Wildfire Technologist

Role Responsibilities

Are you an expert in wildfire operations, prevention and mitigation? Elevate your career by considering being a part of the Grande Prairie Forest Area team as a Wildfire Technologist. A major trade and economic centre with a population of over 70,000, Grande Prairie offers a variety of first class amenities including a modern hospital, extensive shopping, access to multiple family recreational opportunities and a regional airport with direct connector flights to Edmonton and Calgary.

This is an exclusive opportunity to be a part of a team, committed to supporting positive change, ensuring community safety, and conserving the unique natural resources within the Forest Area.

Reporting to either the Wildfire Operations Officer or Wildfire Prevention Officer, the wildfire technologist supports delivery of the Pre-suppression, Suppression and Mitigation programs within the Grande Prairie Forest Area. As a valued member of the team, your education, years of experience working in emergency wildfire management and proven track record in leading and supervising team set you apart from other candidates.

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.

• Systems Thinking: Considers the changing environment, recognizing the work impacting a vast network of stakeholders.
• Creative Problem Solving: Anticipates, assesses, and readily adapts to changing priorities, maintain resilience in times of uncertainty and effectively work in a changing environment
• Build Collaborative Environments: Takes a collaborative approach with your work to foster open communication and leverage team skills.
• Develop Self and Others: Aims to learn from experiences, shift, and keep current with our skills and knowledge to remain competitive. Understands the strengths and development needs of direct reports. Actively coaches and mentors relative to day-to-day work.
• Agility: Identifies alternative approaches in uncertain, complex situations, supporting others in determining and assessing strategy.
• Drive for Results: Holds self and others responsible for achieving results and agreed upon targets. Identifies ways to exceed performance expectations. Including developing proposals with options for consideration and approval.

Role Continued

Working in the role, on a daily basis you will:

• Supervise, coach and invest in the long term capability and training of direct reports.
• Apply well developed project management and communication skills to ensure direct reports focus on priorities, execute objectives and achieve the goals of the Area and the Department.
• Lead by example, promoting a culture of accountability, excellence, respect and integrity.
• Build collaborative work relationships within the team, area, clients and stakeholders.
• Anticipate and readily adapt to changing priorities, remain calm and composed under pressure, and encourage peers and direct reports to remain optimistic and persevere to find solutions.
• Apply critical and creative thinking skills while assessing risks and identifying and applying solutions (that may require supervisor approval).
• Actively promote a safety culture, following and adhering to safety legislation, SOPs and business rules, ensuring activities align with the Department's safety program.
• Fill rostered positions in a variety of certified and uncertified positions which will include Duty Officer, Response Officer, and Wildfire Assessor rostered positions.
• Work in a field as an Incident Commander on wildfires and gain experience supporting your career development while serving the Department on exports/deployments.
• Participate on Incident Command Teams, Provincial working groups, task forces, and committees as assigned and lead/train wildfire personnel locally and in Hinton as assigned.
• Support delivery of forest management and forest health programs.
• Oversee administration of assigned program funding within budget and policy. 
• Maintain a level of fitness required for various qualified fireline and rostered positions

A strong working knowledge of wildfire, forest and land management legislation, wildfire SOPs and business rules, Incident Command (ICS), financial procurement processes, 1GX, the Master Agreement, AWARE, Dispatch, FIRES, Field Maps, and various Microsoft Applications including Outlook, Word, Teams and Excel is an asset.

Proficient knowledge of wildfire management processes and practices, and several years of specialized wildfire training, and experience, coupled with a strong understanding of wildfire safety policy and procedure are considered strengths.

Please click on this link to view the job description.

Qualifications

The minimum requirements are a two-year related diploma plus four (4) years of related experience in wildfire operations, prevention and mitigation.

Directly related experience and or education may be considered on a one-for-one basis.

Additional Requirements:

• Valid Class 5 Driver’s License.
• Meet Department fitness standards for rostered positions and fireline certifications.

Assets:

• Well-developed supervision and project management skills and experience is considered an asset.
• Eligibility for registration with the Association of Alberta Forest Management Professionals

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, including evening and weekends due to the emergency nature of wildfires.

The ability to travel within the Forest Area, throughout the province and other countries is required.

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

Application Information:

• In your application, please include a cover letter 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: Foreman (PT three 8-hour shifts/week).
• Three (3) work-related references are required for those selected for an interview.

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.