The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is recruiting to fill one full time, permanent Natural Resource Specialist 2 position located in the Lands Division of the Wildlife Program.  The duty station is in the Okanogan Area, Washington.

As a designated expert within the Wildlife Program this position assists the Fire Management Specialist in providing fire management and consultative services on wildlife areas including fire dependent fish and wildlife habitat restoration and maintenance using prescribed (Rx) fire. Additionally, the incumbent will help develop, implement and lead a prescribed (Rx) burn program for fire-dependent dry forest ecosystems with an initial focus in North Central Washington but may include any region in Washington State. The incumbent supports/contributes to the mission of WDFW of preserving, protecting and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats by restoring fire as a disturbance agent at the appropriate frequency to fire dependent ecosystems/habitats sustaining and perpetuating the plants and animals dependent thereon.

The incumbent assists the Fire Management Specialist in developing, prioritizing, coordinating and implementing plans to restore and maintain fire dependent fish and wildlife on wildlife areas primarily in Okanogan County but may include any region statewide which include more 200,000 acres of forest including numerous fire dependent, e.g., dry forest and fire maintained prairies and steppe.Duties

Job knowledge (to perform the essential activities of this position, the employee must know or understand the following): Fire ecology; fire effects and by-products and their ecosystem actions; fire weather; fuel types; fuel conditions; fuels assessment; smoke management; NWCG standards; knowledge of tools and techniques used to prepare for and implement Rx burns; Working knowledge of management and supervision of fire line hand crews and/or prescribed fire hand crews.

General duties include:  Coordinating with the Fire Management Specialist, Wildlife Area Managers, Wildlife Biologists and Foresters to develop plans for restoration and maintenance of fire dependent fish and wildlife habitat. Conducting burn unit layout, fuels inventory, writing burn plans, obtaining necessary permits and implementing Inventorying forests and developing wildlife area specific forest management plans, developing statewide management strategies to ensure that high risk areas are given priority.  Developing and implementing restoration projects. Ensure compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, and policies, and supervising the Prescribed Burn Team.

As an expert, this position will assist in the development and implementation of a prescribed (Rx) burn program for fire-dependent dry forest ecosystems located on the Okanogan Wildlife Areas and other wildlife areas located primarily in Region 2 of North Central Washington, but may include any region in the state.  Primary duties include:

  • Planning: Assists in Developing policies and procedures for use of prescribed fire on WDFW lands; participates in smoke management planning and implementation; develops IQCS fire training record storage and retrieval system for WDFW; reviews fire training of personnel, and issues Red cards.
  • Burn unit layout and assessment:  Fuels assessment and inventory using knowledge of various fuel types, fuel inventory methodology and protocol; burn unit size and configuration and topographic characteristics.
  • Prepares and writes prescribed burn plans that meet National Wildlife Coordinating Group (NWCG) standards.
  • Supervises prescribed burns qualified at a minimum of NWCG Qualified and Certified Prescribed Burn Boss 2 (RxB2) level.
  • Develops working relationships and negotiates agreements with other fire management organizations, e.g., TNC-FLN, USFS, USF&WS, BLM, BIA, Tribal entities, NPS, WA State Parks &Recreation, WA State Department of Natural Resources, private contractors, and local fire districts.
  • Develops work plans for a crew of five (5) or more people including fuel and burn unit preparation, prescribed burn initiation and completion, and equipment maintenance.
  • Supervise a crew of five (5) or more people; makes recommendations for hiring; trains staff and evaluates and corrects performance; develops individual employee training plans and documents qualifications according to NWCG standards.
  • Provides for employee and public safety while implementing assigned projects including prescribed burning.

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/1511858/natural-resource-specialist-2-08648w