Fire Behaviour Specialist
About The Position
As the Ministry of Forestry and Parks, we are responsible for fostering Alberta’s environmentally responsible forest management practices, including management of wildfires. We preserve our provincial parks for the recreation and enjoyment of Albertans, as well as enabling access to public lands for recreational and commercial purposes while prioritizing conservation. Forestry and Parks also manage public lands and balances sustainable rangelands and grazing leases for Alberta producers. The Forestry Division, within the Ministry of Forestry and Parks, works to enhance the economic, environmental, and social contributions of our forests and forested lands to Albertans. Are you passionate about understanding wildland fire behaviour and making a real impact on wildfire management and safety? This is your opportunity to play a critical role in shaping how wildfire incidents are predicted, planned, and managed across the province. As a Fire Behaviour Specialist, you’ll be at the forefront of advancing tools, strategies, and knowledge that directly support safe and effective firefighting operations. Reporting to the Provincial Fire Behaviour Specialist, this role provides expert advice, technical guidance, and knowledge transfer to support wildfire prevention, pre-suppression, and suppression activities. You will serve as a key subject matter expert, translating complex fire behaviour principles into actionable insights and decision-support tools for operational teams and senior leadership. This is a unique opportunity to influence provincial wildfire strategies, contribute to innovation, and support critical decision-making during high-impact incidents. If you're ready to help shape wildfire strategy and support safer, smarter firefighting operations, this role offers a meaningful and impactful career opportunity.
Requirements
- A degree related to environmental and/or natural sciences plus 4 years experience in wildland fire planning and management.
- A two-year diploma related to environmental and/or natural sciences plus 6 years experience in wildland fire planning and management.
- Additional related education considered in lieu of experience on a one-for-one basis.
- Maintenance of a valid Class 5 Driver's License
- Willingness to work irregular hours, overtime, weekends and/or statutory holidays and provincial holidays, when required
- Willingness to work and/or travel in varied terrain, weather conditions, isolated locations and by various means of transportation
Nice To Haves
- Extensive knowledge of the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System (CFFDRS)
- Experience in spatial fire growth modeling
- Proven ability to analyze data and develop decision-support tools or models
- Experience preparing technical reports and delivering presentations to diverse audiences
- Involvement in research initiatives or collaboration with scientific communities
- Successful completion of S-590 Operational Fire Behaviour Analyst Skills & Calculations
- Successful completion of I-300 Intermediate Incident Command System
Responsibilities
- Providing expert advice and recommendations to leadership on fire behaviour systems, tools, and strategic direction
- Acting as a liaison between Fire Weather Program, Wildfire Operations, Prevention Officers, and Management Specialists
- Analyzing and documenting fire behaviour during major incidents and developing case studies
- Representing the Ministry as an expert witness in legal proceedings, including preparing reports and delivering testimony
- Conducting ad hoc analyses, studies, and reports to support operational and strategic needs
- Auditing and evaluating the effectiveness and sustainability of decision-support systems and tools
- Facilitating knowledge transfer through training, mentoring, and participation in research initiatives
- Liaising with research communities, including attending conferences, workshops, and advisory groups
- Delivering training programs at divisional and national levels
- Overseeing the development and maintenance of Alberta’s wildland fuel type layer (FBP classification)
- Developing tools, processes, and services to support accurate field identification of fuel types
- Directing the development of algorithms and models that convert data into Fire Behaviour Prediction fuel types
Benefits
- Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP)
- Alberta Public Service Benefit Information
- Professional learning and development
- Leadership and mentorship programs
- Positive workplace culture and work-life balance
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Associate degree
