Wildland Fire & Resource Technician 3 - Long-Term Non-Perm (PCN 10-N25030 & 31)

The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, is recruiting for two Wildland Fire & Resource Technician 3 positions in Glennallen, Alaska.

***Now offering a 30% mission-critical incentive pay bonus***

What You Will Be Doing:  

The Division of Forestry and Fire Protection, Copper River Office, seeks motivated individuals to join our Wildland Fire and Resource Technicians team. This non-permanent seasonal position is staffed for 6-9 months annually to provide initial attack wildfire suppression for the State of Alaska. There may be opportunities for out-of-state fire assignments and additional fuels mitigation work outside of fire season.   

Mission and Values/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.

Benefits of Joining Our Team:  

Through a letter of agreement, this position receives a 30% increase in the base salary rate. The salary posted on this recruitment reflects the increased rate. This position also receives a 25% increase in pay based on hazardous conditions through a hazard pay letter of agreement.

The benefits of joining the DOF team include the opportunity to work with dedicated professionals to achieve fire, fuels, and forestry goals. The opportunity to work in a professional environment that supports State of Alaska and the Division of Natural Resources' goals and objectives to support Alaska residents, businesses, and the economy

The Working Environment You Can Expect:  

The Valdez / Copper River Area maintains its base of operations in a relatively central location within the protection area. At milepost 110 on the Richardson Highway, just south of the Tazlina River near its confluence with the Copper, the campus is found on a timbered gravel bench bearing evidence of geologic and archeological interest. Across the Copper River, Wrangell St. Elias National Park cannot be ignored, with the massive peaks of Sanford, Drum, Wrangell, and Blackburn dominating the eastern skyline. Approximately six miles north is Glennallen, the Area’s commercial center with schools, grocery stores, banks, fuel, various government offices, and other services. 

The VCRA initial attack base includes an administration building, a separate operations and training office, and a combined maintenance shop/supply cache. Helibase for our exclusive use helicopter. The core staff includes seven WFRTs, an Administrative Assistant, an Assistant Fire Management Officer, and a Fire Management Officer. Additional personnel may be hired in non-permanent and/or emergency (EFF) capacities as determined by budgetary allowances, weather indices and the area staffing and action guide. Although every permanent staff member has a detailed position description with clearly stated duties and responsibilities, challenging each other to do more with less is a requirement. It contributes much to the cohesiveness and effectiveness of this small team. 

Most values at risk are found within the highway corridors and are designated as critical or full suppression priorities. Large tracts of white and black spruce are almost always found abutting property receiving the critical and full classifications. Local weather patterns are unique and directly related to the Copper River Basin’s proximity to the Gulf of Alaska and surrounding high mountainous terrain. It is not uncommon to experience opposite conditions of adjacent protection areas. 

We are looking for a candidate who possesses the following position-specific competencies.  

• Fire Operations: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of fire operations, including the characteristics, behavior, and ecology of fire; methodologies, strategies, and equipment used in prescribed fires; fire detection, prevention, and suppression strategies; and integration of fire with natural resource operations.
• Decision Making: Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
• Integrity/Honesty: Contributes to maintaining the integrity of the organization; displays high standards of ethical conduct and understands the impact of violating these standards on an organization, self, and others; is trustworthy. 
• Interpersonal Skills: Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.
• Stress Tolerance: Deals calmly and effectively with high stress situations (for example, tight deadlines, hostile individuals, emergency situations, dangerous situations). 
• Technical Competence: Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues

Click here to learn more about working for the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection.

Twelve months of wildland fire fighting or forestry field experience, of which at least six months was at the developmental level. The required developmental experience is met by service as a Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 2 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.
And
Red Card qualification under the National Incident Qualification System (see required job qualifications special note).

Substitution:
Completed coursework from an accredited college or vocational technical school in forestry, fire science, or a closely related field may substitute for the six months of general field experience. (For college 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours equal one month of work experience. Transcripts or a letter from a vocational technical school must indicate a college credit equivalency for the completed coursework. For example, at Alaska Vocational Technical Center: Forest Ecology = 3 semester credits; Forest Regeneration = 2 semester credits; Timber Harvesting and Sale Administration = 4 semester credits; and Wildland Fire Management = 3 semester credits.)

There is no substitution for the six months of developmental experience.
There is no substitution for the National Incident Qualification System (Red Card) qualifications.

Special Note: 
Applicants must be at least eighteen years of age.

Most positions require National Incident Qualification System certifications. Because there are different specialty areas in this field, recruitment and selection will be made from among those candidates who meet the experience and the basic National Incident Qualification System training requirements specifically listed within the recruitment bulletin. The specialty areas are within one of the following functions: fire operations, wildland fire prevention, and aviation support.

Applicant must be able to pass the Work Capacity Test at the "Arduous" level as defined in Federal Publication PMS 307, Work Capacity Test Administrator' Guide. This test requires that the applicant complete a 3-mile hike carrying a 45-pound pack over level terrain in 45 minutes or less.

Applicant must possess an Alaska driver's license. An individual without an Alaska driver's license, who meets the minimum age and experience requirements, may apply for the vacancy. An applicant qualifying under this option may receive a job offer conditional upon acquisition of an Alaska driver's license. Proof of licensure will be required prior to reporting to duty.

Positions may require travel both in and out-of-state for fire suppression assignments; stand-by or recall status during the fire season; must be available for assignments in and out of the area that requires the absence from the duty station for 14 to 21 days; flying in small fixed wing aircraft or helicopters, and handling hazardous materials.

Some positions may require a commercial driver's license with appropriate endorsements.

** Please read the information below carefully. **

At the time of the interview, please ensure that you provide the following materials: 

• A list of two professional references with current contact information, with at least one being a current or former supervisor.
• A copy of any forestry and/or fire-related training certificates, or IQS Master record and current Incident Qualification Card (red card)
• A copy of your two most recent performance evaluations or a letter of reference if evaluations are unavailable.

SPECIAL NOTICES

• Applicant must pass the Work Capacity Test at the “Arduous” level as defined in Federal Publication PMS 307, Work Capacity Test Administrator’s Guide. This test requires that the applicant complete a 3-mile Hike carrying a 45-pound pack over level terrain in 45 minutes or less.
• Positions may require travel both in and out-of-state for fire suppression assignments: must be on standby or recall status during the fire season: must be available for assignments in and out of area that requires the absence from the duty station for 14 to 21 days: must fly in small, fixed wing aircraft or helicopters: and handling hazardous materials.

Application Notice

You can ONLY apply for this position through the Workplace Alaska website or a hard copy application. Instructions on how to apply with Workplace Alaska may be found on the Workplace Alaska “How to Apply" page. Your application must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Alaska Standard Time on the closing date.   

Supplemental Questions

For your application to be evaluated, you must answer the Supplemental Questions.  The State of Alaska (SOA) uses four proficiency levels to measure and describe an applicant’s level of competence in applying certain behaviors, knowledge, skills, and abilities to accomplish a specific task. The four proficiency levels are Mastery, Fluency, Literacy, and Discovery. You must rate your proficiency level for each competency listed in the supplemental questions.

Education

If post-secondary education is required to meet the minimum qualifications, you must fill out the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials if used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position. 

Special Instructions for Foreign Education

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the minimum qualifications listed above. If utilizing this education, you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the post-secondary institution. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. 

Work Experience

If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer’s name, job title, employment dates, and whether full or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine whether the responses are supported and minimum qualifications are clearly met. If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the recruitment interview and selection phase. 

Note: Attaching a resume is not an alternative to filling out the application entirely. Noting, "see resume" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination that your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.  

Bargaining Unit

If you are a current state employee, please mark the union you are a member of at the time of application. Do not complete this question if you are not a current state employee. 

Multiple Vacancies

This recruitment may be used for more than one (1) vacancy. The Department of Natural Resources may use the applicant pool acquired during this recruitment for future vacancies for up to ninety (90) days after this recruitment closes. 

Driver’s License Requirement

Applicants must possess a valid driver's license. Proof of licensure will be required prior to reporting to duty.  

Firearms

This position requires the use or possession of a firearm or ammunition. In accordance with the federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 (PL 104-208), if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you may not hold this position.

A "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" is an offense that is (1) a misdemeanor under Federal or state law and (2) has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.

If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, do NOT apply for this position.

EEO STATEMENT
The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats should call 1-800-587-0430 or (907) 465-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.

Please be sure to check your junk folder for any messages that may be sent to you about this recruitment.

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.

For assistance with your password, please visit the reset password page.

For specific information about this position, please get in touch with the hiring manager at the following:

Dan White

Assistant Fire Management Officer

Phone: 907-535-1493

Email: daniel.white@alaska.gov

Salary : $30