The Division’s Fire & Aviation program is seeking a motivated, high-energy team member to assist our wildland fire information and community planning efforts to provide Alaskans and our cooperators with critical fire information and develop community interest and coordination with Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs). This critical position is part of the fire staff whose mission is to ensure public safety and the protection of Alaska’s communities, resources, and infrastructure from wildland fires. The Wildfire Information Specialist is externally oriented and will weave together relationships fostered through assisting in emergency notifications for wildland fire incidents while building community and stakeholder participation in CWPPs. Outside of active wildland fire response, this position will manage and coordinate incoming community, cooperator, and agency interest involving CWPPs. The successful candidate will assist stakeholders in obtaining funding, materials, and information involving proactive fire management planning. This position will also help with the inventory status on all CWPPs in Alaska.
Mission and Culture
The Division of Forestry & Fire Protection fosters a mission-driven culture and is responsible for protecting Alaska’s values, including life and property, from wildland fire. The Division works closely with federal, state, and local emergency response agencies and private industry vendors to provide wildland fire management and protection for the State of Alaska. The position will contribute to the overall success of the DOF mission by providing the public, media, and stakeholders with information and emergency notifications for emerging wildland fire events. The project assistant will build on relationships with communities and stakeholders to coordinate critical community planning proactively before a wildfire threatens life, property, or other values at risk.
Benefits of Joining Our Team
The successful applicant will be working with a variety of dynamic, public service-oriented people and agencies from across Alaska and at a national level. The very core of our mission is public safety. Being prepared and providing critical information in a timely manner is critical to protecting lives, property, and natural resources. This position will involve some in-state travel and may involve site visits to Alaskan communities to coordinate proactive wildfire planning. This position offers training and a flexible work schedule and location contingent on assigned tasks and priorities.
The Working Environment You Can Expect
This position is offered in Anchorage, Palmer, or Fairbanks. It will work in a collaborative manner with Area Foresters, Area Fire Management Officers, and various Statewide Program Coordinators, both in person and remotely. The position has Statewide responsibilities and provides coverage to the Alaska Interagency Coordinating Center located in Ft. Wainwright during the fire season (April – September). The environment is mission-oriented and involves collaborative interaction with colleagues in the division, other state agencies, local government, and our federal counterparts in wildland fire management.
Although this position is primarily office-based, daily physical fitness is encouraged, and a flexible work schedule can be made to accommodate. There are opportunities for field site visits to projects, fire tours, and staff rides.
To be successful in this position, a candidate will need the following core competencies:

• Effective Communication and Collaboration:
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and concisely.
  • Proven track record of building and maintaining effective working relationships with agency staff, cooperating agencies, stakeholders, community members, and contractors.
  • Ability to collaborate and coordinate efforts across multiple stakeholders to achieve common goals and objectives.
• Strong Working Knowledge of Wildfire Prevention and Hazard Fuel Mitigation:
  • Demonstrated proficiency in wildfire prevention strategies and hazard fuel mitigation techniques.
  • Ability to stay updated on industry best practices and emerging trends in community protection measures.
  • Experience in implementing proactive measures to mitigate wildfire risks and enhance community resilience.
• Independent and Team-oriented Work Ethic:
  • Capacity to work independently with minimal supervision, demonstrating self-motivation and initiative.
  • Strong team player with the ability to contribute effectively as a leader or member of a group or team.
  • Experience in working towards defined goals, objectives, and deadlines, either independently or collaboratively within a team setting.

Minimum Qualifications

• Adaptability: adjusts planned work by gathering relevant information and applying critical thinking to address multiple demands and competing priorities in a changing environment.
• Analytical Thinking/Problem Solving: uses a logical, systematic, sequential approach to address problems or opportunities or manage a situation by drawing on one’s knowledge and experience base and calling on other references and resources as necessary.
• Reading Comprehension: Understands and interprets written material, including technical material, rules, regulations, instructions, reports, charts, graphs, or tables; applies what is learned from written material to specific situations

Additional Required Information

• Cover letter.
• Professional resume.

• Driver’s license.

• The position will require in-state travel (normally one trip of up to 3 days in length, occurring monthly/quarterly based on community demand or fire danger.

Contact Information

Workplace Alaska Application Questions & Assistance
Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll-free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to recruitment.services@alaska.gov.
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For specific information about this position, please get in touch with the hiring manager at the following:

• Health insurance, which includes employer contributions toward medical/vision/dental
  • The following employee groups are under AlaskaCare Benefits administered by the State: See https://drb.alaska.gov/help/plans.html for additional information.
    • AVTEC
    • Confidential
    • Correctional Officers
    • Marine Engineers
    • Mt. Edgecumbe Teachers
    • Supervisory
    • Unlicensed Vessel Personnel/Inland Boatman's Union
    • Exempt employees (not covered by collective bargaining)
  • The following employee groups are covered by Union health trusts. Contact the appropriate Union for additional information.
    • General Government
    • Labor, Trades and Crafts
    • Public Safety Employees Association
    • Masters, Mates & Pilots
• Employer paid Basic Life insurance with additional coverage available (amount depends on Bargaining Unit)

• Group-based insurance premiums for
  • Term life (employee, spouse or qualified same sex partner, and dependents)
  • Long-term and short-term disability
  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment
  • Long-term care (self and eligible family members)
  • Supplemental Survivor Benefits
• Employee-funded flexible spending accounts for tax savings on eligible health care or dependent care expenses

• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Teachers' Retirement System (TRS)
• Matching employer contribution into a defined contribution program (new employees)
• Employer contribution into a defined benefit or defined contribution program (current employees)
• Contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan in lieu of contributions to Social Security
• Option to enroll in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program
• Note: The Defined Contribution Plan, Supplemental Annuity Plan and Deferred Compensation Program offer a variety of investment options