Lookout Observer

Role Responsibilities

Ready to be a vital part of the wildfire detection program by spotting forest fires? Do you have the physical and mental resilience to endure long hours in isolated conditions?

If so, the Lookout Observer position might be your ideal seasonal opportunity.

A Lookout Observer's first priority is to provide early detection and accurate reporting of potential forest fires. There are 100 active fire Lookouts located throughout Alberta’s Forest Areas: https://wildfire.alberta.ca/recruitment/lookout-observer.aspx

Responsibilities:

Early Detection and Reporting:

• Prioritize early detection and accurate reporting of potential forest fires within the lookout's visible area.
• Continuously observe and report the progress and behavior of smoke or fire until fire control personnel arrive at the fire location.

Monitoring:

• Maintain constant vigilance for smoke indicating wildfires.
• Communicate reports and check-ins by radio with the Forest Area office at scheduled times.
• Record and report all unauthorized smoke or smokes by radio to the area.
• Record and report observed lightning storms and strikes to the area.
• Monitor authorized fires under permit and update the Fire Permit Register when new permits are received, and old permits expire.

Weather Reporting:

• Check and record weather readings at least twice daily and report to the Forest Area Headquarters, and during an ongoing fire, recording and reporting weather on an hourly basis.

Communication and Maintenance:

• Maintain a station log of all radio transmissions.
• Actively communicate between fire camps, field staff, aircraft, etc., as required.
• Perform routine maintenance work on the lookout buildings, equipment and to the site itself.
• Maintain the buildings and facilities in a neat, clean, and orderly manner at all  times.

Apply now for the Lookout Observer position and play a crucial role in safeguarding forests against wildfires.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies: https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

About Your Competencies:
 

• Agility: You will have the ability to anticipate, evaluate, and swiftly adapt to shifting priorities, maintain resilience during uncertain times, and excel in a dynamic work environment.  
• Build Collaborative Environments: You will work within your team to foster effective collaboration, enabling individuals to work together productively to achieve shared objectives, respecting others’ input and expertise and to be willing to learn from others by encouraging open and honest communication.  
• Systems Thinking: Systems thinking helps us consider the wider consequences of our actions and how the tasks we perform within the Alberta Public Service (APS) affect the outcomes of operations.   
• Creative Problem Solving: You will have the ability to evaluate options and consequences in novel ways to develop innovative solutions and achieve desired outcomes to share with others.   
• Drive for Results: You must have the ability to prioritize work, and proactively seek advice or guidance when needed or deal with emergent situations.  
• Develop Self and Others: You will the ability to take self-initiative to stay current on job skills, approaches, and technologies needed for your role in your job by participating in developmental activities, and contribute to team learning by sharing information, knowledge, and experiences.
   

Qualifications

A minimum of some high school education and are physically able to perform the work associated with Lookout Operations is required.
Candidates must be 18 years of age or older as of March 1, 2025, or prior to their start date.

Lookout Operations Requirements:

• Ability to climb up to a one‐hundred‐foot vertical tower ladder within 10 minutes several times a day.
• Adaptable and excellent physical and mental health to endure the rigors of climbing the lookout tower and living alone.
• High self-motivation and adaptation skills to overcome loneliness and often monotonous routines associated with Lookout Observers' tasks and way of life.
• Self-reliance and autonomy, with the ability to quickly learn and work with minimum supervision.

Additional Requirements:

The following conditions are not required at time of application, but must be provided prior to start date:

• A valid Standard First Aid certificate with CPR certification     
• A Lookout Medical Certification completed by a medical doctor, and found fit to do Lookout Observer work, prior to employment.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.
Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

This competition is recruiting for temporary seasonal wage positions as Lookout Observers for all Alberta Forest Areas, with weekly work hours up to 36.25.

About Your Work Environment:

• Free accommodation and access to equipment supplied by the employer.
• Successful candidates will be provided with training.  
   

About Your Application:

• Terms of employment in your resume are to be identified months and years, highlighting applicable duties or achievements at the respective role.   
• Those selected for an interview are requested to bring three (3) work-related references.   
• Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

What We Offer: 

• Wage employees receive 11.2% in addition to regular wage earnings in lieu of paid holidays and vacation leave:
  - 5.2 percent of regular wage earnings instead of paid holidays .
  - 6 percent of regular wage earnings instead of annual vacation pay.
• Lookouts shall receive in addition to regular pay one-seventh (1/7) of a day’s pay for every full day worked on the tower.
• Lookouts who are assigned to a lookout tower will be entitled to additional compensation in those fire seasons where more than one third (33%) of the total days that their assigned lookout tower is open in a month, are designated by the Employer as “High" or “Extreme" hazard days.