Temporary Wildfire Mitigation Specialist

City of Austin•Austin, TX

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

JOIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TEAM At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer—we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation's most dynamic and innovative cities. As we strive to fulfill our commitment as public servants, it is important that we ground our efforts in a set of guiding principles – Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity – that anchor our delivery of services that significantly impact the lives of Austinites. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee. What Makes the City of Austin Special? Make a Difference: Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. Value and Innovation: Work in an environment where employees are valued, and innovation thrives. Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits. Retirement Security: Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System. Sustainable Transportation Options: Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure. Focus on Wellness: Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support. Career Growth: Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities. Modern Workspaces: Work in innovative and sustainable environments that foster collaboration and inspiration. By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country. ABOUT AUSTIN WATER For over 100 years, Austin Water has been committed to providing safe, reliable, high-quality, and affordable water services to our customers. Today, we serve over 1,000,000 people in the Austin metropolitan area, across more than 548 square miles. The utility draws water from the Colorado River into three regional water treatment plants, Hancox, Davis, and Ullrich, which have a combined capacity of 335 million gallons per day. Austin Water has two wastewater treatment plants, Walnut Creek and South Austin Regional, that can treat up to 150 million gallons per day of sewage. Wastewater is treated to produce high-quality effluent, which is safely returned to the Colorado River to augment environmental flows. More than a billion gallons of this high-quality effluent are reclaimed each year for outdoor irrigation, industrial cooling, manufacturing, and other uses. Austin Water consistently ranks among the best in the country for water quality. We also treat, return, and recycle wastewater in ways that protect environmental resources. Austin Water exceeds federal and state requirements for clean water and environmental compliance at our water and wastewater treatment plants. Job Description: Under limited supervision, research, coordinate, and deliver wildfire mitigation education and safety programs. Notes to Candidate: Position Overview: The selected candidate will support the Austin Water Wildland Conservation Division’s prescribed fire and fuels program, working as a project and/or crew manager as Austin Water utilizes external contractors and expands in-house fieldwork capacity to support prescribed fire, vegetation management, fuel mitigation, and related activities. This role will ensure that project and crew needs are met by supporting field logistics, project planning, and implementation. Operational experience in wildland fire or prescribed fire is desired, but candidates with strong backgrounds in crew organization and management will be considered. Critical Employee: This position has been designated as critical for the City of Austin. Critical positions are necessary and support activities that impact City or department operations. Work can be done at a designated work site or an alternate work location. Critical employees may be reassigned to another area to provide essential services during extraordinary situations or emergencies.

Requirements

Knowledge of wildland fire behavior.
Knowledge of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Firewise USA, Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP), Fire Adapted Communities (FAC), and Fire Resilient Landscape (FRL) practices and 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), ISA Wildfire Risk Reduction, and Responding to the Interface principles.
Knowledge of applicable federal, state, local, and county wildfire 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.
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 inניות.
Ability to train others.
Graduation with a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a related field, plus two (2) years of relevant 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, Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) certification, or National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Wildfire Mitigation Specialist certification within one (1) year of acceptance of position.
Valid State of Texas Class “C” Driver License

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of or experience with National Fire Protection Association Firewise USA programs, practices, and assessments, or similar wildland fire public education programs
Experience independently conducting or supervising vegetation clearing, power equipment operations, or environmental information collection activities in remote locations.
Experience maintaining and operating outdoor power tools (chainsaws, line trimmers) and equipment (farm tractors, compact loaders)
Experience operating 4-wheel drive vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, or utility vehicles in an off-road environment.
Experience towing trailers in urban, rural, or off-road settings.
Ability to prepare and communicate project and program information to internal and external customers.

Responsibilities

Assists with coordination, development, and delivery of wildfire education programs and training to support Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP).
Engages community involvement to address all elements of the Fire Adapted Community’s (FAC) objectives of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy, supporting safe and effective wildfire response, fire-adapted communities, and fire-resilient landscapes.
Develop presentations and educational materials for community wildfire safety, including coordinating with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Analysts to develop area risk models.
Liaison with internal and external city department partners, agencies, and community resources for joint efforts in wildfire education and training.
Assists with assessment and development of wildland fire prevention strategies based on documented fire causes.
Assists in the development and delivery of online wildfire safety and evacuation plans and communication strategies for communities.
Assists with mitigation training and wildfire prevention, including prescribed.