Temporary Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Senior

City of Austin•Austin, TX

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

Under minimal supervision, coordinate and administer wildfire mitigation programs, wildfire prevention, trainings, policies, and practices to ensure that wildfire protection is of the highest priority related to public and private safety and resiliency. This Temporary position will provide emergency planning support to Austin Water’s Wildland Conservation Division (WCD), strengthening existing wildfire emergency planning at the division level and working with partners and cooperators to better integrate WCD with other departments and jurisdictions. Existing projects and efforts this position may assist with include: Working with Emergency Service Districts in Travis, Hays, and Williamson County to facilitate responder familiarization with WCD properties and processes. Working with Austin Fire Department staff to facilitate responder familiarization with WCD properties and processes. Working with WCD GIS staff to improve map products available to responders during evolving incidents. Drafting policies to guide wildfire contingency planning for existing and anticipated activities on the wildlands.

Requirements

Knowledge of wildland fire behavior.
Knowledge of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Firewise USA, Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP), and Fire Adapted Communities (FAC) standards.
Knowledge of National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) practices and standards.
Knowledge of the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) code.
Knowledge of Home Ignition Zone (HIZ), International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Wildfire Risk Reduction and Responding to the Interface principles.
Knowledge of applicable wildfire federal, state, local, and county laws, rules, regulations, codes, and guidelines.
Knowledge of City practices, policies, and procedures.
Skill in handling conflict and uncertain situations.
Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
Skill in using computers and related software applications.
Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
Skill in both written and verbal communications.
Skill in delivering presentations and training.
Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with city employees, citizens, public safety agencies, and community organizations.
Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
Ability to train others.
Graduation with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in a field related to the job, plus four (4) years of wildfire policy and/or protection-related experience.
One (1) additional year of experience may substitute for one (1) year of the required education, with a maximum substitution of four (4) years.
Must be able to obtain International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Wildfire Risk Reduction qualification, or Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) certification, or National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Wildfire Mitigation Specialist, or Burn Manager, or Prescribed Burn (RxB) 3, or Firing Boss within six (6) months of acceptance of position.
Valid State of Texas Class “C” Driver License

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of wildfire or the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy
Knowledge of facilitation best practices
Experience with project management
Experience with budget management
Experience with community and partner engagement, logistical and organizational skills, and team collaboration

Responsibilities

Directs, coordinates, and implements wildfire education programs and training to support Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP).
Engages community involvement to implement Fire Adapted Community’s (FAC) objectives of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy.
Directs the development of presentations and educational materials for community wildfire safety including coordinating with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Analysts to develop area risk models.
Implements joint efforts for wildfire mitigation education with internal and external partners, agencies, and community resources.
Conducts assessment and development of wildland fire prevention strategies based on documented fire causes.
Assists in the development and implementation of wildfire safety and evacuation plans and communication strategies for communities using knowledge of Fire Resilient Landscapes (FRL) practices and standards.
Participates in wildfire prevention, including prescribed burns.
Reviews, interprets, and educates on wildfire-related policies, codes, regulations, ordinances, plans, and proposals for compliance.
Participates in and/or leads Citywide initiatives, task forces, and committees.
May provide leadership, guidance, and technical support to others.