Wildfire Management Specialist

Role Responsibilities

The Wildfire Management Specialist is a senior technical specialist providing support and services to achieve wildfire mitigation, response, preparedness, and recovery for the Fort McMurray Forest Area.  A major focus of this position is to support a variety of wildfire management approaches to achieve landscape-level forest and land management objectives. With an advanced understanding of wildfire behaviour, this position will influence wildfire management planning, vegetation management, prescribed fire, wildfire use, as well as integrated planning activities.

Responsibilities:
•    Collaborate with stakeholders to craft effective wildfire management strategies aligned seamlessly with landscape objectives.
•    Integrate fire considerations into long-term planning to minimize potential losses.
•    Review and incorporate wildfire concerns into forest harvest and management plans.
•    Assess and manage active wildfires, offering invaluable fire behavior predictions and incident management expertise.
•    Contribute to fire suppression efforts and collaborate across agencies to ensure swift and effective response.
•    Support fuel management goals and prescribed burn programs to maintain a resilient landscape.
•    Maintain fuel inventory, identify wildland fire opportunities, and contribute to FireSmart initiatives.
•    Lead landscape fire assessments, integrating wildfire knowledge into planning.
•    Update and maintain the Fort McMurray Forest Area Wildfire Management Plan.
•    Integrate wildfire components into regional plans while maintaining a values-at-risk inventory.
 

Please click on this link to view the job description.

Qualifications

Education:
•    The minimum requirement for Wildfire Management Specialist role is related natural sciences degree supplemented plus four (4) years of related experience. 
•    Directly related experience and or education may be considered on a one year of education for one year of experience or vice versa.

Additional Requirements:
•    Class 5 Driver’s License.
•    Eligibility for registration with the Association of Alberta Forest Management Professionals.
•    Strong mediation, problem-solving, communication, and multitasking skills to identify wildfire risks and apply fire behavior understanding for effective mitigation. 
•    Supervisory or leadership experience.

Assets:
•    Familiarity with forest management policy, legislation, and administration or experience with fire integration into forest and land management planning.
•    Type 2 incident management experience to support wildfire operations will be considered an asset.
•    Advanced fire behavior training and fire behavior analyst experience, encompassing wildfire behavior knowledge and complex scientific principles application.
•    Proficiency in GIS systems and ArcView (ArcGIS/ArcPro).
•    Analytical abilities and knowledge of decision support tools such as Spatial Fire Management System, REDapp, Ignition Exposure, FIRES, and Prometheus.
 

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 is a permanent, full-time role with the standard weekly work hours of 36.25, Monday to Friday. The incumbent may be requested to work overtime, evening and weekends due to the emergency nature of wildfires.

Candidates may be asked to complete a written assignment as a part of the interview process.

Application Information:
 
•    In your application, please a include cover page detailing your interest, and role related experience.
•    In your resume include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. Also, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part time or full time. For example, January 15, 2006 - June 25, 2009: Assistant (PT three, 8-hour shifts/week).
•    Three (3) work-related references are required for those selected for an interview.
 

Travel within the area and throughout the province will be required as part of your responsibilities to coordinate with Ministry staff and colleagues, other government departments, clients, and other external stakeholders. 

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 the GoA has to offer:

•    Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
•    Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca.
•    Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
•    Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.
•    Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.
•    Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
•    Leadership and mentorship programs.