Community Preparedness And Fire Prevention Specialist

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.

Department Overview:

The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's (DNRC) mission is to help ensure Montana's land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations. The Department consists of the Director's Office; the Conservation and Resource Development, Forestry, Trust Lands Management, and Water Resources Divisions; the Reserved Water Rights Compact Commission; the Board of Oil and Gas; and an extensive network of 35 field offices. 

Job Overview:

The Community Preparedness and Fire Prevention (CPFP) Specialist primarily focuses on leading the development and implementation, with unit personnel, of a land office-wide comprehensive program for Community Preparedness, Fire Prevention, fire information, public outreach, and forestry assistance supporting both the current operational needs and the strategic initiatives of the Fire Protection Program and the Forestry Division within the Northwestern Land Office operating area.  Areas of emphasis include fostering fire adapted communities and promoting Community Preparedness, reducing human caused fires, supporting NWLO efforts to create and maintain resilient landscapes using prescribed fire and hazardous fuels reduction, providing fire information, and educating the public.  The CPFP Specialist works under general supervision of the NWLO Assistant Area Fire Management Officer.  The incumbent may supervise interns, seasonal employees, and temporary workers, and may be required to supervise additional personnel while functioning 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 determining the methods and techniques necessary to carry out their assigned responsibilities.

*If you would like a complete job description please contact human resources below. 

Essential Functions (Major Duties or Responsibilities):  These job functions are the essential duties of the position and are not all-inclusive of all the duties that may be assigned to the incumbent.

A. Lead and Manage the Community Preparedness Program (60% of Time)
Serve as the principal subject matter expert and point of contact at NWLO regarding matters pertaining to Community Preparedness, Fire Prevention, fire information, and public outreach Provide leadership to and support for DNRC Land Office and Unit personnel as well as interagency partners to assure consistent, cost efficient, adaptable, and sustainable progress toward the overall objectives of the Fire Protection Program Strategy and Forestry Division initiatives, and contribute substantially to ongoing and sustained effort to implement the Fire Protection Program Strategy and continuously improve the Fire Protection Program.   

• Serve as a key member of the NWLO Area staff, as a principal advisor to the Area FMO and Area AFMO and serves as a standing member of the FAC CPFP Committee.  
• Build and maintain the capacity of the DNRC Fire Protection Program at NWLO with cooperating partners by leading, managing, and supporting a coordinated system of Community Preparedness, Fire Prevention, fire information, and public outreach.  The incumbent serves both as an internal resource to DNRC personnel who implement the DNRC Fire Protection mission and affiliated programs of the Forestry Division and as a resource to key DNRC partners in local, state, tribal, and federal government.  
• Work with internal and external partners to help coordinate and streamline the local area home and community assessment processes.  Home assessments are integral to the creation of fire adapted communities and are a critical point of contact and transfer of information to, and from, the homeowner.  Incumbent will work to build capacity and consistency both internally with NWLO Unit personnel as well as externally with interagency partners through training, providing outreach materials and messaging, and physical support on the ground if needed.  
• Continually evaluate the effectiveness of fire adapted community programs and projects to ensure objectives are met.  

B. Lead and Manage the Prevention Program (20% of Time)

• Lead and manage the NWLO's efforts to reduce human caused fires.  Analyze fire occurrence statistics to identify and prioritize fire causes, locations, frequencies and emerging trends; assess Area and Unit projects, program and funding needs; and synthesize assessments and analyses. 
• Coordinate, direct, and oversee multiple local Fire Prevention campaigns and projects (e.g., Firewise, One Less Spark, and Ready, Set, Go!).  Evaluate local needs to develop project objectives; develop effective implementation plans for each project/campaign, targeted to local communities; and establish funding agreements.  Work collaboratively with internal and external partners to provide consistent messaging across jurisdictions.
• Continually evaluate the effectiveness of the NWLO Fire Prevention program and projects to ensure objectives are met and aligned with the Statewide Community Preparedness and Fire Plan.  
• Provide technical assistance, planning, and interagency coordination pertaining to local wildland Fire Prevention efforts to DNRC and cooperator personnel during periods of high to extreme fire danger.  Serves as the point of contact regarding resource coordination and arrange for additional Fire Prevention resources (e.g. prevention teams and other qualified staff, training for personnel involved in Fire Prevention activities) as requested. 
• Coordinate and manage fire restriction and closure processes for NWLO; including, in collaboration with Unit fire staff, making recommendations on whether to enact fire restrictions based on weather conditions, fire activity, etc. to the multi-agency coordinating group.  Coordinate, develop, and send internal and external media press releases, handle public relations, and work with state and county fire and emergency services representatives for implementation.  Serve as a Zone Fire Restrictions Co-Coordinator, being the primary contact for Zone counties and representing them to the Zone.

C.  Program Budget, Grant Administration, and Contract Management (10% of Time)

• Manage the CPFP Specialist's budget for the land office; including analyzing program plans, available funding, and historical expenditures to establish budget; monitoring all program expenditures to track funding levels and ensure compliance with requirements; adjusting budget allocations as needed.
• Seek opportunities to obtain and administer grants for Community Preparedness and Fire Prevention programs, projects, and activities including those implemented by the DNRC or local communities, government agencies, and other grant sub-recipients.  
• Administer contracts for prevention and Community Preparedness programs, projects, and activities.  Continually assess Fire Prevention and Community Preparedness needs to determine which might be addressed by a contracted service, a temporary employee, or a grant-funded position.  

D.  Public Information and Training Delivery    (5% of Time) 

• Serve as the NWLO's Information Officer for fire-related activities.  Respond to information requests on programs, policies, projects, and operations; including identifying and assessing public information needs and priorities; developing outreach plans; conducting media interviews; coordinating public workshops, community meetings, and presenting on various fire-related topics.  Serve as incident PIO for NWLO fires, as needed. 
• Develop, acquires, and delivers training relevant to the Community Preparedness and Fire Prevention program, as well as the County Cooperative Fire Management program. Coordinate with fire protection associations and Fire councils to provide training and outreach to outside staff regarding issuance of burn permits, prevention activities, educational events, and available funding opportunities.

Supervision:

This position assists in the supervision of temporary employees as needed in the program. 

What are some benefits you can expect?

Health Insurance
Retirement
Paid Vacation, Sick Leave and Holidays

Application Materials Required for this Position Are:

• State of Montana Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter

Special Information:
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.

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):
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 and 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), Fire Prevention Education Team Leader (PETL), and Public Information Officer (PIOF.)  This position may require annual completion of an arduous Wildland Fire Work Capacity Test, which includes walking three miles over level ground, with a 45lb. pack in no more than 45 minutes.

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities: 
This position requires advanced professional and technical knowledge of communication, fire and fuels management, wildland Fire Prevention, and Community Preparedness.  The position requires extensive knowledge of public information; program management and administration; and contract and grant administration.  The position requires skill in written and verbal communication; as well as public information, education, and outreach. The incumbent must have demonstrated 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; budget development and monitoring; and the Incident Command System.  The responsibilities of this position require the ability to supervise, coordinate, and direct 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.