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

State of Montana•Kalispell, MT

About The Position

The Program Supervisor serves as the Area Assistant Fire Management Officer for the Northwestern Land Office. Under the direction of the Area Forestry Program Manager, this position administers the Fire Program within assigned Northwestern Land Office jurisdictional areas to protect lives, property, and natural resources on state and private lands. The role provides resources, leadership, and coordination to support safe and responsive fire suppression, and builds working relationships with other wildland fire suppression organizations to coordinate personnel and resources and support interagency operations. The position directly supervises one staff position. The role performs fire management suppression and pre-suppression duties based on agency needs and the employee’s qualifications and certifications, including assignments on national, regional, or local interagency incident management overhead teams. It may provide backup for the supervisor as duty officer. The position supervises permanent, seasonal, temporary, and contractor fire staff to ensure trained personnel are available for fire prevention and suppression requirements. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation manages and protects Montana’s land and water resources for present and future generations. Its Land Offices integrate programs across the Forestry and Trust Land Management Divisions. The Forestry Division manages fire and aviation, forestry assistance, business management, and policy, planning, and outreach; the Trust Land Management Division manages state trust timber, surface, and mineral resources for the benefit of Montana’s common schools and other endowed institutions. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States and have a valid driver’s license with fewer than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months. The person selected must provide documents establishing authorization to work in the United States within three days of hire. Effective May 4, 2026, the agency will use E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility after the candidate accepts an offer and completes Form I-9. Applicants are asked to submit an online State of Montana application, resume, cover letter, and references. A full job description is available by contacting HR at [email protected].

Requirements

Education and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in forestry, fire management/suppression, public administration, or a related field, and three years of experience; or a high school diploma and six years of experience.
Experience must include Incident Command System (ICS) training, related fire program management experience, and 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; 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 to varied audiences, including financial data and fire behavior and suppression principles, and to translate technical information for professional and vocational audiences.
Strong written and verbal communication, interpersonal, negotiation, tact, and diplomacy skills.
Ability to synthesize the Department’s mission, laws, philosophy, and technological changes into comprehensive supervised resource-management programs.
Ability to be flexible, decisive, assertive, resourceful, and forward-thinking under pressure; make informed emergency decisions; interpret broad Division and program objectives; manage multiple priorities; elicit cooperation; and collaborate effectively with managers and professionals.
Must be eligible to work in the United States.
Valid driver’s license with fewer than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months.

Responsibilities

Administer the Fire Program within 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 by developing effective working relationships with other wildland fire suppression organizations.
Provide or arrange personnel, resources, leadership, and interagency coordination.
Perform fire management suppression and pre-suppression duties according to agency needs and individual qualifications and certifications, including service on national, regional, or local interagency incident management overhead teams.
Provide backup for the supervisor as duty officer.
Supervise permanent, seasonal, temporary, and contractor Area fire staff to ensure adequate trained personnel for fire prevention and suppression program requirements.

Benefits

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