Program Specialist 1- Fire Adapted Communities Coordinator

State of Montana • Missoula, MT

15d

About The Position

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's mission is to help ensure that Montana's land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations. The DNRC believes employees are their most important asset. The DNRC empowers employees to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. Employees are provided with the training and tools necessary to achieve the mission. Both team effort and individual employee expertise are supported and sustained. Core Values: The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Forestry and Trust Land Division recognizes that building a collaborative, professional, and inclusive work environment is critical to fulfilling our mission of managing, protecting, and promoting stewardship of Montana’s forests and lands for the benefit of current and future generations and our trust beneficiaries. We hold ourselves to these high standards as we are accountable to the people of Montana. We value and respect each other. We create collaborative work environments. We build and maintain strong relationships. We practice accountability. We celebrate our successes and take pride in our work Position Overview\: The Fire Adapted Communities Coordinator (FACC) primarily focuses on leading the development and implementation of a unit level program for community preparedness, fire prevention, fire information, and public outreach supporting both the current operational needs and the strategic initiatives of their Land Office, the Fire Protection Program, and the Forestry Division. The Missoula Unit FACC operates under the supervision of the Missoula Unit Fire Management Officer (FMO) and collaborates with the Area Community Preparedness & Fire Prevention Specialist (CPFPS). Areas of emphasis include fostering fire adapted communities and promoting community preparedness, reducing human caused fires, supporting SWLO efforts to create and maintain resilient landscapes using prescribed fire and hazardous fuels reduction, and educating the public. The incumbent may be requested to provide fire information and function in an ICS position or support role during emergency situations and during special projects as assigned. Work assignments are covered by established policies and general program objectives; and the incumbent is responsible for working with the CPFPS to jointly determine the methods and techniques necessary to carry out assigned responsibilities. The FACC serves as the principal subject matter expert and point of contact for their designated Unit (Missoula) regarding matters pertaining to community preparedness, fire prevention, fire information, and public outreach. The incumbent serves both as an internal resource to DNRC Unit personnel and to key DNRC partners in local, state, tribal, and federal government. On a daily basis, the FACC works to build and maintain the capacity of the SWLO Community Preparedness and Fire Prevention program and cooperating partners by sustaining or creating where needed a comprehensive and coordinated system of fire prevention and community preparedness, and by providing technical assistance to DNRC personnel who support the DNRC Fire Protection mission and affiliated programs of the Forestry Division. The incumbent contributes substantially to ongoing and sustained efforts to implement the DNRC Fire Prevention and Community Preparedness Program at SWLO. The incumbent must perform a variety of other professional and administrative tasks in support of the Missoula Unit and SWLO, as assigned by the supervisor. This may include representing the agency at meetings and conferences, coordinating, and directing special projects, and attending training and/or continuing education as required. These professional and administrative tasks require general knowledge of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy, the DNRC Fire Protection Program Strategy, and other areas related to overall missions of the Fire Protection Program, the Forestry Division, and the Department. Relationship-building is a function critical to the success of this position. The incumbent establishes and maintains effective working relationships with Unit and SWLO staff, other agency FACCs and staff, interagency partners, dispatch centers, local government, and the public. The FACC will maintain daily communication with the Missoula Unit FMO regarding current issues, projects, and operations.

Requirements

• The required knowledge, skills and abilities are typically acquired through a combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in communications, forestry, natural resources, or related field or four years of progressively responsible experience including communications, education, fire prevention, community preparedness, training, and program management.
• The incumbent must be able to attain and maintain National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) qualification/certification as a Fire Prevention Education Team Member (PETM) and Public Information Officer (PIO3)
• This position requires knowledge of communication, fire and fuels management, wildland fire prevention, and community preparedness.
• The position requires knowledge of public information, collaborative teamwork, and project management and administration.
• The position requires skill in written and verbal communication, as well as public information, education, and outreach.
• The incumbent must demonstrate ability to clearly and effectively communicate complex information pertaining to wildland fire prevention and community preparedness programs, procedures, activities, and operations.
• The position also requires a working knowledge of Forestry Division and DNRC policies and practices; strategic planning; research principles and practices; and the Incident Command System.
• The responsibilities of this position require the ability to coordinate and support the work of technical, professional, and clerical personnel within the Department and from cooperating federal, state and private entities; understand and apply Department policy; make sound decisions; train, direct, motivate, and lead others effectively; maintain effective working relationships; achieve work plan objectives through others; apply general management concepts such as goal-setting and work planning; and develop and administer a variety of functions concurrently.
• Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.
• A valid driver's license is required with less than 12 conviction points in the most recent, completed 36 months.
• In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the person selected must produce within three days of hire documents that show authorization to work in the United States. Examples of such documentation include a birth certificate or Social Security card along with a driver’s license or other picture I.D., or a U.S. passport, or a "green card".

Responsibilities

• Lead and Manage the Community Preparedness Program
• Lead and Manage the Unit Prevention Program
• Program Budget and Grant Administration
• Public Information and Training Delivery

Benefits

• Work/life balance
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement plans
• Generous paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Pre-tax flexible spending accounts
• A vibrant Employee Assistance Program
• State of Montana employment may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees