Wildland Fire & Resource Technician 2/3 - White Mountain Lead Crewmember (PCN 10-9826)

About the role

The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, is recruiting for a Wildland Forestry Technician 2/3 Flex in Fairbanks.

What You Will Be Doing

White Mountain Fire Crew is recruiting Experienced Crewmember positions based in Fairbanks, AK.

This is a Permanent Lead position on a 20-person hand crew (Type 2 Initial Attack). Primary duties include wildland fire suppression, chainsaw operations, water pump operations, burnout and backfiring, line digging, safely working with and around fire mitigation equipment, and performing basic administrative duties. While assigned to fuel reduction tasks, experienced firefighters will be responsible for pile burning, falling and removing hazardous trees, and guiding lower-level technicians. When not on assignment, crewmembers must maintain readiness and be available throughout the fire season.

Mission and Values/Culture

The mission of the Division of Forestry is to develop, conserve, and enhance Alaska’s forests to provide a sustainable supply of forest resources for Alaskans. The White Mountain Fire Crew supports this mission by helping protect Alaska’s wilderness areas, homes, and businesses from wildfires. White Mountain also works to build a strong and cohesive crew by providing hands-on training and helping crewmembers achieve greater knowledge, skills, and responsibilities

Benefits of Joining Our Team

• By joining White Mountain, you will join a group of highly motivated firefighters.
• You will have opportunities to widen your experience as a firefighter by working in various fuel types and environments across Alaska and the lower 48.
• We will work with you to meet your wildland fire career goals by providing training and other career advancement and development opportunities.

The Working Environment You Can Expect

• White Mountain is based in Fairbanks, AK, and works in conjunction with Fairbanks Area Forestry.
• This position requires travel within Alaska and to other states.
• You will be required to live and work in remote locations, with shifts often lasting 16 hours a day and for periods of 14 to 21 days.
• Work will be carried out in all types of terrain and weather conditions.

We are looking for a candidate who possesses the following position-specific competencies.

• Fire Management: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of fire management, including the characteristics, behavior, and ecology of fire; methodologies, strategies, and equipment used in prescribed fires; fire detection, prevention, and suppression strategies; and integration of fire with natural resource management.
• Decision Making: Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
• Incident Management: Knowledge of the tactics, technologies, principles, and processes to protect, analyze, prioritize, and handle incidents.
• Risk Management: Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools used for risk assessment and mitigation, including assessment of failures and their consequences.
• Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for measurable, high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for own actions and decisions. Complies with established control systems and rules.

• Six months of trainee or entry level wildland fire fighting or forestry field experience. The required experience is met by service as a Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 1 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.
• And
• Red Card qualification under the National Incident Qualification System (see required job qualifications special note).

Substitution

Completed coursework from an accredited college or vocational technical school in forestry, fire science, or a closely related field may substitute for the required six months of field experience. (For college 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours equal one month of work experience. Transcripts or a letter from a vocational technical school must indicate a college credit equivalency for the completed coursework.

• For example, at Alaska Vocational Technical Center: Forest Ecology = 3 semester credits; Forest Regeneration = 2 semester credits; Timber Harvesting and Sale Administration = 4 semester credits; and Wildland Fire Management = 3 semester credits.)
• There is no substitution for the National Incident Qualification System (Red Card) qualifications.
• Special Note: Applicants must be at least eighteen years of age.

Most positions require National Incident Qualification System certification. Because there are different specialty areas in this field, recruitment and selection will be made from among those candidates who meet the experience and the basic National Incident Qualification System training requirements specifically listed within the recruitment bulletin. The specialty areas are within one of the following functions: fire operations, wildland fire prevention, and aviation support.

Applicant must be able to pass the Work Capacity Test at the "Arduous" level as defined in Federal Publication PMS 307, Work Capacity Test Administrator' Guide. This test requires that the applicant complete a 3-mile hike carrying a 45-pound pack over level terrain in 45 minutes or less.

• Applicant must possess an Alaska driver's license.
• An individual without an Alaska driver's license, who meets the minimum age and experience requirements, may apply for the vacancy.
• An applicant qualifying under this option may receive a job offer conditional upon acquisition of an Alaska driver's license.
• Proof of licensure will be required prior to reporting to duty.

Positions may require travel both in and out-of-state for fire suppression assignments; stand-by or recall status during the fire season; must be available for assignments in and out of the area that requires the absence from the duty station for 14 to 21 days; flying in small fixed wing aircraft or helicopters, and handling hazardous materials.

Some positions may require a commercial driver's license with appropriate endorsements

Please read the information below carefully.

When you apply, please attach the following items as individual documents. If you cannot attach documents, please email the contact listed below.

• Current red card

• At the time of the interview, please bring the following materials.
• Failure to do so may result in loss of consideration.
• Required documents include:

• Current Red Card, if not previously provided.
• Driver’s license.
• Passport, if you have one.
• Fire qualifications/certificates.

Special Notices

• Requires FFT1 for Technician 2 and IC4 and Single Resource Boss for Technician 3.
• Requires the use or possession of a firearm.
• Requires frequent in- and out-of-state travel on assignments lasting 14-21 days.
• Daily travel on helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft may be required.
• Ability to perform in remote, hazardous, and arduous work environments requiring a high level of physical fitness and self-sufficiency with no lodging provided.

Not Required

• For the Technician 2 position, ideal candidates will have 1-2 of the following certifications: FFT1, IC5, FAL2, and/or HECM, and a couple of years of handcrew experience or experience fighting fire in Alaska.
• For the Technician 3 position, ideal candidates will have 3-4 of the following certifications: FFT1, IC5, FAL2, and/or HECM, and a couple of years of leadership experience on a handcrew and experience fighting fire in Alaska.

Classification Study Notice

This position is currently under review as part of the Forest and Fire Management job class study. Therefore, the title and assigned pay range may change upon completion of the study.

Application Notice

• You can ONLY apply for this position through the Workplace Alaska website or by submitting a paper application.
• Instructions for applying are available on the Workplace Alaska How to Apply webpage.
• Your application must be received by 5:00 p.m.
• Alaska Standard Time on the closing date.

Supplemental Questions

For your application to be evaluated, you must answer the Supplemental Questions. The State of Alaska (SOA) uses four proficiency levels to measure and describe an applicant’s ability to apply behaviors, knowledge, skills, and abilities to accomplish a specific task. The four proficiency levels are Mastery, Fluency, Literacy, and Discovery. You must rate your proficiency level for each competency listed in the supplemental questions.

Education

• If post-secondary education is required to meet the minimum qualifications, complete the Education section of the application.
• If you have not yet obtained a degree, please indicate the units you have completed.
• Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials if used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education

Education completed at foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the minimum qualifications listed above.

If using this education to meet minimum qualification requirements, you must demonstrate that the credentials have been submitted to a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in standard U.S. education programs.

Alternatively, an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution must report that the other institution's transcript is given full value or that full value is recognized in relevant subject areas aligned with the post-secondary institution's curricula. You must provide this evidence when applying.

Work Experience

• If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer’s name, job title, employment dates, and whether full- or part-time.
• Applications will be reviewed to determine whether the responses are supported and whether the minimum qualifications are met.
• If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the recruitment interview and selection phase.

Note: Attaching a resume does not substitute for completing the application in full. Noting "see resume" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination that your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.

Bargaining Unit

If you are a current state employee, please indicate the union to which you belong at the time of application. Do not complete this question if you are not a current state employee.

Flexible Staffing

• This position is flexibly staffed.
• The job offer level will be based on the selected candidate’s eligibility.
• If hired at the lower level, you will be promoted to the higher-level job class after completing the training plan and meeting the minimum qualifications.

Firearms

This position requires the use or possession of a firearm or ammunition. In accordance with the federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 (PL 104-208), if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you may not hold this position.

A "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" is an offense that is (1) a misdemeanor under Federal or state law and (2) has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.

If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, do NOT apply for this position.

Driver’s License Requirement

• Applicants must possess a valid driver's license. Proof of licensure will be required prior to reporting to duty.
• Please ensure your application (through work history, training, education, licenses, certifications, etc.) supports/demonstrates that you possess the minimum required competencies for the job class.