depending on the position, candidates will be required to obtain and maintain Forest Ranger credentials to reflect its civil forestry law enforcement responsibilities. Forest Rangers are not sworn officers of the state but are credentialed to deal with civil enforcement situations.

Background Checks: The Department of Natural Resources conducts criminal background checks on final applicants prior to job offer. Please note that a criminal charge or conviction on your record will not necessarily disqualify you from state employment. In compliance with the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act, the DNR does not discriminate on the basis of arrest or conviction record.

I9 Requirement: The Department of Natural Resources does not sponsor work visas at the time of hire or anytime during employment. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required Employment Eligibility Form I-9 upon hire.

Telework: Based on an assessment of the goals and work activities, this position may be eligible for telework. Telework approval is based on individual circumstances and is subject to supervisor approval and DNR telework policies. Approval is subject to change without notice based on business needs.

Travel: The geographic scope of this position is Statewide. Travel across the state is necessary several times a month, dependent on program need.

Qualifications

Please make sure to address and describe EACH of the following qualifications in relation to your experience (by providing a detailed example) within your resume and/or letter of qualifications to be considered for this position:

Required qualifications include ALL the following criteria:

Experience managing either prescribed fire or wildland fire incidents

Certified by date of application as Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4) for wildland fire incidents based on NWCG standards

Experience obtaining agreement/administering fire suppression support agreements

Preferred qualifications include:

Participated on a Wildfire and Prescribed Fire Certification Team

Experience writing/editing/revising Fire Suppression Support Agreements

Certified by date of application as Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3) for wildland fire incidents based on NWCG standards

Experience developing and presenting education/training programs related to fire suppression.

Experience processing reimbursement requests, including ensuring data accuracy and procedures are followed

Experience developing or recommending changes to natural resource policies

How To Apply

PLEASE NOTE: The job application is set to time-out after 30 minutes of inactivity. To avoid losing any updates to your application, make sure to Save often.

Click the "Apply for Job" button and follow the directions. You will be able to save your application as many times as needed and make edits up until the point you submit your application. Once you submit your application, you will not be able to make any updates to the application or any materials submitted.

Your resume and letter of qualifications are very important parts of your application and are used during our evaluation process to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job. For instructions on developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included in these materials, click here .

For questions regarding the application process, please contact Vicki Treml in Human Resources at vickil.treml@wisconsin.gov or 608/419-6008.

For technical troubleshooting related to the Wisc.Jobs site, please view the Frequently Asked Questions .

Current state employees, including those with Career Executive status, must apply through STAR ESS. Former permanent classified state employees must apply through Wisc.Jobs.

The DNR is an equal opportunity employer that promotes and values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability.

Deadline to Apply

All applications must be received by 11:59 pm central on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.