Lookout Observer

Role Responsibilities

Lookout Observer position plays a crucial role in safeguarding forests against wildfires. Are you 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?

A Lookout Observer's priority is to provide early detection and accurate reporting of potential forest fires. There are 104 active fire Lookouts located throughout Alberta’s Forest Areas.

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.
• Monitor authorized fires under permit and update the Fire Permit Register when new permits are received, and old permits expire.
• Record and report all unauthorized smoke, fires, observed lightning storms and lightning strikes by radio to the area.

Weather Reporting

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

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.

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

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:
Some high school education
Physically able to perform the work associated with lookout operations.

Directly related experience or education may be considered on the basis of:

• one year of experience for one year of education or
• one year of education for one year of experience

Related experience includes remote work experience or relevant personal experience (e.g., backcountry camping, hiking trips, or working in a solitary environment).

Lookout Operations Requirements:

• Ability to climb a 100-foot vertical tower ladder within 10 minutes, several times per day
• Excellent physical and mental health to withstand the rigors of climbing Lookout towers and extended periods of isolation.
• Strong self-motivation and adaptability to manage solitude and repetitive routines inherit to lookout duties and way of life.
• High level of self-reliance and autonomy, with the ability to learn quickly and perform tasks with minimal 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.

*All candidates must be 18 years of age or older as of March 1, 2026, or prior to their start date. Position start dates range from March 1 to April 30, 2026.

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 seasonal wage Lookout Observer positions for all Alberta Forest Areas, with weekly hours up to 36.25.

About Your Work Environment:
This position requires you to work evenings and weekends to meet fire season operational needs. Positions are required to work alone in remote outdoor locations for extended periods of time.

A Lookout Observer must be physically fit to climb up to a one‐hundred‐foot vertical tower ladder within 10 minutes several times a day.

The Lookout Observer role resides within all ten of our Forest Areas in Alberta:

• Calgary Forest Area
• Edson Forest Area
• Fort McMurray Forest Area
• Grande Prairie Forest Area
• High Level Forest Area
• Lac La Biche Forest Area
• Peace River Forest Area
• Rocky Mountain House Forest Area
• Slave Lake Forest Area
• Whitecourt Forest Area

What We Offer:

• Wage employees receive 11.6% in addition to regular wage earnings in lieu of paid holidays and vacation leave
  • 5.6% of regular wage earnings instead of paid holidays
  • 6% of regular wage earnings instead of annual vacation pay
• Shift differential and opportunity to work overtime, overnight, evening, and weekend shifts
• Free accommodations available at the Lookout sites
• Premium Pay Allowances:
  • Wage employees residing above the 57th Parallel (i.e., High Level Forest Area) are eligible for a biweekly Northern allowance of $241.38.
  • Wage employees residing within the Fort McMurray Forest Area receive a biweekly allowance of $478.17 (pro-rated for part-time employees).

Application Information:

• Your resume should indicate date ranges (month and year) for all education and work experience, specifying if the experience was casual, part-time (PT) or full-time (FT), while highlighting applicable duties or achievements
  • For example, Lookout: Apr 2019 – Aug 2019 (Seasonal)
• 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