Program Supervisor - Area Assistant Fire Management Officer / Northwestern Land Office

State of Montana•Kalispell, MT

About The Position

The Area Assistant Fire Management Officer for the Northwestern Land Office administers the Fire Program within assigned jurisdictional areas under the direction of the Area Forestry Program Manager. The position helps protect lives, property, and natural resources on state and private lands by providing resources, leadership, coordination, and safe, responsive fire suppression. It implements the fire program and coordinates resources by building working relationships with other wildland fire suppression organizations and providing or arranging personnel, resources, leadership, and interagency coordination. The position directly supervises one staff position and oversees Area fire staff, including permanent, seasonal, temporary, and contract personnel. The role performs fire management suppression and pre-suppression duties according to agency needs and the employee’s qualifications and certifications, including service on national, regional, or local interagency incident management overhead teams. It also provides backup for the supervisor as duty officer. Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States and hold a valid driver’s license with fewer than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months. The agency is participating in E-Verify effective May 4, 2026. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation supports employee professional judgment and provides training and tools to help employees carry out its mission. The Forestry and Trust Land Division values collaboration, inclusion, accountability, strong relationships, and stewardship of Montana’s forests and lands.

Requirements

Education and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in forestry, fire management/suppression, public administration, or a related field, plus three years of experience; or a high school diploma plus six years of experience.
Incident Command System (ICS) training and related fire program management experience.
Supervisory experience.
Ability to attain certification as an Incident Commander Type 3 or Type 3 Section Chief (command and general direct) upon hire.
Advanced knowledge of wildland firefighting, emergency management, natural resources, program administration, adult education and training, and fire management, including suppression, protection, planning, and prevention.
Knowledge of state and federal fire protection and natural resources laws, including the Department’s legal responsibilities to personnel, cooperative personnel, and volunteers.
Knowledge of wildfire and structural fire protection techniques relating to the wildland-urban interface; volunteer group organization and management; local government organization, jurisdiction, and authorities; equipment management and maintenance; fire budgeting, billing, and auditing; communication systems; safety management; public administration; research methods; and program goals, objectives, and requirements.
Knowledge of Department and State personnel procedures and policies, organizational theory, employment law, and personnel management practices.
Skill in developing strategy and directing programs with diverse personnel and needs, including crisis-driven situations.
Ability to analyze, interpret, and communicate detailed and complex information, including financial data and fire behavior and suppression principles, to varied audiences.
Ability to translate technical information for professional and vocational audiences.
Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, including negotiation, tact, and diplomacy.
Ability to synthesize the Department’s mission, laws, philosophy, and technology changes into comprehensive supervised resource-management programs.
Ability to remain flexible, decisive, assertive, resourceful, and forward-thinking under pressure; make informed emergency decisions; interpret broad program objectives; manage multiple priorities; elicit cooperation; and collaborate effectively with managers and professionals.
Must be eligible to work in the United States and provide employment authorization documentation within three days of hire.
Valid driver’s license with fewer than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months.

Responsibilities

Administer the Fire Program within the assigned Northwestern Land Office jurisdictional areas to protect lives, property, and natural resources on state and private lands.
Provide resources, leadership, and coordination to ensure safe and responsive fire suppression.
Implement the fire program and coordinate resources through working relationships with other wildland fire suppression organizations and interagency partners.
Provide or arrange for personnel, resources, leadership, and interagency coordination.
Perform fire management suppression and pre-suppression duties on national, regional, or local interagency incident management overhead teams, according to agency needs and individual qualifications and certifications.
Provide backup for the supervisor as duty officer.
Supervise Area fire staff, including permanent, seasonal, temporary, and contract personnel, to ensure adequate trained personnel for fire prevention and suppression program requirements.

Benefits

Work/life balance.
Generous paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; vacation leave increases with service.
Longevity pay with continued state service.
Health, dental, vision, and life insurance.
Flexible spending accounts.
Access to free employee medical clinics and telehealth.
Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution retirement plans, plus an optional 457(b) plan.
May qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
Career progression and professional development.
State employee discounts.
Up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.