Responsibilities:
Suppression

• Protects human life, natural resources, and property on Department-protected lands from wildland and urban interface fires to minimize resource loss and fire costs while ensuring firefighters and public safety. Firefighter safety is the top priority.
• Provide direct fire line supervision of the handcrew, which responds to grass, brush, and forest fires and is available for district, region, and statewide and/or interagency dispatch. Provides interagency fire suppression activities for initial attack, extended attack, mop-up, patrol, and rehabilitation. Assists in ensuring safe and efficient use of the handcrew as an effective firefighting resource. This often requires working long, irregular hours on weekdays, weekends, holidays, day or night. These duties involve fieldwork requiring physical performance, calling for above-average endurance and superior conditioning.
• These duties may include an occasional demand for extraordinary strenuous activities in emergencies under adverse environmental conditions and over extended periods of time.
• On initial attack fires, may perform ICS functions as Incident Commander Type 4 and 5, task force leader, air-to-ground contact, single resource boss, firefighter, timekeeper, or public relations contact. Works cooperatively with other fire protection authorities when working on joint jurisdiction fires.

• Prescribed fire support
• Home ignition zone assessments
• Community education and outreach events
• Forest health treatment, such as shaded fuel breaks.

• Plans and implements training for seasonal crews and interagency cooperators
• Instructs seasonal and permanent staff and private contractors as appropriate
• Assists with developing the unit’s annual preparedness review
• Plans and provides drills and training exercises regularly to the seasonal staff
• Ensures vehicles and equipment are serviced regularly.

• Assist in providing supervision and leadership for a 20-person hand crew, ensuring adequate safety, production, and quality control of work projects and suppression efforts.
• Directly supervises 4 Squad Leaders and up to 14 Firefighters. This position routinely supervises and leads up to 18 people fighting fire and performing other activities.
• Assist and/or lead in the recruiting, orientation of applicants, screening applicants, and verbal interviews, and make recommendations to the Hand Crew Superintendent for the hiring of squad leaders and firefighters.
• Ensures onboarding and various trainings are completed according to agency policy and timelines, such as: orientation, mandatory safety, position-specific, first aid, fiscal/accounting, and human resource-related trainings. Facilitate reviews of Job Safety Analysis and Task Hazard Analysis.
• Ensure accurate completion of crew and agency documents and submit these as required by determined deadlines. Completes hiring and end-of-season forms as required by agency Human Resources and Accounting programs.

• Prepares for and participates in interagency training classes and hands-on courses of wildland firefighting tactics, fire behavior recognition, safe chainsaw operation, use of tools, pumps, and water delivery systems, working around helicopters, and assessments of hazards.
• Assists crew with guidance on various position task books, training records, and evaluations. Assists in conducting Fire Unit training and participates as an instructor or lead at the Statewide Fire Training Academies or other trainings.
• Prepares lesson plans and timelines for a variety of professional trainings for participants from DNR, Interagency Cooperators, and the general public.

• Following DNR’s Physical Fitness Training Policy (PO20-007), the position requires passing annual work capacity tests at the arduous level as NWCG requires.
• Assist with facilitating daily physical training activities for the crew throughout the fire season.

• May function as Handcrew Superintendent in the absence of the Handcrew Superintendent.
• May assist other programs throughout the year.

Required Qualifications:

• Qualified as NWCG Firefighter Type 1 AND Incident Commander Type 5.
• Experience supervising or leading wildland firefighting personnel.

• Encourages team unity through sharing information or expertise, working together to solve problems, and putting team success first.
• Accustomed to tailoring communication to the needs and preferences of others.
• Creates a positive work environment where all staff are motivated to do their best.
• Safely performs work at all times. Avoids shortcuts that increase health and safety risks to self or others.
• Maintains an open, approachable manner and treats others fairly and respectfully.
• Preserves others' self-confidence and dignity, showing respect for their opinions.
• Commitment to fostering and supporting an environment that honors diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice practices.
• Perform assigned duties in a manner consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and public records retention and requests are followed.
• DNR Core Competencies:
  • Personal Accountability
  • Value Others
  • Compassionate Communication
  • Inspire Others
  • Commitment to Excellence
    
    

• Must pass the work capacity test annually at the arduous level as required by NWCG.
• Work is performed in the office setting (30%) of the time, and in unimproved natural areas of the state (70%). Incumbent must be able to traverse uneven terrain in all weather conditions. The outside environment varies from hot, dry, heat-related illness-type conditions in summer, to cold, wet, hypothermic-type conditions closer to wintertime. These duties may involve fieldwork requiring physical performance, calling for above-average endurance and superior conditioning.
• Position requires a large amount of travel (50%). This includes travel alone between fires, work centers, proposed work sites, and ongoing supervisory tasks, as well as meeting with partners and cooperators. This includes driving in snowy icy conditions with poor to little visibility, to driving in conditions while surrounded by smoke and fire. This position requires both night and overnight travel.
  
• A current, valid driver’s license and two years of driving experience. Additionally, DNR requires state drivers to possess a license that is not suspended, revoked, or restricted (for example, Occupational/Restricted Driver Licenses or requiring ignition interlock devices). This position requires driving as an essential function. Finalists and/or interview candidates will be asked to provide a driving record from all states in which they have held a license during the past three years.

• Associate's degree or higher with professional experience in a Natural Resource field.
• Knowledge of employment rules and regulations as they apply to permanent, seasonal, and career seasonal employees.
• Experience in forest fire protection regulatory programs.
• Experience with computer applications such as Microsoft Office Suite, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of general forest management.
• Experience writing burning permits for large forest industry landowners.

Application Requirements: Failure to provide the listed documents may result in disqualification. If you have questions or difficulty attaching these documents, please contact DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov.

• Apply online: at www.careers.wa.gov (Click on the APPLY button above).
• Letter of interest: describing your specific qualifications for the position and the position required, desired, and special requirements.
• Resume: that details your experience and qualifications.
• References: References are optional at the time your application is submitted. Finalists will be asked to provide a list of at least 3 professional references with current telephone numbers, including your current or most recent supervisor.
• Important: Do not attach any documents that include photos or private information (Social Security number, year of birth, etc.).
• Complete all supplemental questions.
• Candidates who move forward in the recruitment process may be contacted via email at info@governmentjobs.com with interview information/scheduling instructions. Please monitor the email listed in your application materials and check your junk email folder to ensure you receive those communications.

• Safety and Well-Being —Our top priority is the safety of the public and our employees.
• Public Service —We value and respect the public we serve, and we value and respect the people of the Department of Natural Resources who step up to serve.
• Innovation and Creative Problem-Solving — We solve our state’s most pressing challenges through innovative thinking, dedication, and bold and creative vision.
• Leadership and Teamwork —We are committed to building leaders at all levels and building teams for success.

• Commitment to organizational health and wellness
• Work/life balance
• DNR Employee Resource Groups (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, Women’s Employee Resource Group, Veterans Employee Resource Group, etc.)
• Statewide Employee Business Resource Groups, visit here to learn more
• Leadership that empowers and supports employees
• Professional development opportunities
• Educational and career development aid
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility
• Opportunities to participate in wildland fire suppression assignments
• A comprehensive benefits package includes employer contributions toward health insurance, paid holidays, retirement plans, sick leave, and vacation days. Visit http://careers.wa.gov/benefits.html for more information.